Chapter 123
Kaitlyn quickly sent the address. Willow glanced at it—a restaurant in the heart of downtown.
After gathering her things and heading downstairs, she didn't see Charles's car at the company entrance. Breathing a quiet sigh of relief, she hailed a cab and headed to the restaurant.
When she arrived, Kaitlyn was already waiting in the private dining room. Nearly ten years had passed since they first met, yet Kaitlyn's face showed barely any signs of aging—still elegant and dignified.
"Ms. Spencer, please sit," Kaitlyn smiled as she entered.
Willow returned a polite smile and took a seat across from her. She couldn't shake the feeling that Kaitlyn's smile didn't quite reach her eyes, her tone noticeably cooler than Willow remembered from the days when she used to pick up Gloria at their house.
With an inexplicable sense that she was walking into a trap, Willow cut straight to the point. "What did you want to see me about, Mrs. Brown?"
Kaitlyn seemed caught off guard by her directness and continued studying her. Willow was beautiful with a clean, fresh appearance—her delicate nose giving her a look of quiet determination.
The first time Kaitlyn had met Willow at her home, she'd taken an instant liking to her. She'd even considered bringing both children to live with the Browns. But Valerie and Willow's father had refused immediately when she suggested it.
Kaitlyn had assumed they couldn't bear to part with both daughters, so she'd dropped the matter and never brought it up again.
Looking at Willow now, she hadn't changed much—still that same honest quality about her. Kaitlyn couldn't reconcile this woman with the person Gloria had described.
As Kaitlyn remained silent, Willow's brow furrowed in confusion. It wasn't until the server came in with their food that Kaitlyn seemed to snap back to the present.
"How is your grandmother doing lately?" Kaitlyn asked.
Willow pushed aside her confusion and answered, "Her condition is stable for now."
Kaitlyn nodded, giving her another look, this time with a hint of guilt in her eyes. "I found out about your father's passing too late to be of any help. Have you been blaming us all these years?"
Willow pressed her lips together, a flash of bitterness crossing her face.
When her father had been in crisis, her first move had been to reach out to Gloria, asking her to help secure a loan from the Browns.
Though she and Gloria didn't get along, her father had been good to Gloria over the years. Willow had thought Gloria might remember that kindness, and that the Browns wouldn't just stand by.
But in the end, Gloria had told her the Browns didn't want any further involvement with the Spencers, and had given her just five hundred dollars to end the matter.
Willow still remembered that feeling of desperation and humiliation.
If they hadn't chosen to help then, why put on this act of concern now?
Recalling that time, Willow's eyes grew cold and distant. "You're overthinking things, Mrs. Brown. The Browns never owed us anything. What right would I have to blame anyone?"
Kaitlyn had only meant to ease into the conversation, but hearing the sarcasm in Willow's voice, she oddly felt as if she truly had wronged her somehow.
"I have work tomorrow and need to rest early," Willow said. "If you have something to say, please get to the point."
Kaitlyn hesitated, pushing aside her discomfort. "Since you put it that way, I'll be direct."
Willow raised her eyes to meet Kaitlyn's gaze.
Kaitlyn pulled a card from her purse and slid it across the table. "This card has five million dollars on it. Enough for you and your grandmother to live comfortably for the rest of your lives."
Willow glanced down at the bank card. "What exactly are you suggesting?"
"Glo told me you've done some... questionable things because you needed money," Kaitlyn said carefully. "Take this money and stay away from Sterling. He's not someone you should be involved with. Besides, you're married to Charles, aren't you?"
Instead of taking the card, Willow countered, "What exactly did she tell you? What 'questionable things' have I supposedly done?"
Kaitlyn frowned. "Ms. Spencer, I can see you're a good person who just took a wrong turn because of financial pressure. What you did before isn't important. What matters is—"
Willow picked up the bank card and tossed it into a plate on the table.
Kaitlyn fell silent.
"See? You can't even say what I supposedly did, which means you don't actually believe her, do you?" Willow hit the mark.
Kaitlyn's expression shifted.
She didn't want to admit it, but she hadn't fully believed Gloria's story. She'd only agreed to approach Willow out of guilt toward her daughter.
One look at Kaitlyn's face told Willow she was right. She gave a bitter smile and stood up, not wanting to waste any more time.
"Willow." Kaitlyn switched to using her first name, looking at her earnestly.
Willow paused momentarily.
"Whether what Glo said is true or not," Kaitlyn continued, "one thing is certain—you're married to Charles, and you should keep your distance from other men, especially Sterling."
Her tone had lost its condescension, taking on the quality of an elder giving sincere advice.
Willow remained silent.
"He's Charles's uncle," Kaitlyn went on. "If you get too close to him, people will talk. That won't be good for any of you."
Willow knew this perfectly well—it was exactly why she'd drawn a line with Sterling. But hearing it from Kaitlyn's mouth only made her blood boil.
She couldn't help but retort, "When my father was fighting for his life, you refused to lend me money because you 'didn't want Gloria to have any more connections with the Spencers.' If you were so eager to cut ties with us then, what right do you have to interfere in my life now?"
"I—" Kaitlyn started to say she had only good intentions.
But after a few seconds, she processed what Willow had said.
She frowned in confusion.
Not wanting Gloria to have contact with the Spencers? When had she ever said such a thing?
And when had Willow asked to borrow money from them? She had no knowledge of this.
She wanted to ask more, but Willow gave her no chance.
"Thank you for the meal, Mrs. Brown, but I'm leaving. Please keep your daughter in check and tell her to stop coming after me."
With that, Willow turned and walked out, her food untouched.
Kaitlyn watched her go, utterly bewildered.
After leaving the restaurant, Willow found a small diner and got something to eat. Just as she finished and stepped outside, she spotted Charles's car parked on the street.
Willow's brows knitted together as she instinctively scanned the area for anything suspicious. Seeing nothing out of the ordinary, she approached the car and got in.
"How did you know I was here?" she asked Charles suspiciously.
Charles acted nonchalant. "Just passing by. I happened to see you through the window and was about to call you."
Since Willow had been sitting by the window, her doubts eased somewhat.