Chapter 366
After Adeline and Richard left, Willow and Sterling prepared to take their leave as well.
She'd only come to check on Kaitlyn's condition. Now that she had her answer, she could put her mind at ease.
"Willow." Percy, having settled his wife, stood and called out to his daughter.
Willow had already reached the door. Hearing him, she stopped and turned to look back.
For the first time all day, father and daughter had the chance to face each other directly.
Percy looked at Willow, suddenly at a loss for words. He simply wanted to look at her properly.
After a long moment, he let out a heavy sigh. "Looking at you now, the lower half of your face is exactly like your mother's when she was young."
Willow didn't know how to respond either. Her smile felt stiff.
Compared to Kaitlyn, Percy had held positions of authority for years. He carried an aura of natural dignity that created an invisible pressure just by standing there.
Knowing he was her biological father only made Willow more nervous.
"Dad," Henry sensed the heavy atmosphere and tried to lighten the mood.
Percy shook his head, looking at Willow. "All these years, the Brown family has failed you. We've also failed your adoptive family."
Though the Brown family hadn't directly harmed the Spencer family, their indulgence of that impostor had indirectly caused their real daughter so much suffering.
"If you can't accept the Brown family, I won't blame you." Percy paused. "But since Henry and Ster are close, just think of him as a friend. If you need anything, tell him—don't hesitate. Also..."
He frowned, his tone growing heavier. "During this time, if possible, could you... visit more often?"
Kaitlyn couldn't do without her daughter, and he didn't want to bring another impostor back.
"I know I have no right to ask anything of you. Just think of it as..." Percy searched for the right words.
"I will." Willow saw his difficulty and spoke up.
Percy fell silent, looking at her with guilt.
"I don't have much going on right now. I'll come by when I'm free," Willow said.
After a pause of several seconds, she added, "You don't need to worry. Mr. Richard Wilson said it just needs time. She can be cured."
Hearing Willow's reassurance, Percy couldn't help but remember how Gloria had slandered her before—and how he'd actually believed it.
His guilt toward Willow deepened, leaving him speechless for a long while.
Henry stood to the side, wanting to say something to ease the tension, but seeing his father finally getting to talk with Willow, he ultimately kept quiet.
Sterling certainly wasn't going to interrupt.
The air fell suddenly still.
Until Kaitlyn sensed something was wrong and came over, displeased.
"Honey, Glo's been so good today. Don't scold her." Kaitlyn glanced at her husband before walking to Willow and taking her hand gently. "Glo, your father's not good with words. Don't be upset with him."
A bitter ache welled up in Willow's chest as she obediently nodded. "Okay."
"Are you going out with Ster again?" Kaitlyn looked at her reluctantly. "When will you be back? Call me when you have time."
Willow smiled and agreed.
Kaitlyn held onto her, offering advice for quite a while before reluctantly letting her leave.
Henry walked them out.
"Dad didn't mean anything by it. He really wants you to come back to the Brown family—he just doesn't know how to express it." Henry tried to smooth things over for his father.
The way Percy had spoken earlier made it sound like he was pushing Willow away, as if bringing her back was only for his mother's sake.
Henry worried Willow might misunderstand.
Willow smiled. "I know. He's a lot like my dad."
When Willow's father was alive, he'd been the same way—not good with words. But after the accident, even while trapped in the car, he'd been unconsciously begging people to save her.
Henry breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good then."
He glanced at Sterling beside them, then leaned close to Willow's ear and whispered, "If he dares get involved with Adeline, come find me. I'll deal with him for you."
The next second, Sterling shot him an icy look. "Does Mr. Brown think I can't hear you?"
Henry straightened up and pursed his lips. "I wanted you to hear. If you dare let my sister down, don't blame me for not being polite. She's got people backing her up now."
"That line suits you better," Sterling said coldly. "Gloria and Wallace are the Brown family's responsibility to handle. If they cause any more trouble, that's on the Brown family."
Henry didn't argue.
After seeing them off, Henry returned to the villa.
Percy had just sent Kaitlyn back to their room and was coming downstairs.
"Did your sister and Ster leave?" Percy asked.
Henry nodded.
"How far have things progressed between them? How does Ster plan to handle the Wilson family situation?" Percy asked.
Meeting his father's scrutinizing gaze, Henry silently broke into a cold sweat.
How far have things progressed? Should he mention that his sister was already carrying Sterling's child? And that it happened while she was married to Charles...
If his father found out, he'd probably kill Sterling to silence him...
With that thought, Henry didn't dare tell the truth, but he didn't dare lie either. "That's their private business. You should probably ask them. As for the Wilson family, I trust Ster will handle it."
Percy's gaze bore into him for a moment.
Henry guiltily looked away.
After a pause, he heard his father's voice again. "Where is that impostor now?"
At the mention of the impostor, the atmosphere around Percy turned ice-cold, his tone much colder than before.
Henry's expression grew serious as well. "One of Valerie's old friends got her a job cleaning toilets at a hospital."
Percy's face was nothing but cold. "Cleaning toilets? So she still has a source of income? What did I tell you?"
Henry rubbed his nose sheepishly. "Well, cleaning doesn't necessarily mean she's getting paid..."
His father had ordered him to cut off all of Gloria's income sources, to make her repay double what she'd enjoyed at the Brown family all these years.
But knowing Gloria would be cleaning toilets, Henry figured letting her suffer a bit wasn't bad.
As for her wages, wasn't that just a matter of one word from him?
"Fire her!" Percy said coldly.
Henry solemnly agreed, then asked, "And Wallace..."
Wallace could technically be considered his elder. Though Sterling had left Wallace for the Brown family to handle, Henry still felt awkward about taking action against him personally. He could only leave it to Percy.
Percy had already stood up from the sofa. Without turning back, he said, "He won't be able to stay in the country much longer."
Henry frowned, his instinct telling him Sterling wouldn't be satisfied with that kind of resolution.
But with Harold pressuring from above, even if Percy took action, it would be difficult to truly finish Wallace off.. Sterling had handed Wallace over to them for exactly that reason.
The best they could guarantee was that Wallace would never have another chance to hurt Willow.