Chapter 9

Chapter 9
Willow POV
My eyes filled with terror. My heart raced so fast I couldn't breathe.
The cars collided. The speed wasn't too fast, but the impact was still strong.
The airbag deployed, slamming hard into my face.
Pain. Dizziness. Fear—all the sensations mixed together.
Images from Father's car accident flashed through my mind.
The shattered glass.
The pungent smell of blood.
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 from the driver's seat.
Sterling.
His austere face showed no expression. Those deep eyes flashed with an emotion I couldn't read.
"Dad…" I clutched Sterling's coat with both hands, crumpling the tailored suit fabric.
"Save him… please…"
Sterling's deep voice carried reassuring power. "You're safe now."
His large hand rested on my waist. He bent down, picked me up, turned, and got in the car, commanding Blake at the same time, "To the hospital."
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Charles POV
I knew nothing about what had happened.
After getting out of the car, I didn't return to the company. Instead, I had the driver take me to a restaurant.
When I arrived, the client was already waiting.
"Mr. Lancaster."
Seeing me enter, Gareth Johnson politely stood.
I sat across from him, clearly displeased. "It seems Mr. Johnson didn't take my words seriously."
Gareth played dumb. "Mr. Lancaster, what do you mean? I don't understand."
My eyes were cold. "Willow was hired by your company, wasn't she?"
Gareth didn't respond.
"Within a week, find a reason to fire her." My voice was icy.
Gareth looked troubled. "This... if she performs well, I can't just fire her for no reason."
He assessed my expression. "Did she offend you somehow?"
My face was cold. I was about to speak when my phone on the table rang.
Irritated, I was about to hang up when I caught the caller ID in my peripheral vision.
Sterling's name.
Why was he calling me?
I glanced at the person across from me, stood, and went aside to answer. "Sterling."
On the other end, Sterling's voice came through heavily. "Willow's at Hope Springs Hospital. I'm about to leave. Get here as soon as you can."
Hope Springs Hospital was a private hospital under Lancaster Group.
"What? What happened to her?" I strode toward the exit.
Sterling had already hung up.
I hurried to the car without even saying goodbye to Gareth, telling the driver to take me to Hope Springs Hospital.
In the car, I was completely tense.
How did Willow end up in the hospital?
I had tampered with the car, but Willow drove slowly, and other cars downtown couldn't go fast either. Even if she accidentally hit something, it would be minor damage at most.
I'd only wanted Willow to back down and ask me for help. I never meant for her to actually get hurt!
"Drive faster!"
The more I thought about it, the more worried I became. Not seeing the hospital after a while, I barked the order.
Half an hour later, the car stopped at Hope Springs Hospital's entrance.
I got out and rushed to the room Sterling had mentioned.
When I entered, Sterling sat on the sofa across from the bed. Willow was on an IV, already asleep.
I glanced at Willow in the bed. Seeing no external injuries, I looked at Sterling.
"What happened to Willow? What's wrong? Why are you here?"
Sterling looked up at me, his expression calm but naturally authoritative.
Blake stood nearby. Hearing my question, he explained, "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 glancing at Willow again. From Blake's attitude, the crash couldn't have been serious. Why was she unconscious?
"The IV has a sedative in it." Sterling's deep voice sounded in the hospital room.
I inexplicably detected reproach in his tone.
"She was in a car accident before." Sterling used a definitive tone.
My expression changed. "Yes, but that was many years ago…"
The gaze settling on my face deepened slightly. Feeling guilty, I swallowed my defensive words.
"Charles, your marriage happened because you insisted repeatedly. I convinced your mother to relent." 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 than me, yet often he gave me the oppressive feeling only my grandfather had.
No wonder Grandfather had confidently handed the Lancaster family to Sterling early on, even bypassing his own sons.
"Handle the rest yourself. Explain it to her." Sterling gave the instruction and left with Blake.