Chapter 281
Willow held the room key and went upstairs.
The moment she opened the door, she heard footsteps.
A moment later, Luke appeared before her, tail wagging.
Seeing it was her, Luke happily circled around her a few times, nudging her with his nose as if urging her to come in.
After so long, he was still just as enthusiastic.
Willow became even more certain of her guess. Her anxious mood from the entire evening gradually calmed down. She crouched down and stroked Luke's head. "Luke, long time no see."
As if responding to her, Luke barked twice.
Willow couldn't help but smile, then glanced around the room.
Besides Luke, she was the only one there—no signs of anyone else coming or going.
"Who brought you here?" With the crisis averted, Willow's mood lightened considerably. Cupping Luke's head, she spoke softly to him. "Was it Sterling?"
Naturally, Luke wouldn't respond. He just sat obediently in front of her, his blue eyes gazing at her blankly.
Willow couldn't help rubbing his face, hugging his head against her chest as if she were holding Sterling himself.
"You were in so much pain that night, weren't you? You nearly tore my dress off. I'm sorry—I didn't want it to happen that way either. Can you forgive me?"
Luke remained silent.
Willow stroked his somewhat coarse fur, talking to herself.
"What's Sterling doing right now? He must be so busy, right? The moment I walked in, there were so many people surrounding him with drinks. He hasn't been resting well lately, and drinking too much will hurt his health."
"I hurt him, too, Luke. Do you think he'll forgive me? If he's mad at me, will you help me out? I'll really make you something delicious."
Whether he understood her words or not, Luke wagged his tail and barked twice.
Willow's eyes brightened, and she laughed. "Then I'll take that as a yes. Good Luke, I'll thank you properly."
While talking to Luke, she nervously waited for Sterling to appear.
Since he'd arranged this room for her, he would definitely come, right?
Based on what Ophelia said, it seemed Sterling had partnered with her.
What were they planning now? Would Sterling be in danger?
Willow felt uneasy, but going out now wouldn't help—she might even cause trouble for Sterling. She could only wait obediently in the room.
Meanwhile.
Ophelia returned to Charles's side only after arranging everything.
"Where did you go?" Charles was very displeased that she'd disappeared for so long.
Ophelia wore a fake smile, linking her arm through his intimately. She whispered in his ear, "None of your business, Charles. Don't forget—we're just partners. You don't get to question my private affairs."
Charles's gaze turned cold.
From the beginning, Ophelia had always treated him with this condescending attitude.
If she wasn't planning to restrain herself before the wedding, after marriage, she'd surely get even worse.
If not for her background, Charles would never be with such a woman.
But he still had Willow.
Thinking of Willow waiting for him in the room, and what would happen tonight, the coldness in Charles's eyes slowly faded.
"Mr. Lancaster, Ms. Thompson-oh no, I should call you Mrs. Lancaster now." Someone came over to toast them. "Come, let me toast you both. Here's to a long and happy marriage."
Charles cooperatively put on a smile and drained his glass.
"Sorry, I haven't been feeling well these past few days. I can't drink." Ophelia smiled sweetly. "Charles, you drink for me."
Charles looked at her suspiciously.
After returning from studying abroad, Ophelia had always acted carefree around him.
During this time, Charles had been sent to bars and similar places to pick her up countless times.
Now she was saying she couldn't drink?
"What's wrong?" Brian was also mingling nearby. Seeing his daughter return, he came over to check.
Ophelia acted nonchalant. "I said I haven't been feeling well these past few days, so I'm having Charles handle the drinks for me."
Brian didn't think much of it. "As he should. Men can handle a few more drinks."
Charles had no choice but to suppress his doubts and smile ingratiatingly at Brian. "Father-in-law is right. Since Ophelia isn't feeling well, there's no reason to let her touch alcohol."
With that, he took the drink Ophelia handed him and downed it.
After that, whenever anyone toasted them, Ophelia left it all to Charles to handle.
They worked through the guests and finally had to toast their own family members.
The Thompson family had only brought Brian and Ophelia's brother, Lucas Thompson. They sat at the same table as the Lancaster family.
The couple toasted each person in turn.
Finally, they stood before Sterling.
"Uncle Sterling." Charles was already tipsy. Seeing Sterling before him, and thinking of Willow, who should already be waiting obediently for him in the room, he couldn't help grinning triumphantly. "Thank you for all your care over the years, for helping me get what I wanted today. Let me toast you."
The smile on Sterling's face didn't reach his eyes, his voice flat. "You're welcome."
Charles happily drank the wine in his glass.
"I'll also toast Uncle Sterling." Ophelia held her glass out to Charles.
Charles drank for her.
The toasting should have ended there.
Charles couldn't wait to go upstairs.
"I haven't wished you a happy marriage yet." Sterling's voice came from behind.
Charles, already drunk, couldn't think straight. Ophelia tugged his arm and pulled him back, and Sterling poured him two more drinks.
When Charles tried to leave, Henry appeared from nowhere, waving a wine glass at him. "Mr. Charles Lancaster, you're in the spotlight today. Let me toast you and share in your good fortune."
Charles had already been force-fed quite a bit. He staggered to a stop, and as Henry plied him with more alcohol, his thoughts drifted involuntarily to Willow.
He couldn't hold his liquor well. Back when he was with Willow, when Everpine Group was just starting out, whenever he couldn't drink anymore, Willow would step in front of him and take the drinks people offered him.
Willow...
He missed her so much.
"N-no more!" Charles waved away the drink Henry offered. What little reason he had left reminded him to call for Ophelia. "Upstairs. We should go rest."
Ophelia smiled noncommittally and helped him upstairs.
Below, everyone watched their departing figures.
Harold looked deeply satisfied, saying to Brian, "Charles doesn't hold his liquor well. I'm afraid Ophelia will have a difficult night."
Brian also wore a smile. "Ophelia has quite a temper. In the future, Charles will have to work hard to be understanding with her."
Both were extremely satisfied with this marriage alliance.
Similarly, some opposed it.
"Dad, I'm going out for some air." From the start of the wedding banquet, Lucas's smile had been stiff. Now that it was over, he couldn't keep up the act anymore.
After excusing himself from those at the table, Lucas stood and left.
A few steps away, Lucas's smile vanished completely, replaced by coldness.
That woman Ophelia—she thought he didn't know what she was scheming.
Isn’t she just trying to use the marriage to place herself above him?
He irritably smoked a cigarette. Suddenly, from the corner of his eye, he spotted a woman sneaking away from the banquet hall.