Chapter 207
Willow thought for a moment before telling him about the strange visitor who had come looking for Maria.
Sterling responded without hesitation. "I'll have Blake arrange for some people to keep watch around the hospital."
He was surprised anyone would dare approach the hospital knowing it was his territory. His eyes narrowed slightly, a dangerous glint flashing through them.
His promise put Willow at ease. "Thank you for the trouble."
Sterling gave her a look. "I thought I got promoted already?"
Willow stared back at him blankly, not understanding.
Sterling tapped on the steering wheel. "Why are you being so formal with your boyfriend?"
Willow faltered. "I..." She just genuinely appreciated Sterling looking after Maria.
"If you really want to thank me, there are better ways," Sterling cut her off. With that, he turned his attention back to the road ahead, his expression focused.
Willow studied his handsome profile, her heart fluttering.
The car stopped at an intersection still some distance from the Lancaster Group Building.
Sterling turned to her. "Better get out here. No need to give the office gossips something to talk about." He wasn't worried about himself, but it would be Willow who'd face the consequences.
Willow had been thinking the same thing. Relieved that he'd suggested it first, she unbuckled her seatbelt.
Sterling watched her movements. As she prepared to exit, his brow furrowed slightly, as if wanting to say something.
Suddenly, Willow turned toward him, one hand on the seat, and leaned in to place a quick kiss on his lips.
Sterling froze.
Willow smiled brightly. "Thanks for the ride to work." Before he could react, she quickly slipped out of the car.
By the time Sterling came to his senses, Willow was already outside, waving cheerfully at him.
"See you at the office," she said, turning to walk away.
Sterling's lips curved into a smile as he watched her. He drove alongside her for a short distance before accelerating away.
When Willow arrived at the company, Sterling was already there. He waited for her in the lobby before they entered the elevator.
"Willow..." Molly gave her a knowing smile, having noticed the interaction between them.
Willow just smiled back before stepping into the staff elevator.
Their relationship had developed naturally. At first, Willow felt shy, but after a few days, they grew more comfortable together. Often, words weren't necessary—they understood each other instinctively, as if they'd been together for years.
Several times, Willow lingered at the hospital entrance, reluctant to part from Sterling. When she returned late, Maria teased her, and Willow would try to cover it up.
---
Meanwhile, Gloria was beside herself with frustration. She had made several attempts, but her people couldn't even catch a glimpse of Maria.
Initially, her scouts could at least enter the hospital, but within days, a group of men had appeared at the entrance. Whenever her people approached, they were immediately confronted.
After several failed attempts, even Gloria realized something was wrong: Willow must have told Sterling, and those men were definitely sent by him! Who else would dare act so boldly on Sterling's territory?
Realizing this, Gloria anxiously bit her nails. Rachel had informed her that Willow and Charles had successfully divorced. Even before the divorce, that bitch had been close with Sterling.
Now, with marriage no longer an obstacle, how far had their relationship progressed? If things continued this way, she'd be under that woman's heel for the rest of her life.
Gloria paced her room, her mind filled with images of Willow looking down on her.
No, she couldn't let that happen. Whether it was Sterling or the Brown family, she had to save at least one!
While Gloria was plotting, a message from Rachel arrived:
[Majestic City University is holding its anniversary celebration in two days. Willow will likely attend.]
Gloria's gaze grew cold.
---
At the mall, Willow was shopping with Molly when she suddenly sneezed twice.
"Are your colleagues talking about you behind your back again?" Molly looked indignant. Since joining the Lancaster Group, Willow had maintained a distant relationship with her colleagues in the planning department.
Molly, having been Willow's colleague before, knew Willow wasn't the problem. It had to be the planning department people deliberately making things difficult for her.
"Now that you're with Sterling," Molly said heatedly, "why not complain to him? Let him fire all those nasty people."
Willow hadn't given it much thought. "I probably just caught a chill last night."
Molly, feeling Willow was defending them, tugged at her arm in frustration. "Willow..."
Willow laughed and pinched her cheek. "Come on, my situation isn't as bad as you think. I'm there to earn money, not make friends. As long as they cooperate professionally, that's enough. And I have you as a friend, don't I?"
Satisfied with this answer, Molly smiled.
"What do you think of this dress?" She walked over to a garment and asked for Willow's opinion.
The day after tomorrow was Majestic City University's anniversary celebration. Planning to meet her former advisor, Willow wanted something formal to wear and had asked Molly to accompany her shopping.
Willow looked at the bright red dress with a cutout chest that Molly had selected. "It's too flashy, not my style," she declined.
Molly sighed in disappointment. "Really? With your figure, it's like it was made for you. I wish I could pull off something like that..." She glanced down at her own flat chest.
Willow was used to her complaints about this particular issue.
Molly had sweet, bright features—a perfect little beauty—yet had attracted surprisingly few suitors over the years. She blamed it all on her figure and Blake's overprotective nature. Now she was finally about to escape her brother's watchful eye, but her physique was something she couldn't change.
Willow placed a hand on her shoulder with mock seriousness. "You're still developing. When I was your age, I was just like you."
Molly's eyes immediately lit up. "Really? I could look like you someday?"
Willow nodded, trying not to laugh.
Suddenly hopeful about life, Molly returned to urging Willow to move in with her.
Still browsing the clothes, Willow replied, "I'll move after my grandmother's surgery." For now, she preferred staying at the hospital with Maria.
"So I'm stuck living with Blake a while longer," Molly grumbled. Then, as if remembering something, she leaned in conspiratorially. "Willow, isn't Sterling pressuring you to move in? How far have you two gone?"