Chapter 110
Willow watched her carefully grilled skewer land on the ground and heard Sterling's dismissive tone.
She couldn't help glancing at him, not expecting him to be so childish.
She'd always thought the animosity between Sterling and Charles was one-sided—Charles jealous of Sterling. Now it seemed Sterling didn't particularly like his nephew either.
"Uncle Sterling, if you don't like it, I can make you something else," Willow offered graciously as she stood up.
Sterling had helped her so much, and she still didn't know how to properly thank him.
She'd hoped these grilled skewers might show a small token of appreciation, but apparently she'd misjudged.
Fortunately, she was also a good cook.
Sterling rose as well.
Willow looked at him, confused.
Sterling pointed to where he'd been sitting. "Sit down."
Then, under Willow's watchful gaze, he took her vacated seat, picked up some prepared skewers, and placed them on the grill.
Willow was dumbfounded. She never would have imagined the high-and-mighty Sterling possessed this skill.
Curious to see how his grilling would turn out, she sat down to watch.
Henry arrived with Gloria just as Sterling finished grilling several skewers and placed them on a plate.
"Well, this is a rare sight—Mr. Sterling Lancaster cooking with his own hands. I must try this." Henry reached for a skewer.
His hand grasped empty air.
Henry's smile froze as he stared at his friend in disbelief.
Sterling gave him a sidelong glance. "Don't you have hands of your own?"
Henry persisted shamelessly. "My skills aren't as good as yours."
Sterling still refused to share.
Henry clicked his tongue and used his sister as a shield. "If you won't give me any, at least give some to your fiancée."
He then turned to Willow with unwelcome familiarity. "Aren't you Sterling's nephew's wife? Why are you alone? Where's Charles?"
His tone practically screamed that Willow should keep her distance from Sterling.
Willow barely heard the latter part of his comment, shocked by what he'd said about Gloria.
Fiancée?
Did that mean Sterling had agreed to the marriage arrangement with the Brown family?
She looked at Sterling incredulously, unable to believe he would be so easily deceived.
Sterling remained impassive. "Pregnant women shouldn't eat this kind of food. I'll have someone prepare something milder for her later."
He placed the plate in front of Willow.
Sterling's skewers looked perfect and smelled delicious, but Willow had completely lost her appetite.
She politely took one skewer, then glanced at the newcomers. "I'll get water for everyone."
Without commenting on the taste, she stood and left.
Henry promptly sat in her place. "She chose not to eat it herself."
He helped himself to the skewers with relish.
Sterling watched Willow's retreating figure, then turned to Henry.
"What's so impressive about bullying a woman?" Sterling's tone was cold and warning.
Henry's expression turned exaggerated. "How did I bully her? I just stated facts and showed some concern."
Sterling remained coldly silent.
After clearing the plate, Henry continued, "Besides, my sister is carrying your child. Am I not allowed to stand up for her?"
Gloria chimed in on cue. "Henry, don't be like that. Willow isn't that kind of person. She's always been appropriate."
She then looked at Sterling with a timid expression. "Sterry..."
Sterling didn't give her a chance to continue. "Have you done the pre-marriage physical yet?"
Gloria's expression instantly froze. "Not... not yet."
"If you don't want to walk down the aisle with a showing belly, do it soon. Contact Blake before your exam so he can speak with the hospital." Sterling's tone suggested he was discussing a trivial matter.
Gloria nervously agreed. "Okay, I will."
As she spoke, her fingers clutched the powder in her pocket through her clothes.
She needed to get Sterling to consume this drug as soon as possible!
But how could she administer it?
Gloria scanned the area but couldn't find an opportunity.
Turning her head, she spotted Willow pouring water inside.
An idea struck her. She stood up. "I'll help Willow with the water."
She headed inside.
Willow had just finished pouring several glasses and was about to bring them out.
Gloria approached her. "Willow, let me help you."
Willow had been contemplating how to expose Gloria's deception to Sterling, and now here she was, delivering herself.
"Gloria, you've grown quite bold," Willow said coldly.
Gloria, focused only on drugging Sterling, didn't want to argue. "What are you talking about? I don't understand."
She casually took the glasses from Willow. "My brother and Sterry are waiting in the yard. We should hurry."
Willow grabbed her wrist firmly.
Gloria stumbled, spilling most of the water. "What are you doing? Let go of me!"
"Don't think I don't know how you got engaged to Sterling," Willow said icily. "Break it off with him now, or I'll expose your lies right here!"
A flicker of panic crossed Gloria's face, but remembering Valerie's words, she quickly composed herself.
"Go ahead," she challenged. "Tell Sterling that you were the one in his bed that night. Tell him he slept with his own nephew's new bride. Go on!"
She was confident that Willow's sense of shame would prevent her from confessing to Sterling.
And indeed, Willow didn't want to.
She maintained her grip on Gloria's wrist, desperately trying to figure out what to do.
"You should thank me for covering up your sordid affair. If it weren't for me, Sterling would eventually trace everything back to you." Gloria yanked her hand free and strode toward the door.
Willow frowned as she watched Gloria leave.
Suddenly, in her peripheral vision, she caught Gloria's reflection in the floor-to-ceiling windows. Her hand moved subtly, as if adding something to one of the glasses.
Willow's heart raced. She picked up the remaining glasses and hurried after Gloria.
"Sterry, here's your water," Gloria handed the drugged glass to Sterling.
Since Willow had poured the water, Gloria figured she could easily blame her if Sterling noticed anything unusual.
Gloria thought her plan was flawless.
What she hadn't anticipated was that just as Sterling was about to drink, Willow suddenly reached out and snatched the glass away.
Everyone in the yard turned to look at her.
Willow improvised awkwardly. "This glass was meant for me—I added sugar to it. Uncle Sterling, please take this one instead."
She only suspected Gloria had added something; without proof, all she could do was switch Sterling's water.
Fortunately, Sterling didn't comment, simply accepting the glass she offered and drinking from it.
Gloria watched her plan fall apart and seethed with anger.