Chapter 27

Chapter 27
Willow POV
My eyes filled with terror. My heart raced so fast I couldn't breathe.
The two cars collided. The speed wasn't fast, but the impact was still strong.
The airbag deployed, slamming hard into my face.
Pain, dizziness, fear—all the sensations mixed together.
Images of Father's car accident flashed through my mind.
That shattered glass.
That pungent smell of blood.
And Father's desperate cries for help.
"Help..." I heard myself screaming. "Dad... my dad's still in the car, save him!"
Tears blurred my vision.
I desperately tried to push the car door open, tried to save Father.
But the door wouldn't open.
Just like that day. It wouldn't open no matter what.
"Calm down."
A low voice sounded in my ear.
The car door was pulled open from outside.
A pair of strong arms lifted me out of the driver's seat.
Sterling.
His cold face showed no expression, but something I couldn't read flashed in those deep eyes.
"Dad..." My hands clutched Sterling's coat tightly, wrinkling the custom fabric into a mess of creases.
"Save him... please..."
Sterling's deep voice held calming power. "You're safe now."
His large hand rested on my waist. He bent down, lifted me, turned, and got in the car. At the same time, he ordered Blake, "The hospital."
---
Charles POV
I knew nothing about what had happened.
After getting out of the car, I hadn't gone back to the company. Instead, I'd had the driver take me to a restaurant.
When I arrived, the guest was already waiting.
"Mr. Lancaster."
Seeing me enter, Gareth Johnson stood politely.
I sat across from him, face very displeased. "Mr. Johnson doesn't seem to have taken my words seriously."
Gareth played dumb. "Mr. Lancaster, what are you saying? I'm not sure I understand."
My gaze turned icy. "Willow was hired by your company, wasn't she?"
Gareth didn't respond.
"Within a week, find a reason to fire her." I said coldly.
Gareth looked troubled. "This... if she performs well, I can't just fire her randomly."
He studied my expression. "Did she offend you somehow?"
I frowned, about to speak when my phone on the table rang.
I was annoyed, about to hang up, when my eye caught the caller ID on the screen.
Sterling's name.
Why was he calling?
I glanced at the person across from me, stood, and went aside to answer. "Sterling."
On the other end, Sterling's voice was heavy. "Willow's at Hope Springs Hospital. I'm leaving soon. Get here as fast as you can."
Hope Springs Hospital was a private hospital under the Lancaster Group.
"What? What happened to her?" I strode outside.
Sterling had already hung up.
I quickly got in the car, not even saying goodbye to Gareth, telling the driver to take me to Hope Springs Hospital.
On the way, I was completely on edge.
How did Willow end up in the hospital?
I'd tampered with the car, but Willow drove very slowly, and other cars in the city center couldn't go fast either. Even if she accidentally hit something, it would be minor scraping at most.
I just wanted Willow to back down and turn to me for help. I never meant for her to actually get hurt!
"Drive faster!"
The more I thought, the more uneasy I felt. Not seeing the hospital for ages, I barked orders.
Half an hour later, the car stopped at Hope Springs Hospital entrance.
I got out, rushing to the room Sterling had mentioned.
When I entered, Sterling sat on the sofa opposite the bed. Willow had an IV drip, already asleep.
I glanced at Willow in the bed. Seeing no visible injuries, I looked at Sterling.
"What happened to Willow? What's going on? Why are you here?"
Sterling looked up at me, face calm but naturally imposing.
Blake stood nearby, explaining at the question. "Ms. Spencer just crashed into Mr. Lancaster's car."
My expression shifted. I hadn't expected such a coincidence. I quickly apologized. "Willow's not a good driver. She just started practicing today. It wasn't intentional. Please don't take it to heart."
I thought Sterling was just upset about his car being hit.
I couldn't help looking at Willow again. From Blake's attitude, the crash didn't seem serious. Why was she unconscious?
"The IV has a sedative." Sterling's low voice filled the room.
I inexplicably heard reproach in his tone.
"She was in a car accident before." Sterling used a declarative tone.
My expression changed. "Yes, but that was many years ago..."
The gaze on my face darkened slightly. Guilt made me swallow my defensive words.
"Charles, your marriage happened because you insisted repeatedly. I'm the one who convinced your mother to agree." Sterling scrutinized his nephew. "I let you marry her—not so you could gamble with her life."
His eyes seemed to see through everything. I couldn't lift my head under the pressure.
Sterling was only five years older, yet he often gave me the oppressive feeling only my grandfather had.
Probably why my grandfather had confidently handed the Lancaster family to Sterling early on, even passing over his own sons.
"Handle the rest yourself. Explain it to her." Sterling ordered, then left with Blake.