Chapter 390

Chapter 390

Willow was sent to the bedroom to rest. Through the door, she could still faintly hear Maria and Brooke talking outside.

"Injured? Then she needs to go to the hospital even more."

Brooke's tone was full of reproach. "Maria, Willow's parents are gone. You're her only family. She's so badly hurt, and you won't take her to the hospital. What would they think in heaven?"

As she spoke, she was about to contact someone to take Willow to the hospital.

Maria stopped her. "No! When I brought her back, the doctor already said she's fine now. She just needs to rest and recuperate at home."

No matter what, she couldn't let Willow go to the hospital.

Once they went to the hospital, with the power of the Lancaster family and the Brown family, they would find them sooner or later.

Then everything she had done would be in vain.

Brooke looked at her suspiciously. "Tell me the truth. Have you two offended someone?"

Maria put on her older sister's authority, her face stern. "Don't overthink it. Nothing happened! Don't worry, I'm just staying here for a while. Once Willow's injury heals, we'll find a place and move out!"

Brooke sighed helplessly. "Maria, that's not what I meant. I just thought if you're in some kind of trouble, maybe I could help."

Maria said, "There's no trouble at all. Willow doesn't need to go to the hospital either. Don't ask about anything else."

Seeing Maria's attitude, Brooke had no choice but to swallow all the questions on her lips.

The living room fell quiet.

Willow lay alone in the bedroom and let out a soft sigh.

During this journey, she had roughly figured out what Maria was thinking.

She had essentially been placed under house arrest again. Maria wasn't taking her to the hospital because she was afraid Sterling would find them.

But what did any of this have to do with Sterling?

With Maria suddenly taking her away, once he found out, he must be very worried right now, right?

She needed to find an opportunity to contact him...

Over the next few days, Willow stayed obediently in her room.

Watching the days pass one by one.

As the time for the graduate school interview approached, Willow's wound had healed somewhat, and she could walk slowly on her own.

After breakfast, Brooke went to clean up the kitchen, and Willow sat in the living room with Maria.

"Grandma." Willow pretended not to know Maria's thoughts and asked her, "When are we going back?"

Maria immediately became alert. "Back where?"

Willow said softly, "Majestic City."

Maria had been pleasant these past few days, but hearing her mention Majestic City, her expression fell.

"From now on, we'll live here." She said. "If you still consider me your grandmother, don't mention that place again!"

Willow pressed her lips together and said patiently, "My parents' and grandfather's graves are all in Majestic City. Aren't you going to look after them anymore?"

Maria's expression shifted. Her gaze fell on Willow's face, then became stubborn again. "They'll understand."

Willow couldn't help but take a deep breath, pulling at the wound on her chest. The pain made her furrow her brow.

A flash of distress crossed Maria's eyes.

When she spoke again, her tone had softened somewhat. "From now on, you'll stay here with me. We'll start over. Willow, I really don't want to go through the risk of possibly losing you again."

For a moment, Willow couldn't get the words out.

She knew how Maria had gotten through those days when she was in the ICU. That must be how Maria had spent these past few days as well.

At Maria's age, she really couldn't handle such stress.

Willow was silent for a while, ultimately not insisting further. She only said, "In a couple of days, I need to go back for the interview."

No matter how much Maria wanted to stay away from the Lancaster family and the Brown family, she wouldn't gamble with Willow's future.

"I already had Matthew apply on your behalf. The school agreed to let you do an online interview." Maria said.

Willow hadn't expected Maria to think of everything so thoroughly and could only give up.

Brooke came out of the kitchen and, seeing Willow's poor complexion, offered comfort. "Willow, your grandmother is tough on the outside but soft on the inside. She's doing this for your own good."

Willow forced a smile. "I know."

She stood up. "I'm a bit tired. Grandma, Great-Aunt Brooke, I'm going back to my room to rest."

Brooke smiled and agreed.

Willow turned to go back to her room. Before entering, she glanced at the landline phone sitting on the living room table.

She had originally thought that she would have to go back for the interview eventually, and Maria wouldn't keep her things from her forever. She would have a chance to contact Sterling.

But now, she could only think of another way.

Soon, the day of the interview arrived.

To avoid disturbing her, the two elderly women left early in the morning, leaving Willow alone at home.

Willow successfully completed the interview, and the two still hadn't returned.

The room was quiet.

Willow checked the time, sat down on the living room sofa, picked up the landline, and dialed Sterling's number.

The ringing sound of the phone call came through.

Willow's heart was in her throat, afraid that Sterling would see it was an unknown number and hang up directly, or that he was busy with something else and wouldn't answer her call.

After quite a while.

Just as Willow was about to give up hope, the other end picked up.

Sterling's slightly hoarse voice came through the phone. "Willow?"

Willow's heart, which had been suspended for so long, slowly returned to its place. She responded softly, "It's me."

Over the phone, she clearly heard Sterling exhale deeply. "How are you? Has your injury healed?"

Willow said, "Much better already."

Then she apologized to Sterling. "I'm sorry. My grandmother was too worried about me, so..."

Sterling cut her off. "So, where are you now?"

Willow was about to answer when there was suddenly a commotion outside the door.

She hastily said to Sterling, "I think my grandmother is back. I'll find another chance to contact you later."

As her words fell, the front door opened.

"Grandma, I'm here." A man's lazy voice came from the doorway as he changed his shoes.

Willow froze, her action to hang up delayed by a few seconds. The man's voice happened to fall into Sterling's ears.

"Who's that?" Sterling's eyes darkened.

Willow didn't hear his voice and hung up directly, standing up to look at the person at the door.

"Who are you? Where's my grandmother?" The man walked in from the doorway, appearing to be in his early thirties but already sporting a beer belly.

After entering, he looked Willow up and down with an ambiguous gaze.

Clearly, he was Brooke's grandson.

Willow said politely, "Hello, my name is Willow Spencer. I'm staying with my grandmother at my great-aunt's house."

The man had already walked to the sofa. Hearing this, he seemed to suddenly remember something.

"I remember now." He smiled at Willow in a friendly manner. "My grandmother did mention a couple of days ago that relatives were staying at her place."

As he spoke, the man moved several steps closer to her.

Willow calmly moved away and said, "They went out this morning. They should be back soon."