Chapter 145
"Willow, I know I was wrong! Please forgive me!" Molly pleaded, giving Willow her best puppy-dog eyes across the cafeteria table. "You promised to consider living with me. You won't change your mind because of that incident, will you? I swear I'll never do it again..."
Willow continued eating her lunch, then raised her index finger and wagged it firmly. "After what you did that day, my trust in you has dropped to zero."
So much for Molly's promise to keep watch and make sure she wouldn't run into Sterling. Based on her behavior, she'd probably been hoping for exactly the opposite.
"Willow..." Molly slumped onto the table, looking utterly dejected.
Willow put down her utensils and looked at her seriously. "I know what you and Blake are trying to do, but nothing can happen between Sterling and me."
At the mention of Sterling, Molly immediately perked up. "Why not? You two are perfect together! He clearly cares about you. I can tell his feelings are genuine!"
"That's exactly why I can't burden him," Willow said softly.
Molly stared at her in confusion. "What burden? Willow, you're amazing too!"
Willow just shook her head. "Either way, please stop trying. I'm not in the mood for romance right now. I have more important things to focus on."
Thinking about Willow's situation, Molly couldn't help asking, "When you divorced Charles, didn't he give you any money?"
Charles had a substantial company and the Lancaster family backing him—he couldn't possibly be short on funds. Given their years together and Charles knowing her circumstances, surely he would have provided something?
"He's been covering my grandmother's medical expenses all these years," Willow explained casually. "We weren't married long, and I was the one who initiated the divorce, so I didn't ask for anything."
Molly bit her fork and cursed, "That heartless jerk."
"Sterling is so much better," Molly continued. "Mature, reliable, and generous. Willow, that day when you two..." She studied Willow curiously, desperate to know what had happened after they'd left.
Willow hadn't expected Molly to circle back to this topic. Thinking about that day, she averted her gaze guiltily. "Nothing happened. After you all left, I made an excuse and went home too."
Before Molly could ask any more questions, Willow stood up and gathered her dishes. "I'm finished. I'm heading back upstairs."
Molly watched her leave, lost in thought. After a moment, her eyes suddenly lit up. If nothing had happened that day, why would Willow suddenly change her mind about living together when she'd been so agreeable before? Something must have happened. But what?
Back at her department, Willow was soon called in by her manager.
"We've heard from the Brown Group. They want you to visit the resort to explain your proposal in detail to their representative while looking at the actual location," the manager said.
Willow felt relieved. After waiting so long, she'd worried her proposal might be rejected.
"When should I go?" she asked.
The manager drummed his fingers on the desk. "How about working overtime this weekend? You know the department's under pressure right now and we can't spare people. You could take two days—work and relax a bit."
Willow hesitated briefly before agreeing. With two days, she could work one day and spend the other with Maria. While she was working, Maria could rest in the room with the medical staff keeping her company.
Willow told Maria about the arrangement when she returned to the hospital.
Maria had no objections. "You focus on your work, don't worry about me. I have Ruth to keep me company. She's so attentive."
Ruth was a hospital nurse who had helped with Maria's admission. About Willow's age, she was gentle and meticulous—Maria had taken an immediate liking to her. She'd been keeping Maria company whenever Willow was away.
The night before the resort trip, Willow packed early and lay in bed, but sleep eluded her. For some reason, she felt uneasy. As she mentally went through her checklist, her phone screen lit up.
Grateful for the distraction, Willow picked up her phone. Sterling had messaged, asking if she was going to the resort tomorrow.
Since that day at his apartment, they hadn't spoken. They'd only crossed paths once or twice at the company, with Sterling always surrounded by executives. Willow had her own responsibilities and didn't know how to face him anyway, so their encounters had been brief and hurried.
Seeing Sterling's message now made her inexplicably nervous. [Yes. Is there something you need, Mr. Lancaster?] she replied carefully.
A moment later, her phone rang with Sterling's name on the screen. Willow hesitated before finally answering.
"Still awake?" Sterling's deep voice came through the speaker.
"Yes," Willow answered softly.
"Would it be possible for you to take Luke with you tomorrow?" Sterling asked. "Blake's going too, but Luke doesn't really listen to him."
As if on cue, Luke barked twice in the background.
"Luke's used to the resort environment," Sterling explained. "He's been cooped up in the apartment for days and seems a bit down." Sterling was sitting on the sofa with his feet resting on Luke's belly. The dog was trying unsuccessfully to nip at his feet, growing increasingly frustrated.
Hearing that Luke wasn't feeling well immediately softened Willow's resolve. "Okay."
Realizing her response might have seemed too curt, she added, "How are you feeling? Has your fever gone down? Any other discomfort?"
"Willow, can I take that as you being concerned about me?" Sterling's deep voice seemed to carry some kind of spell.
She was concerned, but only out of politeness. His question made it seem like something more. She pressed her lips together, unsure how to respond.
After a few seconds of silence, Sterling spoke again. "I'm fine. I wasn't actually running a fever that day—I just wanted you to stay longer. Don't worry about me. Take good care of your grandmother these next couple of days. If you need anything, contact me or Blake."
Willow hadn't expected such straightforward honesty from him. Once again, she felt that strange flutter inside her. After a moment, she softly agreed.