He Stands at the End of My Past

Caspian Henderson has been rigid and restrained throughout his six-year marriage to Juliet Bennett, and their life together feels dull and uneventful.

Even their nights together feel like a chore with a set time. He arrives on the dot, does what he came for, and leaves.

Everyone in their social circle believes he's the kind of man who will never bend for any woman. That was true until a month ago, when he returned with an orphaned girl who claims to have saved his life.

Her name is Willow Everly. She's cold and unapproachable—the polar opposite of Juliet, who has been doted on all her life.

Juliet's girlfriends attempt to warn her. "That young woman looks like a handful. You'd better keep an eye on your husband."

Juliet beams. "Don't worry. Caspian doesn't even waver when I tease him. There's no way he'd be interested in that delicate little thing."

Yet in just a few days, she finds out just how wrong she is.

Caspian Henderson had been rigid and restrained throughout six years of marriage. Life was dull and predictable. Even their intimate moments felt like a scheduled chore. He came when it was time and left the moment it was over.

Everyone who knew him said a man like him would never lose control over a woman. That was until a month ago, when he brought home a young orphan who claimed she had saved his life.

Her name was Willow Everly. She was cold and aloof, like a white flower blooming on a mountaintop—nothing like Juliet Bennett, who had been spoiled and adored all her life.

Juliet's friends tried to warn her. "That woman looks like trouble. You'd better keep an eye on your husband."

Juliet curled her red lips into a confident smile. "Don't worry. Caspian can resist even my teasing. There's no way he'd be interested in a soft little damsel like her."

However, a few days later, she was proven wrong.

In just a month, Caspian and Willow had grown far too close. He brought her to all kinds of events and introduced her to all his friends.

Someone even mistook Willow for his wife. She didn't deny it, and Caspian only smiled and went along with it.

That same night, he pinned Willow beneath him, his eyes dark with desire and his voice softer than ever. "Willow, you didn't correct them. Does that mean you feel something for me, too?"

Willow pushed him away, her expression as detached as ever. "My father only asked you to look after me, not to look after me in your bed."

Caspian held her hand and pleaded, "He asked me to protect you, but I fell for you. Can you please give me a chance, Willow?"

Without the slightest hesitation, she rejected him. "No."

He lowered his head and closed the distance between them, like a man in power willing to bow his head for love. "Tell me… What do I have to do for you to like me?"

Willow pushed him away again. "I don't like your rigid, dull personality. So, no matter what you do, I won't fall for you."

Because of what she said, Caspian started learning how to win a woman over from his playboy friends. News of it spread like wildfire, and Juliet became a laughingstock.

Juliet had been spoiled since childhood and had a fiery temper. With a cold expression, she snapped back, "Instead of gossiping about me, why don't you watch your own husbands? Maybe one of you has a homewrecker hiding in your house, too!"

Juliet never expected those words to enrage Caspian. She was knocked unconscious, and when she came to, she found herself hanging outside their beachfront penthouse, suspended 33 feet above the crashing waves.

Caspian stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows and asked coldly, "Why did you call Willow a homewrecker in public?"

Juliet was terrified of heights. Her face was drained of color, yet she gritted out, "I didn't call her that."

He hadn't cared at all when others laughed at her, yet the moment she said one thing, he punished her like this. After six years of marriage, she still hadn't been able to warm Caspian's heart.

Seeing that she wouldn't own up to what she said, Caspian let out a mirthless chuckle and instructed his bodyguards to release the rope. They loosened their grip on the rope, and Juliet was pushed straight into the sea.

There was a loud splash, and the freezing seawater rushed into her lungs and stomach, burning her throat as if she had swallowed pins and needles. Just as she was about to run out of air, she was pulled back up and lifted to the highest point again.

Her whole body was soaked, and her eyes were shockingly red. Caspian leaned over and looked down at her with a cold expression. His patience was wearing thin. "Do you know what you did wrong now, Jules?"

Juliet felt a pang in her chest as she watched him protect Willow. With reddened, tear-filled eyes, she yelled, "So what if I called her a homewrecker? I wasn't wrong. She is one—she seduced my husband!"

Why was she no match for someone who had just entered his life?

Six years ago, Caspian and his father, Charles Henderson, had been set up and had gotten into a car accident. Charles died on the spot. Caspian was severely injured, and Henderson Group was pushed to the brink of bankruptcy.

When Juliet, who was overseas at the time, heard the news, she flew back to the country without the slightest hesitation and told Caspian's mother, Victoria Hudson, that the Bennetts were willing to form a marriage alliance.

Back then, Victoria asked her for the reason for her decision. Juliet answered truthfully that she had liked Caspian since high school and couldn't just stand by and do nothing.

And so, she had married Caspian while he was still unconscious and helped the Hendersons through their darkest time.

Caspian had regained consciousness a month later. When he was told Juliet was his wife, he was surprised, but he still looked at her warmly. "Hello, I'm Caspian. Please take care of me from now on!"

He treated her well and gave her everything she desired. However, ever since he had brought Willow home a month ago, everything had changed.

"How dare you call her a homewrecker, Juliet? Then what does that make you, the woman who married me while I was unconscious?"

Her mind went blank. What did he mean by that?

Before she could make sense of it, she lost her balance and plunged back into the freezing ocean. Saltwater flooded her chest until her vision faded into darkness.

When she came to, she found herself in a hospital. She had gulped down so much seawater that her lungs felt like they were on fire every time she tried to breathe.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she stared at the ceiling. In all her life, she had never suffered humiliation like this.

She pulled out her phone and called her younger brother, Rowan Hall, who lived abroad.

Her voice was hoarse as she said, "Help me prepare a divorce agreement and a plane ticket. Once the divorce is finalized, our family will withdraw every form of support we've given the Hendersons."

She paused before continuing, "Also, help me look into a woman named Willow Everly."