Chapter 214
An eerie silence fell over the crowd outside the grand hall as all eyes shifted between Willow and Jay.
Willow's smile vanished as she fixed Jay with a cold stare. "Jay, who told you what I supposedly did at the Lancaster Group?"
"I... what are you talking about?" Jay stumbled over his words, realizing his mistake. "I never said that! Stop putting words in my mouth!"
Willow's gaze turned analytical. "Everyone's been gossiping about me being unfaithful, abandoning Charles for another man. But nobody mentioned this man being from the Lancaster Group. Who told you that?"
She paused deliberately, slowing her words. "Or did you spread that rumor yourself?"
Initially, she'd thought it might be a misunderstanding, but now Jay's behavior made it painfully obvious. The rumor about Willow being involved with a Lancaster Group executive had only been discussed inside the hall. Jay shouldn't have known about it.
While he'd always resented Willow and might want to ruin her reputation, simply spreading rumors about her questionable personal life would have been enough. Publicly exposing her relationship with Charles in Majestic City's elite circles offered him no advantage.
Someone must have put him up to this.
The students behind them began to catch on, realizing they'd been manipulated, and turned suspicious eyes toward Jay. He glanced between Willow and the crowd, took a deep breath, and bolted.
"Stop!" The junior was the first to chase after him.
Meanwhile, inside the grand hall, the gala had reached the speech portion of the evening.
The university president took the stage first, recounting Majestic City University's seventy-year history before introducing their keynote speaker: "And now, I'd like to welcome Sterling Lancaster, CEO of the Lancaster Group."
Hearing Sterling's name sent a ripple of surprise through the crowd, followed by much more enthusiastic applause than before. They'd suspected the Lancaster Group wouldn't send just a director to such an important event, yet somehow Sterling's appearance had been kept completely under wraps.
Amid the applause, Sterling appeared, impeccably dressed in a tailored suit, his steps measured and confident. Though younger than most attendees, his presence was undeniable.
"Good evening, everyone," Sterling began, smoothly reciting the prepared speech while his gaze casually swept across the audience.
After scanning the room without finding who he was looking for, Sterling paused briefly and glanced at Baron, who wore a pained expression as he helplessly shrugged, indicating he had no idea where Willow had gone.
Sterling's brow furrowed slightly. "That concludes my remarks for tonight. I wish everyone an enjoyable evening."
With that abrupt ending, he stepped down from the podium, leaving the audience exchanging confused glances.
"That's it? Feels like something was missing."
"Who cares? Sterling is coming down—quick, see if we can get a word with him!"
The crowd surged toward Sterling like a tide.
Charles stood with several struggling entrepreneurs, watching the adulation Sterling received. He gripped his champagne flute so tightly it nearly shattered.
"Mr. Lancaster Jr., have you completely severed ties with the Lancaster Group? Why aren't you approaching him?" someone asked him.
The form of address only darkened Charles's expression further, and he remained silent.
Sensing the tension, someone else attempted to smooth things over. "That's impossible! His ex-girlfriend got into the Lancaster Group because of his connections, right? Baron went to great lengths to clear up those rumors earlier."
Realizing he'd misspoken, the man quickly apologized.
Charles's cold gaze shifted from their faces to Sterling in the distance, then back. "She's not my ex-girlfriend." The two men looked at him in confusion.
Charles's lips curved into a cold smile as he swirled his champagne. "Willow is my wife."
Sterling wanted to steal his woman? Today he would publicly announce his relationship with Willow. After that, even if they wanted to be together, they'd have to consider the power of public opinion!
The two men were momentarily stunned before quickly changing their previously dismissive attitude toward Willow, now complimenting Charles on his excellent taste.
Meanwhile, Sterling handed off his well-wishers to Baron and made his escape. The moment he was free, he called Willow.
She answered quickly. "Sterling, I'm a bit busy right now..." Her voice was nearly drowned out by chaotic background noise.
Sterling frowned. "Where are you?"
In a small grove outside the hall, Willow stared at the chaotic scene before her and rubbed her temple. "I really can't talk. I'll call you back."
She was about to hang up when Sterling said, "I'm at Majestic City University. Where exactly are you?"
Willow paused in surprise and told him her location. The call ended abruptly.
Moments later, Sterling appeared at the small grove, his commanding presence unmistakable. What had started as a small scuffle had escalated into a full-blown brawl.
"Stop fighting! I've already called the police!" Willow was still trying to intervene.
Sterling approached her side, simultaneously contacting his staff. "What happened?"
Seeing him, Willow felt immediate relief and quickly explained. After Jay had fled, the junior had chased him down. When he finally caught up, Jay refused to come quietly, and they began fighting. The junior's roommates joined in to help him, and as others tried to break it up, the situation had devolved into chaos.
Sterling called for backup and hung up. After hearing Willow's explanation, he gave her a pointed look. "So essentially, your irresistible charm has men rushing to defend your honor, to the point where you completely forgot about your actual boyfriend."
Willow sighed. "Now is not the time for jealousy. When will your people get here?"
"Any minute," Sterling replied.
Before he could say more, they heard the underclassman's panicked voice: "Willow, look out!"
Willow turned to see Jay, who had somehow broken free from the fight, charging toward them.