Chapter 307
"Mr. Lancaster, Willow, I'll step out now."
Molly tactfully excused herself and quietly slipped out of the hospital room.
Only Willow and Sterling remained.
Sterling walked to the bedside. "How are you feeling? Anything uncomfortable?"
Willow looked up at him for a moment without responding.
Sterling thought she was unwell and frowned with concern.
Just as he was about to speak, Willow grabbed his sleeve and tugged him closer to the bed.
Sterling didn't understand, but cooperated, moving until his knees nearly pressed against the bed frame, almost half-kneeling on the mattress.
Willow frowned, unzipped his jacket, lifted his hoodie to examine his well-defined torso, then rolled up his sleeves to check his arms. She found no visible injuries.
Finally, her gaze fell on his pants, hesitating over whether to proceed.
Sterling caught her intention and curved his lips playfully. "What did Molly tell you? Did she mention I rescued you, and now you're so moved you want to repay me with your body the moment you wake up?"
Willow looked up, glaring at him anxiously, her voice hoarse. "Where are you injured? Is it serious?"
Hearing her voice, Sterling's brow furrowed, his expression growing solemn as he gripped her chin and had her open her mouth.
Willow cooperated, letting him examine her.
After Sterling released her, she explained, "My respiratory tract is damaged, but it's nothing serious."
Then she looked at him nervously again. "Where exactly are you hurt?"
Sterling smiled reassuringly. "When I came out, my leg got hit. It's mostly healed now. Don't worry."
In truth, he'd been injured while violently dismantling the bed to free her.
Willow frowned.
Sterling had no choice but to roll up his pant leg to show her.
His calf was wrapped tightly in bandages, making it impossible to tell how severe the injury underneath was.
But seeing the length of the bandaging, Willow's heart ached.
"I'm sorry." She lowered her eyes guiltily.
If not for saving her, Sterling wouldn't have been hurt.
Sterling looked down at her, his eyes filled only with relief. "If something had really happened to you, that's when you'd truly need to apologize to me."
He soothingly stroked her head. "Now that we're both safe, all I want to hear is you saying you love me."
But Willow was in no mood for jokes, her head bowed, consumed by guilt.
Sterling grew serious, too. "Do you know how the fire started?"
At the mention of business, Willow forced herself to focus and looked up to speak.
Sterling handed her his phone, letting her type instead.
Willow took it. [I saw someone set the fire.]
Sterling's expression darkened.
Willow thought for a moment, then typed another line. [I saw his face. If you find suspects, let me take a look. I should be able to identify him.]
She remembered something else and added: [I also heard him say someone instructed him to do it and told me not to blame him.]
The more she typed, the graver Sterling's expression became.
"Got it." He took the phone back and leaned down to kiss the corner of her lips. "Leave the rest to me. Get some rest."
With that, he turned to leave.
Willow spoke through the pain. "Your injury hasn't healed yet..."
Sterling's voice was low. "Since someone gave orders, I need to catch them quickly. Every moment we delay gives them a chance to escape."
Willow couldn't say more and watched him turn away.
Watching Sterling's gait as he left, it seemed he was telling the truth—his leg injury had mostly healed. His stride looked no different from usual, which put Willow somewhat at ease.
Shortly after Sterling left, the doctor came for rounds.
After the examination, Willow carefully asked the question that had been weighing on her. "Doctor, my baby..."
The doctor replied, "You're lucky. Your respiratory tract was damaged, but your body wasn't otherwise injured, and the baby's condition is good, too."
Willow exhaled in relief. "Thank you."
The doctor gave her a few more instructions.
As they were talking, Maria walked in from outside.
The moment she saw Willow, Maria's eyes reddened. She grabbed the doctor anxiously, asking question after question.
Only after confirming Willow was basically fine did Maria's expression improve slightly.
Molly followed behind Maria, her face full of guilt.
"Willow, your grandmother kept asking me these past two days. I really couldn't keep it from her..."
Sterling had instructed them not to tell Maria, worried she'd be upset.
But ultimately, when your own granddaughter is involved in such a serious incident and unreachable for days, even a fool would realize something had happened.
Willow smiled reassuringly. "It's okay. Thank you for your help these past days."
"What on earth happened?" Now that Maria had confirmed Willow was alright, she began demanding answers. "Willow, you left with Matthew that day. How did you suddenly disappear? Who did this? Have the police caught anyone?"
In just a few days, Maria looked even more haggard than when she'd been discharged from the hospital.
Willow didn't want her to worry more and tried to be vague. "I'm not really sure..."
Maria cut her off. "Don't lie to me! Or I'll go ask Sterling!"
"Grandma..." Willow was at a loss with her.
Maria was truly angry. "This is the third time! In such a short period, I've been unable to reach you three times and had no idea what happened! You're my own granddaughter, yet I, your grandmother, don't know what you've been through. What kind of grandmother am I?"
She paused, her voice choking up. "How will I face your parents and grandfather after I die?"
Seeing Maria's reddened eyes, Willow couldn't find words.
But Maria had already formed a guess. "Is it Charles? He still hasn't given up?"
Ever since Willow divorced Charles, he'd been persistently harassing her, tracking her down multiple times.
Maria had been keeping Willow from going out precisely to avoid him causing more trouble.
Willow remained silent.
Maria knew she'd guessed correctly.
"That monster!" Maria was furious. "What does he want? Just because we're two women without support, he thinks he can do whatever he pleases?"
Maria grew angrier as she spoke. "Where is he now? I'm going to find him! Even if we have no money, that doesn't mean he can bully us! Even if it costs me this old life, I'll get justice for you!"
Seeing this, Molly quickly stepped forward to stop her, saying, "Mrs. Spencer, please calm down. Mr. Lancaster is already handling it. Charles will definitely get what's coming to him. Willow only has you as family now. If you go risk your life, how will Willow live afterward?"
Maria was truly beside herself. Molly tried to persuade her for a long time before Maria's fury subsided slightly, and she stopped insisting on confronting Charles.