Pregnant & Ghosted The CEO Begged Me Back

Chapter 34 She Misses Him

For the week that followed, Willow resolved to use painting as a way to distract herself.

Before long, her first bucket of gold—no, wait, her first painting was complete!

She couldn't wait to call Lucas.

"Xingyan! That painting you mentioned last time—I've finished it. Are you free?" For the first time in a while, Willow's voice didn't sound lifeless.

"I'm free. Should I come by after work to pick it up?" Lucas asked.

Actually, Willow had been planning to bring it to him. But if he was willing to come get it, even better.

That evening, Lucas came straight after work, bringing some delicious food with him.

"I figured you probably haven't had dinner yet. I brought some. Want to eat together?" Lucas asked.

Willow nodded and opened the door to let him in.

The moment he stepped inside, Lucas saw the painting. He froze.

Willow had painted the willow tree by the small river at school. That scene had appeared in Lucas's dreams more times than he could count.

And now, Willow had actually painted it.

*We really are connected,* he thought to himself. *She actually painted that willow tree.*

"What do you think? Is it okay?" Willow asked expectantly.

"I think it's excellent. He'll love it," Lucas said, nodding as he set the dishes on the table—all of Willow's favorites.

"This much? Are you sure you didn't order too much?" Willow stared, tongue-tied, at the table overflowing with dishes.

"You need to nourish yourself properly. You're too thin," Lucas said with a shrug.

His gaze drifted to Willow's belly. There was already a slight curve to it.

"How are things? Have you been doing okay? You haven't contacted me all week. I was a bit worried, but maybe that's not such a bad thing," Lucas said, half-joking.

"Ah, I've just been obsessed with painting lately," Willow said, scratching her head awkwardly.

"I've been doing really well, and the baby is doing great too. Also, Adrian has already signed the papers. We just need to wait out the cooling-off period and then file the paperwork," Willow said, eating as she spoke.

Lucas paused for a moment, then suppressed the flicker of delight on his face.

"Is that so? Well, congratulations. Once the paperwork is done, it'll be a fresh start," Lucas said, clinking his teacup against hers in a toast.

Willow bit the rim of her cup and nodded.

"What are your plans going forward?" Lucas asked.

Plans...

"I haven't figured it out yet," Willow shook her head.

"I really think your paintings are excellent. Have you considered opening a gallery? Or an art studio?" Lucas suggested again.

"Really? You think it would work?" Willow's eyes lit up.

"Of course. Why not?" Lucas said.

Willow nodded.

"I'll think about it carefully. But the most urgent thing right now is taking care of the baby. The doctor also said I'm too thin," Willow said, troubled.

"No appetite?" Lucas asked.

Willow nodded. The moment she ate too much, she felt like throwing up. She was frustrated by it too.

"Have you still been having trouble breathing? Any numbness in your body?" Lucas asked.

"Not really. I've been so focused on painting that all my attention has been on that," Willow said.

Painting really did help clear her mind.

"That's good, Willow," Lucas said, smiling as he looked at her.

Everything was moving in a positive direction.

After seeing Lucas off, Willow's first bucket of gold arrived in her account too.

[This much?] Willow hadn't expected her first earnings to be so substantial. Uncertain, she sent Lucas a message.

[It's worth it,] Lucas replied.

[Did your client like it?]

[They loved it. They hung it up the moment they got it and even asked if you could paint two more for the guest room and the living room.]

[That's wonderful! What kind do they want?]

[They really like your style. They said you have free rein.]

[I'll get it done!]

Receiving Lucas's message, Willow felt a flutter of excitement.

Her work was actually being appreciated by others—and she was even earning money from it.

Willow felt happy. And excited.

She quickly prepared to start her second painting.

This time, there was no set theme. She was just going to paint freely. At first, Willow was just doodling casually. But as she painted, something felt off. When she came back to herself, she realized...

She had painted Adrian. An eighteen-year-old Adrian...

Staring blankly at the portrait, Willow remembered—her very first oil painting had been of Adrian.

At age ten, she had first become interested in painting. In truth, she had always enjoyed doodling as a child. But one day, while playing with Sophie, Willow had drawn a rabbit on Sophie's arm. Sophie had gone home and tattled on her to everyone.

When it reached Adrian, he simply picked up Sophie's arm and studied it for a long time. Then he nodded.

"Little Willow, you have real talent for painting," Adrian had said.

"This is outrageous, Brother! Why aren't you taking my side?" Sophie had wailed.

As for Willow, she had simply blushed. Adrian said she had talent?

And so, from that day on, Willow developed a strong interest in painting. Gradually, she discovered that she really did love to paint.

It turned out that from the very beginning, it had all been because of one casual remark from Adrian. She had kept at it for over ten years.

Later, she had formally studied painting, even taking the art school entrance exam for college. And her very first completed work had been of Adrian.

At fourteen, Willow had painted an eighteen-year-old Adrian.

It had been Adrian's eighteenth birthday.

"Where's my birthday present, Little Willow?" Adrian had asked, ruffling Willow's hair.

At eighteen, Adrian was already over six feet tall, while Willow hadn't even reached five foot three yet—only coming up to somewhere below his shoulder.

"I prepared something for you," Willow had nodded, handing him her painting.

"Is this... me?" Adrian had asked.

"Mmm... Can't you tell?" Willow had pouted, a little unhappy. She had worked on it for so long. Didn't it look like him?

"I can tell. It's just that you made me even more handsome than I actually am. You flattered me, Little Willow," Adrian had said modestly.

"I did not..."

Willow had blushed.

"Thank you. I love it. I'll treasure it."

The smile of eighteen-year-old Adrian—Willow would never forget it.

That warmth. That handsomeness.

------------------ End of Memory ------------------

Looking at the youthful, eighteen-year-old Adrian beneath her brush, Willow sighed softly. She gently rolled up the canvas and tucked it under the bed.

She had lost all desire to paint. Hugging a throw pillow, she collapsed onto the sofa and stared blankly into space.

Although Lucas said Willow seemed much better, only Willow herself knew the truth. This week, the days had flown by because of painting. But the nights had felt excruciatingly long.

She had insomnia again...

Whenever the night grew quiet, whenever she wasn't painting and her mind was empty, she would find herself, just like now, inexplicably recalling every little moment she had shared with Adrian.

Sometimes it ached. Sometimes, she felt happy because of what they had once had. It seemed forgetting Adrian would still be a long, long road ahead.

With a sigh, Willow called Sophie.

"Sophie, are you free this Saturday? I was hoping you could come with me to buy some clothes," Willow said, looking at her gradually growing belly in the mirror. She had decided to buy some looser clothes.

"Little Willow? Hold on, she's in the shower. She'll be right out—"

"..."

*Lucas!! Answered!! Sophie's!! Phone!!*

Then Willow heard a frantic clattering on the other end of the line.

"Ah, Little Willow," Sophie said, out of breath.

"So... you two are together?" Willow covered her mouth, laughing.

"Lucas, you dog! You promised to keep it a secret!"

"Is Little Willow just anyone?"

"...You do have a point..."

"Alright, alright, stop arguing," Willow rubbed her ear.

"Little Willow, what did you need?"

"I was wondering if you were free this Saturday to come with me and buy some looser clothes," Willow asked.

"Of course I'm free. I'll pick you up tomorrow."

"Okay."

After hanging up, Willow felt genuinely happy for Sophie.

She had always thought Sophie and Lucas were a good match.

How wonderful.

Willow let out a sigh, even feeling a little envious. Mutual love... How nice.