Chapter 382

Chapter 382

The emergency room light stayed on.

Even after Henry finished handling the press conference and rushed over, there was still no news from inside.

In the hallway, everyone's hearts hung suspended.

Kaitlyn leaned against her husband, sobbing quietly.

Henry glanced at the operating room, then at Sterling beside him, his expression bleak.

His parents still didn't know—Willow was carrying babies. It wasn't just one life in there...

"Why aren't they coming out yet? Can your doctors handle this or not?" After waiting for ages, Henry grew anxious.

Sterling's entire being radiated menace. He glanced at Henry but didn't respond.

Henry frowned, knowing Sterling blamed him, but he had no rebuttal. He clenched his jaw and fell silent.

In the quiet, urgent footsteps echoed through the corridor.

Everyone turned to look.

Nolan was supporting Maria as they hurried toward them.

"Where's Willow? Where's my granddaughter? How is she?" Maria demanded frantically.

Only silence answered her.

No one knew how to explain this to Maria.

Maria turned and saw the still-lit emergency room, darkness swimming before her eyes. "She's not out yet?"

More silence.

"Grandma..." Sterling tried to say something.

Maria's gaze fell on his face, her eyes blazing with fury. "Why weren't you there? Such an important event—why weren't you with Willow?"

Sterling fell silent.

Kaitlyn walked over with Percy's support. "Mrs. Spencer, I'm sorry. It's all my fault..."

Before she could finish, Maria cut her off coldly. "Of course it's your fault!"

Maria looked around the group. Thinking of the livestream footage she'd just seen, her eyes filled with hatred.

"When you wanted Willow to come back, you all said such pretty things." Her voice shook with rage. "But what's the reality? You gave birth to Willow, but you can't even recognize your own daughter! You don't deserve to be her mother!"

Kaitlyn already blamed herself. Hearing Maria's reproach, she was too pained to speak.

"Mrs. Spencer..." Henry tried to defend his mother.

But Maria gave him no chance, waving her arms forcefully.

"All of you, get out! Out!" Maria showed no mercy. "I never should have counted on you to protect her! It's only after meeting you people that she kept falling into danger! Now we don't even know if she'll survive!"

Maria continued, "What Brown family, what Lancaster family—Willow doesn't need any of it! She has me, that's enough! We were doing just fine living together, just the two of us! She wasn't in danger every other day!"

Everyone stood frozen as Maria raged, no one moving.

With Willow still in surgery, who was willing to leave?

"You're still not leaving! Do you want to make me die of anger?" Maria roared. In her extreme fury, her heart throbbed painfully, her face turning pale.

Seeing this, Nolan quickly spoke up. "You staying here won't help. I'll wait with Mrs. Spencer, and if there's any news, I'll let you know."

He looked in Sterling's direction.

After a long moment, Sterling gave a slight nod and walked up to the Brown family. "Mr. Brown, Mrs. Brown, let's go back."

If Willow woke up and found out something had happened to Maria, she'd blame herself.

Percy shook his head helplessly, handed Kaitlyn over to their son, and walked up to Maria himself.

"What happened today was indeed the Brown family's failure to protect her properly. You're right to blame us. We're devastated too, but we still hope you'll take care of yourself. I know you're very important to Willow."

He looked at Maria solemnly.

Maria turned her head away, refusing to look at him.

Percy didn't expect a response. After saying his piece, he turned back to Kaitlyn and led the Brown family away.

Sterling hung back a few steps, saying to Nolan, "Take care of them. Contact me anytime if something happens."

Nolan nodded, watching them leave.

The hallway fell quiet.

Nolan helped Maria sit down in a chair.

"Thank you for bringing me here," Maria said wearily. "There's nothing more now. You should head back—don't let me waste your time."

After seeing the livestream, she'd rushed downstairs to hail a cab to the hospital, but after getting one, she realized she had no idea which hospital her granddaughter had been taken to.

Nolan had happened to be driving out and saw her gesturing with the driver. He'd offered to help her find Willow.

They'd searched several hospitals before finding the right one.

The emergency room light was still on. Nolan's mood was equally heavy. "I've got nothing going on. I'll wait with you."

Maria's eyes reddened. She didn't respond.

Nolan quietly sat down beside her.

They waited tensely for news from the operating room.

---

Meanwhile.

After leaving the hospital, Sterling and the Brown family went their separate ways.

Blake was waiting in the car. Seeing Sterling's expression, he could already guess Willow's condition. He didn't dare ask more, just silently started the engine.

"Police station," Sterling said.

Blake agreed and drove toward the station.

The car stopped at the police station entrance.

At the same time, another car pulled up right beside theirs.

Henry climbed out with a dark expression.

The two men exchanged a glance, then walked into the station without a word.

Blake had a bad feeling and hurried after them.

Given Gloria's special status and Henry's arrangements, the police chief personally came to inquire about the situation.

"Where is she?" Henry asked the moment he walked in.

Before anyone could react, the chief was already arranging things. "Take Mr. Lancaster and Mr. Brown there."

An officer agreed and led the two men to the holding cell. Blake followed behind.

Inside the cell, Gloria crouched in the corner, her body trembling neurotically as she muttered something under her breath.

Suddenly, the cell door swung open.

Gloria instinctively looked up toward the entrance.

Seeing who it was, Gloria shot to her feet.

Sterling and Henry walked in one after the other. Blake brought up the rear, closing the door behind them.

When he turned around, his boss already had Gloria pinned against the wall by the throat.

Before Gloria could react, she'd been lifted off the ground by her neck, her feet dangling as intense suffocation set in. Unable to speak, she could only struggle frantically.

"I should've killed you long ago!" Sterling's eyes were bloodshot, his entire being radiating murderous intent.

Gloria couldn't breathe. Her face gradually turned purple.

Sterling seemed oblivious, his grip only tightening.

"Mr. Lancaster..." Blake understood his rage, but he couldn't stand by and watch him commit murder in a police station. He moved to intervene.

Henry joined him. "Calm down! Are you insane? Look where you are!"

The two of them struggled before finally prying Sterling's hands open and pulling him aside.

Gloria fell to the ground in a heap, gasping for air painfully. Yet her gaze toward them was filled with nothing but hatred.