Chapter 308
Maria sat by Willow's bed for a while, looking at her granddaughter lying there, silent for a long moment.
Finally, she spoke slowly. "Willow, after you finish your exam, let me take you back to my hometown for a while?"
Willow froze.
Maria continued, "Either way, after the exam, you'll have some time before school starts. We'll go back to my hometown first, then return when school starts. It won't be long before you go abroad anyway."
During that silence, she'd already mapped out a plan for herself and Willow.
"Mrs. Spencer, after the written test, there's still the interview. Going back and forth would be so inconvenient," Molly chimed in. "Besides, Willow's health isn't good right now. The doctor said she needs six months of rest."
Molly didn't understand Maria's thoughts, but Willow did.
Before, when Maria didn't want her to be with Sterling, she'd proposed taking her back to the hometown to avoid further contact with him.
Now that Maria was bringing this up again...
Willow didn't dare think too deeply, pretending not to catch Maria's meaning.
"Grandma, my teacher went to so much trouble to find us housing. If we move away this quickly, it wouldn't be appropriate," she said.
As she spoke, her throat hurt terribly, but she forced herself to continue, afraid she wouldn't be able to explain clearly to Maria.
Maria had made up her mind. "I'll apologize to her. It was my idea anyway."
She looked at Willow with heartache. "Willow, only if we go back to our hometown can we stay far away from the Lancaster family. The Lancaster family is wealthy and powerful—we can't afford to provoke them. Can't we at least stay away?"
Ever since Willow married into the Lancaster family, even after divorcing Charles, troubles kept coming one after another.
Maria couldn't bear to experience such things anymore.
This time it was only respiratory damage, but what about next time? And the time after that?
Maria couldn't take any more scares. She couldn't bear the thought that one day something might really happen to Willow, making her lose her only granddaughter, her only family in this world.
To prevent such a thing from happening, it was better for them to keep their distance.
"Grandma." Willow felt a metallic taste in her throat, as if a knife was scraping back and forth.
She gritted her teeth and swallowed the bloody taste. "Not everyone in the Lancaster family is like Charles. At the very least, Sterling isn't. He's the one who saved me..."
By the end, she could barely make any sound.
Seeing Willow defend Sterling even in this state, Maria's expression only grew more grave.
She said, "That's exactly what you said about Charles back then."
When she hadn't supported Willow being with Charles, Willow had persuaded her like this time and again, telling her how wonderful Charles was.
And what was the result?
Even if Sterling really was different, the Lancaster family behind him was the same.
"Sterling is Sterling, Charles is Charles." Elaine walked in unhappily from outside. "Mrs. Spencer, comparing my brother to that monster—you really look down on people."
Matthew followed behind her, frowning. "Ms. Lancaster, please show some respect!"
Elaine glared at him. "Someone's treating my brother like a monster, and I'm not allowed to defend him?"
With that, she turned aggressively toward Maria. "If my brother hadn't risked his life rushing into that fire to save her, Willow would've burned to death already. You wouldn't even have a chance to talk to her. If you're not grateful, fine, but why are you doubting my brother like this?"
Faced with Elaine's questioning, Maria couldn't speak for a long moment.
She knew it was indeed Sterling who had saved Willow.
And not just this once.
But... if not for the Lancaster family, how would her granddaughter have gone through all this?
Thinking that Sterling had at least risked his life to save Willow, Maria didn't retort.
Elaine walked to the bedside and reined in her aggression.
When she spoke again, her tone was much more polite.
"Mrs. Spencer, I know you're doing this for Willow's sake, but I can assure you that Sterling is different from Charles," she said. "You don't like the Lancaster family—I can see that—but Sterling is different from the rest of the Lancaster family."
Elaine's tone grew gentler. "You raised Willow yourself, so of course you care about her. But I watched Sterling grow up, and I care about my brother, too. I had a bad attitude just now—please don't take it to heart."
Maria sighed softly without responding to her words. "You came to see Willow. I'll step out so you can talk."
With that, Maria stood up. Molly glanced around at everyone, came over to support Maria, and left with her, still trying persistently to counsel her.
In the hospital room, Elaine and Matthew expressed their concern for Willow's condition.
Willow's throat was too uncomfortable to speak, so they didn't stay long. After confirming she was alright, they left.
"Ms. Lancaster, I know you grew up pampered and spoiled, always held on a pedestal, acting however you please. But Mrs. Spencer is my elder. Since you asked me to bring you here, please be polite to her."
After going downstairs, Matthew said with a stern face, reminding Elaine once again.
Elaine looked defiant. "As long as she doesn't badmouth my brother in front of me."
Matthew thought of the danger Sterling had faced rushing into the fire that night and ultimately said nothing more.
The two were silent for a while.
Elaine uncomfortably broke the silence. "Are you trying to get Charles sent to prison?"
She turned to look at Matthew's profile.
These past two days, Matthew had worked tirelessly organizing materials related to Charles, trying to find something incriminating.
What he wanted to do was all too obvious.
Matthew's expression darkened. "Is there a problem?"
Elaine frowned. "Have you considered that maybe he didn't do it?"
She didn't like her nephew Charles either, but she'd witnessed over the years how obsessed Charles was with Willow.
She could understand Charles going crazy and locking Willow up, but setting a fire to kill her? That didn't fit Charles's behavioral logic.
All he wanted was to keep Willow by his side—why would he kill her?
Matthew was in the middle of his anger, assuming Elaine wanted to protect someone from the Lancaster family.
Hearing her words, he pulled the car over to the side of the road.
"If Ms. Lancaster wants to speak up for Charles, there's no need." He looked at Elaine coldly. "I need to get back to the law firm. I'm afraid I can't take you home. You can get out now."
Elaine was furious. "Matthew!"
"Get out." Matthew showed no mercy.
Then he added, "Now that the divorce case is over, our relationship ends here too. Different paths, different goals—Ms. Lancaster, please don't contact me again."
Elaine had been about to explain, but hearing his cold words, she got angry too.
"Fine!" She glared fiercely at Matthew. "If you won't drive me, fine. I'm a Lancaster—I can find plenty of people to give me a ride!"
Elaine yanked the car door open forcefully. "Matthew, you'd better not regret this!"
With that, she slammed the door and left.