Chapter 21

Chapter 21
Willow POV
If he recognized me, how would I explain?
The silence stretched on. Charles glanced at me, his brow furrowing in confusion.
I forced out a stiff greeting. "Good morning, Mr. Lancaster..."
Sterling gave a curt nod. His penetrating gaze swept across my face and down to my neck, lingering for a moment. His expression suddenly darkened.
Under his stare, my neck began to burn.
Last night, his scorching lips had kissed my throat, leaving marks everywhere—marks I'd covered with foundation.
A moment later, Sterling looked away and brushed past me.
I exhaled in relief, the tension draining from my body.
It seemed that with Sterling's sex addiction flaring and the room so dark, he hadn't recognized me.
Other Lancaster family members arrived, eagerly greeting Sterling.
I followed Charles inside.
"Sterling's just like that. Everyone in the family is afraid of him too. Don't worry about it—you won't see him often anyway."
Charles thought Sterling had scared me and spoke soothingly.
I said nothing. I knew Charles resented Sterling.
Sterling was only three years older, yet he'd achieved unparalleled success in business.
As long as Sterling existed, no matter how brilliant Charles was, he'd always be second.
Charles refused to live in anyone's shadow, so he'd struck out on his own, building his company from scratch. It had cost him dearly.
When we entered the living room, several elders were already there.
Seeing Charles, they swarmed over, showering him with affection.
I followed Charles, greeting everyone, but barely received a glance in return.
They all ignored me with remarkable consistency.
Charles's mother, Penelope Lancaster, arrived fashionably late with a timid-looking Rachel at her side.
"Charles, Rachie lives with you two. Why didn't you bring her along?"
Penelope shot Charles a chiding look, completely ignoring me beside him.
Charles frowned.
"Mom, today's family banquet is for Willow and me. We just got married."
Penelope waved dismissively. "Rachie grew up with you. She's like your little sister. What's wrong with her attending a family banquet?"
With that, she pulled Rachel to sit on Charles's right.
"Come, Rachie. Sit next to Charles."
Every Lancaster in the room turned to stare.
Everyone knew Rachel and Charles had been close since childhood. As adults, she'd clung to him constantly. If not for me, they'd be the ones married yesterday.
Now, with Rachel sitting beside Charles, no one could tell who'd actually married him.
Even with my patience, I couldn't tolerate this humiliation.
Especially after witnessing last night. Seeing Rachel and Charles together made me sick.
Under everyone's gaze, I stood.
"Willow!"
Charles grabbed my hand quickly, whispering, "I know this isn't right, but with so many people watching, just sit down. I'll apologize later."
I looked at Rachel's pitiful eyes.
As if she were the wronged party.
"Willow, if you're unhappy, I can..." Rachel made a show of starting to rise.
I stared at her coldly. "Good. Then please move."
I'd originally planned to switch seats myself, out of sight, out of mind.
But with Rachel pushing like this, if I left, wouldn't that be exactly what they wanted?
I sat back down. Rachel was stuck.
She'd only meant to appear understanding. Who knew I'd actually agree?
She looked to Penelope for help.
Penelope immediately scolded me.
"Willow, Rachie grew up with Charles. If you can't even tolerate her, what's next? Charles can't even look at another woman?"
I smiled. "Today is a Lancaster family banquet. If the other elders are willing to acknowledge Rachel as Lancaster family, she can sit wherever she wants."
"She can even have my seat. I won't complain."
The others only wanted to watch the drama unfold. No one would stick their neck out. They all stayed silent.
Penelope and Rachel's faces darkened.
Charles frowned. "Willow..."
He was about to say something when commotion erupted at the door.
Sterling entered, surrounded by a crowd.
The moment he stepped in, he sensed the tense atmosphere. Seeing Rachel standing there awkwardly, his eyes darkened.
"Peter, please escort anyone unrelated to the Lancaster family out."
Immediately, the butler Peter approached Rachel.
"Ms. Smith, this way."
Rachel didn't dare defy Sterling. Face burning with humiliation, she followed Peter out.
I breathed a long sigh of relief, lifting my eyes to look at him gratefully.
Whether Sterling intended it or not, Rachel's departure lifted a weight off my chest.
Sterling's gaze briefly swept over me before he took the patriarch's seat. An invisible pressure instantly filled the room.
"Sterling..." Penelope looked guilty.
Sterling cut her off coldly.
"Penelope, you know I don't like dealing with unnecessary trouble when I return."
"I'll let it go this time. Don't let it happen again."
Penelope quickly agreed.
The family banquet officially began.
The servants had just finished serving when, with the family elders absent, everyone waited for Sterling, as patriarch, to lift his fork first.
In the silence, Charles's phone rang.
Sitting beside him, I saw Rachel's name on the screen.
Charles stood to take the call.
Before long, he returned and said to me hurriedly, "I have to go down the mountain. I'll come back to pick you up later."
He was probably running off to comfort Rachel.
I kept my expression neutral. "Have the driver take me. It's fine."
Perfect timing. I needed to buy emergency contraception anyway. Charles couldn't know.
My understanding made Charles's eyes soften. "Willow, be good. Wait for me to come get you."
After apologizing to Sterling, he grabbed his coat and rushed out.
The others looked at me with pity and mockery.
After all, everyone knew Charles had abandoned me.
With one of the guests of honor gone, the banquet quickly ended.
Everyone dispersed. I didn't call for a driver, planning to hail a cab instead.
But the Lancaster Manor was remote. After waiting forever without catching a taxi, my legs aching and weak, I resigned myself to walking down the mountain.
A familiar Bentley stopped in front of me.
The window rolled down slowly. Sterling's assistant.
"Ms. Spencer, Mr. Lancaster requests you join him in the car."