Chapter 239

Lily's POV

After exchanging contact information with Yale, William took me back to the villa.

My teacher Matthew also happened to arrive at that time, so we brought him along to James's villa.

When the door opened, an amusing scene greeted us.

James was trying to coax Colette into eating, looking somewhat frustrated.

"Colette, just one more bite, just one," James was practically begging, completely lacking his usual commanding presence.

"No, I really can't eat anymore," Colette gently shook her head, her face pale.

Seeing James like this for the first time, I couldn't help exchanging an amused glance with William.

So even the high-and-mighty CEO had moments of helplessness.

James heard our laughter and turned around, seeing us with a slightly embarrassed expression.

I teased him: "So the CEO of Alexander Group spends his after-work hours coaxing his girlfriend to eat?"

Strangely, since the kidnapping incident, my relationship with James hadn't deteriorated—it had actually improved.

Former enemies now joking with each other—how peculiar.

Of course, my change in attitude toward him was because of Colette, that kind-hearted girl.

James shot back: "Doesn't the CEO of Azure Group skip work every day to be with her boyfriend?"

"Enough," I rolled my eyes and got to the point. "Cut the small talk. I'm ready to treat Colette. This is my teacher, Matthew. Is Colette mentally prepared?"

Colette quickly dodged the bowl James was offering and moved closer to me. "Yes, I'm ready. James, I'm not eating anymore."

James complained: "Couldn't you have come later? We were in the middle of dinner, and now that you're here, she's even less interested in eating."

I sighed and deliberately put on a stern face: "Colette, be good and finish your dinner first, or I won't treat you."

Colette pouted, complaining that James was fattening her up like a pig.

She pointed at me and said: "Look at Lily, she's thin and beautiful."

James retorted: "She's not healthy at all."

I rolled my eyes dramatically: "Who are you calling unhealthy?"

William leaned down to whisper in my ear: "I also think you're not healthy."

I pinched his flesh while smiling through gritted teeth: "What did you say?"

Though William was in pain, his expression remained unchanged: "Understood, not thin."

Satisfied with his answer, I released him.

Half an hour later, Colette finally finished eating.

The villa was equipped with various professional medical equipment. Matthew, myself, and several highly-paid nurses began the procedure.

The treatment lasted nearly two hours.

James and William waited anxiously outside.

When the treatment ended and I walked out of the room, I was completely exhausted.

James immediately approached, eagerly asking about the results.

I deliberately said: "I'm sorry, I..."

Before I could finish, James's face fell. In that moment, I glimpsed true despair.

I then revealed a mischievous smile: "I meant... it was very successful. She's fine now."

James was overjoyed, shouting like a child, "It worked! It worked!"

He even forgot his dignity, lifting me up and spinning me around, then immediately realizing his impropriety and awkwardly putting me down.

Looking at him, I understood that even if his company made five billion in profits, he wouldn't be this happy—all because Colette was the person he truly cared about.

"This version of James is actually quite likeable. It was worth using my own blood to save Colette."

"She needs rest now," I instructed, my voice revealing my fatigue.

"Also, her diet needs special attention. If you need a complete, healthy meal plan suitable for Colette, you can beg me, and perhaps I'll be kind enough to tell you."

William noticed I was deliberately teasing James and a hint of amusement flashed in his eyes.

James snorted: "I'll figure something out."

As we left, I deliberately said: "Don't message me if something comes up, and especially don't message me if nothing comes up."

James fired back: "Don't worry, without some extraordinary circumstance, I wouldn't want to contact you in this lifetime."

Knowing he was annoyed, I secretly rejoiced.

"Small-minded men are all the same, can't handle being teased. William is the same."

A few days later, Colette's condition had completely stabilized. I fulfilled my promise and prepared to take Yale to meet Samuel.

My heart was both hopeful and anxious.

"Will Samuel accept his biological father?"

"I hope everything can be resolved smoothly."

I first found a place for Yale to stay, then returned to the Sterling family mansion with William.

There was still one matter lingering in my mind.

William sensed my thoughts and spoke first: "If you have questions, just ask."

I directly asked what concerned me most: "I want to know, what are you planning to do about Emily?"

We'd been so busy dealing with Nicholas, handling James and Colette's situation, that I hadn't found the right opportunity to clarify this matter.

Emily Rodriguez had been claiming to be William's girlfriend.

"Now that we've resolved these issues, Emily and I will part ways amicably, with no connection between us."

William's answer satisfied me greatly, but I deliberately pressed further: "So?"

William held me and said seriously: "So, I plan to publicly clarify that Emily and I were never truly together—it was all her fabrication. Moreover, you are my rightful, acknowledged fiancée."

Hearing his answer, my heart filled with sweetness: "Since the great William Sterling is so perceptive, I won't give you a hard time."

William's lips curved slowly: "Thank you for being so understanding, wife."

The term "wife" instantly made me blush. I lightly tapped his chest: "What are you saying? What wife!"

William's voice was deep and magnetic: "You'll be mine eventually. What's wrong with calling you wife a bit early? Wife?"

The way he said "wife" was particularly seductive. I felt like my ears might get pregnant.

"It's a good thing I'm not an audio person, or I couldn't withstand William's voice attacks."

I stopped responding, glared at him, and turned my head away.

The scenery outside the car window flew by quickly, but my mood had lightened considerably.

When we arrived at the Sterling mansion, William gentlemanly opened the car door for me and led me through the main entrance.

As soon as we entered, we saw someone crying—Emily Rodriguez.

Emily was in tears as she spoke to Walter: "I saw the news. Lily ran away from her engagement. Did William go looking for her?"

Suddenly, she caught sight of William returning with me, and froze: "William... you brought Lily back?"

Her voice was full of disbelief, her swollen eyes scanning back and forth between William and me.

"My girlfriend—what's wrong with bringing her back?" William's response was casual but devastating.

Emily's face instantly turned pale: "William, I'm your girlfriend. How could you bring Lily back? What about us these past few days?"

Unable to stand Emily's crying, I found it annoying and interjected: "Consider yourself unlucky."

Emily was like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, instantly enraged: "Lily, who gave you the right to speak here?"

"If I don't have the right to speak, do you? I don't know how you and Nicholas schemed against me, but for interfering with my relationship with William, I have ten thousand reasons to drive you away." I approached Emily step by step, but she stood her ground.

"This is the Sterling family home, not Lily's house. Walter likes me, so he certainly won't make me leave!" Emily turned to look at Walter after saying this, but found he wasn't supporting her as before.

Instead, Walter's expression had become deeply apologetic.