Chapter 271
The night before surgery, Willow was too nervous to sleep.
At nine o'clock the next morning, Maria was wheeled into the operating room.
Willow sat alone on the bench outside, too anxious to do anything else. She clenched her fingers restlessly, checking the time every few minutes.
Over an hour passed. Apart from the occasional beeping of instruments from the operating room, the corridor was utterly silent.
It felt like she was the only person left in the world.
Willow's mood grew heavier as time crept by.
Molly sent a message checking in: [Willow, how's the surgery going? Everything smooth?]
Molly had wanted to come keep her company, but she had scenes to shoot today. The production couldn't adjust the schedule for a minor supporting actress, so she had no choice but to stay away.
Her message came at just the right time, pulling Willow back somewhat.
[Not finished yet,] she replied.
Molly responded quickly: [No news is the best news. It'll definitely go smoothly!]
Followed by a hugging emoji.
Warmth spread through Willow's chest. [Yes, it will go smoothly.]
Molly chatted with her a bit longer before being called to set. She hastily sent Willow a voice message.
[Gotta go—I'm up. I'll wrap as fast as I can and come keep you company.]
Willow was typing a response when another voice message came through, this one quieter than the last.
[Willow, if anything really happens, you have to reach out to Mr. Lancaster. My brother said he's free these next few days. Even though you two broke up, I don't think he'd just stand by.]
Willow opened it and listened. Her typing fingers slowly stilled.
Sterling...
She'd been trying so hard not to think of him, yet here was his name, catching her completely off guard.
If they hadn't broken up, Sterling would be here beside her right now, wouldn't he?
Just seeing his name made Willow picture scenes of them together.
But quickly, she remembered their encounter at the Lancaster Group Building.
Sterling had seen her, hadn't he?
Yet he hadn't even spared her a glance.
He must blame her for promising to be with him, then suddenly breaking up without even giving him a reason.
She came back to herself, realizing again that she was alone outside the operating room. A hollow feeling washed over Willow.
No, not alone.
Willow remembered something. She lifted a hand to her stomach, lowering her gaze with a bitter smile.
The baby was with her.
"Baby, the surgery will go smoothly, won't it?" Willow spoke silently to the little one.
Naturally, the baby couldn't respond.
Willow was just seeking some comfort. She soon lowered her hand, falling quiet again.
Meanwhile.
In the hospital's monitoring room.
Sterling sat before the screens with a grave expression, silently watching the surveillance footage.
Willow's every movement was clearly visible to him.
Seeing Willow lower her head and touch her stomach as she spoke, Sterling felt something stir within him.
"Was she just talking?" he asked the monitoring staff behind him.
The staff had noticed Willow's behavior, too, but didn't read much into it. "She might be feeling stomach discomfort from nerves. Did she skip breakfast this morning?"
Sterling frowned without responding.
In the corridor.
Willow suddenly felt an inexplicable pressure.
As though someone was watching her from somewhere she couldn't see.
She looked around. The corridor still held only her.
Willow withdrew her gaze, figuring she was overthinking.
The surgery continued until noon.
A full three hours. Not a word from the operating room.
Willow's mood was unbearably heavy, but she could only comfort herself with Molly's earlier words—no news was the best news.
Suddenly, footsteps echoed down the corridor.
Willow's heart clenched. She stood nervously, looking toward the sound.
"Ms. Spencer, it's me." Ruth approached carrying a thermal container.
Drawing near and seeing Willow's strained expression, Ruth's brow furrowed sympathetically. She glanced at the operating room and offered reassurance. "It'll be fine. The surgeons operating on Mrs. Spencer are industry-leading experts. Besides, heart and brain surgeries always take time."
Willow managed a weak smile. "Okay."
Ruth touched her arm. "Did you skip breakfast? Sit down and eat something. Mr. Lancaster specially had someone buy your favorites..."
As she took out the food, she kept talking.
Willow froze, her voice hoarse. "You said... who?"
Before Ruth could answer, a plate of delicate pastries appeared before her.
Willow confirmed her guess. She blinked, her eyes burning with heat.
Ruth belatedly realized she'd misspoken and tried to cover.
But when she looked up, Willow was already crying silently, tears streaming down.
Ruth panicked.
"Ms. Spencer, I'm sorry—did I say something wrong?" She fumbled to comfort her. "It's my fault. Seeing you so upset made me feel bad, too, and I spoke without thinking. Mr. Lancaster told me not to mention..."
The more she talked, the harder Willow's tears fell.
Ruth wiped at her tears while glancing anxiously at the overhead camera.
"Ms. Spencer, please stop crying. Mr. Lancaster sent me to bring you food. If he sees I made you cry, he'll be upset with me..."
"Mrs. Spencer is still in surgery. You crying out here—isn't that bad luck? Right?"
She felt like crying herself over her own stupidity. Just delivering food, and somehow making Willow cry...
Hearing her mention Maria, Willow panicked, too. She took the tissues Ruth offered, frantically wiping her face, but the tears wouldn't stop.
After a long while, she finally managed to stem the flow, though her heart still ached.
Sterling... after how cruelly she'd treated him, why was he still so good to her?
"Ms. Spencer..." Seeing she'd finally stopped crying, Ruth tried to apologize again.
Willow took a deep breath, composing herself, and gently shook her head. "I'm fine. I'm sorry for frightening you."
Having just cried, her eyes and nose were red, her entire being radiating fragility.
Looking at her, Ruth couldn't help feeling heartbroken.
She softened her tone unconsciously. "As long as you're okay. Eat something, or Mrs. Spencer will worry."
After that lesson, Ruth didn't dare mention Sterling's name again.
Willow had no appetite, but hearing those words and knowing this was Sterling's doing, she accepted the utensils Ruth offered and ate quietly.