Chapter 16

Chapter 16
Willow POV
I grabbed a passing nurse, my voice tight. "Excuse me, where's my grandmother?"
The nurse glanced at the empty room and sighed. "The old lady went visiting again. Try the garden downstairs?"
I let go of her and turned toward the stairwell.
Just as I reached the top of the stairs, I nearly collided with Maria—who was walking up with Charles.
"I got bored stuck in that room all by myself," Grandma explained like a child caught misbehaving. "The folks downstairs are much better company."
Charles's tone was gentle. "If you're feeling lonely, you can always tell me. Willow would've worried when she didn't see you."
He looked up and spotted me—still pale—and gave me a reassuring look.
Grandma noticed me too. "Willa, what are you doing standing there?"
Seeing her safe and sound, I finally exhaled.
I walked over and took her arm. "Grandma, please don't wander off like that."
"Relax, I'm fine."
Back in the room, Maria started up again. "I won't leave this world until I see your baby with my own eyes."
My expression stiffened. "Grandma…"
Maria mistook my reaction for embarrassment and said earnestly, "You've been married for a while now. You're still young—have a baby soon. It's better for your health."
I instinctively glanced at Charles, wondering if he'd put her up to this.
Charles looked completely innocent. He quickly changed the subject. "Grandma, in my eyes, Willow's still a kid who needs taking care of. I want her to enjoy a few more carefree years. We're not rushing into kids. You just focus on getting better—we'll need you to help us raise them someday."
Every word sounded sincere.
Grandma beamed, completely convinced.
I sat quietly, my resolve wavering.
Grandma truly adored Charles. She truly believed we were happy together. That's why she felt safe entrusting me to him.
If she found out the real reason I wanted a divorce… I was terrified her body couldn't take it. She was the only family I had left.
"Willa?" Grandma's voice pulled me back.
I snapped out of it and realized Charles had left the room at some point.
"What is it, Grandma?" I pushed down the turmoil inside.
Maria looked at me with concern. "Did you two have a fight? Don't lie to me. I can see it on your face."
Her eyes were full of care. For a moment, I almost crumbled—almost threw myself into her arms and poured out everything, the way I used to when I was little.
But I caught myself. Grandma was old now. And this wasn't some childhood spat that could be easily fixed.
"We didn't fight," I said, shaking my head. "I just started a new job. Still adjusting."
Maria studied me for a long moment, then pulled me into her arms and patted my back gently, the way she used to.
I buried my face in her warm shoulder. Where she couldn't see, my eyes burned.
Later, the doctor called me into his office for a private talk. He told me that while Grandma's condition hadn't worsened, it wasn't improving either. He urged me to prepare myself mentally and make sure her final days were without regret.
In other words, she didn't have much time left.
My eyes stung. My chest ached.
All Maria wanted was to see me build a happy family. To have children of my own.
She had no idea I was planning to divorce.
Charles and I stayed with Grandma all day.
That evening, back at the villa, Charles wrapped his arms around me from behind.
"Babe, Grandma said she wants to hold a great-grandchild."
His breath brushed my ear.
I instinctively tried to pull away, but when I heard those words, my hand—halfway raised—froze mid-air. Slowly, I lowered it.
I struggled with myself for a long time.
Grandma's hopeful eyes. Charles's recent attempts to please me…
He'd made a mistake. And I'd been forced into one too.
Maybe I could give him—and myself—one more chance.
I turned to face him, my voice hoarse. "Charles, I'm going to ask you one last time. Is there anything you're hiding from me?"
If he was willing to come clean right now and promise never to do it again, maybe—for Grandma's sake—I could force myself to accept it.
Charles clearly sensed my softening.
Hearing my question again, he seemed to make up his mind.
He slowly released me. His lips parted. "Babe, I…"
Just as he was about to confess, a shrill ringtone cut through the air.
Charles frowned and hung up without looking.
It rang again. I gestured for him to answer—it might be urgent.
The moment he picked up, Rachel's tear-choked voice came through.
"Charlie, where are you? Can you come to my place? My mom just collapsed, my dad's not here, and I don't know what to do!"
Charles and Rachel had grown up together. There was history there. He looked at me, conflicted.
I pressed my lips together and mouthed, Go.
I'd lost someone I loved before. I knew how helpless Rachel must feel right now.
Charles looked into my eyes. For a moment, he had the strangest feeling—like I already knew everything. Before he could process it, I'd already turned away.
On the other end, Rachel kept pleading.
Charles had no choice but to agree.
"Babe, I'll be right back!" he called as he rushed out. "I have something important to tell you. Wait for me!"
I didn't answer.
The bedroom door closed. Charles's hurried footsteps faded. Then came the sound of his car roaring out of the driveway.
The room fell silent.
I stood there, and suddenly I was reminded of a night many years ago. My father had been rushed into emergency surgery after a car accident. I'd cried just like Rachel, calling Charles in a panic.
He'd dropped everything and come immediately. He stayed on the phone with me the entire way, comforting me nonstop.
And suddenly, I had a feeling.
Charles wasn't going to tell me the truth.
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