Chapter 62
Gloria hesitated at the entrance to the main hall, her heart racing.
The recording had clearly captured the name "Gloria," and she was certain Sterling and Henry had heard it.
In the chaos of the moment, they'd let it slide, but if she went inside now... She shuddered, imagining being cornered with questions.
Penelope's fate flashed through her mind, filling her with dread.
"Ms. Brown."
Willow's voice behind her made Gloria jump. She whirled around, forcing bravado into her voice. "What do you want?"
The garden lay silent in the darkness. Willow's pale eyes studied her with unnerving calm as she approached, each step deliberate.
Gloria's guilt magnified her fear. "Stay back! Don't forget I just defended you—"
The sharp crack of a slap cut her words short.
Gloria's head snapped sideways from the impact. After a moment of stunned silence, her eyes blazed with indignation. "You dare hit me?"
"If you still consider me your sister," Willow replied with chilling composure, "then as your elder sister, I'm merely providing some education. Any objections?"
Gloria clutched her cheek, teeth clenched in hatred.
When Willow stepped closer, Gloria instinctively retreated.
"This is the second time," Willow said, her gaze hardening.
A flash of shock crossed Gloria's eyes. She opened her mouth, perhaps to ask how Willow knew, but caught herself.
Such a question would be an admission of guilt regarding the previous incident as well. She bit her tongue, but her reaction had already confirmed Willow's suspicions.
So it had indeed been Gloria who arranged the kidnappers. The timing had been calculated to both ruin Willow's reputation and prevent her collaboration with the Lancaster Group.
"This was just a warning," Willow stated coldly, her voice carrying an intimidating power. "If there's a next time, I promise you won't get off so easily."
She turned to leave.
"Who are you to lecture me?" Gloria spat at her back, finding courage in Willow's retreat. "You're Charles's wife, yet you're inappropriately close with Sterry! I was only trying to help him see what kind of person you really are!"
Willow froze mid-step.
She turned back slowly, scrutinizing Gloria with new intensity. "What exactly do you think you know?"
Since Willow's marriage to Charles, Gloria had always seemed wary of her, despite the fact that initially, Willow had no connection to Sterling whatsoever.
If Gloria had become suspicious after Willow's visit to Sterling's home, that would make sense. But she seemed to harbor suspicions from their very first coffee shop meeting.
A disturbing possibility formed in Willow's mind, though she clung to denial.
It couldn't be—she'd checked the hallway that night. No one had been there. No one else could possibly know.
Gloria noticed Willow's uncertain expression and faltered.
"I'm just warning you to stay away from Sterry," she declared with false confidence. "We're getting engaged soon!"
Afraid Willow might read something in her face, Gloria hurried away.
Willow watched her retreat, mind racing with unsettling possibilities. After a moment, she pushed these thoughts aside and headed toward the manor's entrance.
---
Gloria hadn't gone far when a tall figure suddenly materialized in her path.
She startled, and before she could recover, her brother's measured voice came from above.
"Glo, don't you think you owe me an explanation about what just happened?"
Henry looked down at his sister, then glanced thoughtfully in the direction Willow had gone.
Gloria kept her head down. "Henry? You saw everything..."
"Yes, I did," he confirmed quietly.
After hearing the recording, he and Sterling had discussed the matter, with Sterling agreeing to let Henry handle it.
So he'd deliberately hung back, intending to speak with Gloria, never expecting Willow to confront her first.
The interaction between the two women seemed quite different from how Gloria had described their relationship at home.
Henry added, "Though I was too far away to hear what you were saying."
Gloria immediately burst into tears and threw herself into his arms, a tactic that had served her well for years.
"Henry, you saw it—she hit me!" she sobbed dramatically. "I was only trying to help her, and she attacked me! She's completely unhinged! Mr. Spencer spoiled her as a child, and she's been bullying me ever since..."
Henry looked down at her, his gaze unreadable.
The Brown family had always felt they owed Gloria something. Since they'd taken her in, her tears had been a reliable tool for getting whatever she wanted.
But tonight, Henry didn't offer his usual comfort. He simply said, "I understand," in a tone that suggested he understood far more than Gloria realized.
When she tried to continue her performance, he cut her off. "It's late. I'm taking you home to rest."
Gloria had no choice but to comply, though uncertainty flickered in her eyes.
---
Willow reached the manor's entrance as the banquet was winding down.
Sterling was personally seeing off a respected elder at the door.
As the guest departed, Sterling turned and found himself face to face with Willow, who was still alone. His expression darkened slightly.
Willow noticed his gaze and looked up. Seeing Sterling, she paused briefly before forcing a smile and approaching him.
"Thank you, Uncle Sterling. You helped me again tonight," she said politely.
Sterling observed her stiff smile. "I detect very little sincerity in your thanks."
Willow gave him a puzzled look.
She thought she heard a note of dissatisfaction in his tone. Then again, for someone of Sterling's status, a simple "thank you" probably did seem inadequate. He likely heard such empty phrases constantly.
But what gift could she possibly offer someone who lacked for nothing?
Willow's mind seemed to jam, unable to formulate a response.
They stood facing each other, neither speaking, creating an atmosphere that seemed impenetrable to outsiders.
In the distance, Charles waited in the car, watching the exchange with growing unease.
Seeing Willow lingering with Sterling, the suspicions he'd barely managed to suppress began to resurface, casting shadows across his thoughts.