Chapter 30

Chapter 30
Willow POV
"Is half an hour very long?"
"That day you went out of your way to pick up Rachel—how long did that take? If I remember correctly, an entire afternoon."
I looked at Charles's face in the rearview mirror, asking calmly.
Hearing my displeasure, Charles cleared his throat in a cover-up. "That's not what I meant. I just thought you seemed afraid of Sterling. I wondered if he said anything to you."
I pressed my lips together, not responding.
Charles softened his tone. "All right, honey, I was wrong. I shouldn't have asked. We've been fighting so much lately, when things used to be so good."
He avoided discussing Rachel entirely.
I said coolly, "Sterling got a phone call in the middle. I was waiting for him the whole time. Charles, I've always been like this. I haven't changed."
I hadn't changed, so where was the problem between us? The answer was obvious.
Charles was just selectively ignoring it.
He smiled with satisfaction. "The company really has been busy lately. I've made you suffer."
That night, Charles again asked to make love. I refused, saying my mood hadn't recovered.
With my repeated refusals, Charles's emotions grew more dissatisfied each time. I was getting a headache too.
I couldn't divorce yet. As legal spouses, I couldn't keep refusing Charles's requests forever.
But every time I saw Charles's face, I couldn't help picturing him with Rachel.
I could only take things one step at a time.
The next day, Charles drove me to work.
"Honey, why don't you change jobs? Find something closer to me." He refused to give up on making me quit.
Yesterday he'd just heard Gloria tell me to stay away from Sterling. Even knowing nothing could happen between us, he couldn't help overthinking. How much worse if I escaped his control, not knowing how many strange men I'd be around all day?
I softened my tone. "Before, I said I'd be your secretary. You refused."
"That was..." Charles instinctively argued. Halfway through, thinking of something, guilt flashed in his eyes.
I didn't press. "It's getting late. I'll head in. Drive safe."
I opened the door to get out.
Charles grabbed my wrist. "I woke up so early to drive you to work. Don't I deserve a reward?"
He tilted his face, asking for a kiss.
Revulsion flashed in my eyes. I was about to make an excuse when a familiar voice rang out nearby.
"Ms. Spencer, here to report for duty?"
The girl who'd interviewed me that day.
I pulled my hand free and turned to leave.
Watching my retreating figure, Charles sighed regretfully and drove off.
The girl looked at the departing car, then at me. "A Porsche Panamera? Rich. Is he chasing you?"
I went along with her assumption. "He's just playing around with me. His family looks down on me. I'm planning to reject him."
The girl bristled with indignation. "Rich people are so snobbish."
I nodded in agreement.
"By the way, I'm Molly Bailey, HR for our company. If you need anything, you can find me." Molly introduced herself.
I smiled at her. "Got it. Thank you."
Entering the company, Molly took me to my workstation.
Someone came over. "Are you Ms. Spencer, reporting today? Mr. Johnson would like to see you."
Confused, I stood and followed her to the CEO's office.
Gareth was already waiting inside.
"Mr. Johnson, hello." I greeted politely. "Did you need something?"
Gareth smiled warmly, not at all like a boss. "Come, have a seat."
I sat across from him. Gareth had his secretary pour me tea.
His enthusiastic attitude left me full of questions.
Did he know about my relationship with Charles?
But if so, Charles should have warned him. He wouldn't have let me join.
"Ms. Spencer is even more beautiful than her resume photo." Gareth kept praising me.
I couldn't help saying, "Mr. Johnson, if there's something you need, please just say it directly."
Gareth chuckled, finally getting to the point. "Ms. Spencer, do you know Mr. Lancaster?"
I remained composed. "Which Mr. Lancaster are you referring to?"
"Mr. Sterling Lancaster, of course." Gareth said.
Externally, only Sterling was respectfully called Mr. Lancaster. To distinguish, outsiders always added "Junior" when mentioning Charles. This "Junior" designation bothered Charles, but he couldn't change it overnight.
My confusion deepened. Why would he connect me with Sterling?
"To be frank, after your interview that day, I saw Mr. Lancaster drape his coat over your shoulders." Gareth studied my expression. "What's your relationship with him?"
I caught his implication. "Just passing acquaintance. I was being harassed. Mr. Lancaster helped me out."
I just wanted a normal job. I didn't want connections to the Lancaster family.
Besides, aside from that one-night stand, Sterling and I had barely spoken.
Gareth looked doubtful. He stood and patted my shoulder. "I admire you greatly. I believe you'll definitely help our company advance. All right, go on to work."
Sterling POV
Willow's gentle fingers pressed on my head. The faint fragrance around her made me drowsy.
Just as I was closing my eyes to sleep, a damned phone call came.
Willow hurriedly made an excuse and left.
I could see she was very nervous. I felt uncomfortable. Did she really not want to be alone with me?
Before long the doorbell rang again. Thinking it was Willow, I stood to answer.
The person outside made my brow furrow.
Gloria wore a well-tailored cream suit, smile on her face, carrying an elegant handbag.
"Why are you here?"
My tone turned cold. I didn't move aside.
Technically, Gloria shouldn't know my address. This apartment complex had extremely high confidentiality. Everyone who entered needed my authorization.
She must have pestered Blake to give her the address.
"Sterling, I wanted to see where my future fiancé lives."
Gloria's voice carried a coquettish tone. "You won't refuse even this small wish, will you?"
She tried to link her arm with mine.
I stepped back half a pace.
A jasmine scent hit me head-on.
Rich, deliberate, carrying some cheap perfume's cloying sweetness.
I didn't know why, but the same scent—the scent on Willow and that night—soothed my mood.
But this smell on Gloria only made me feel disgusted, irritated.
I hadn't been without suspicions, but the necklace left in the room was one Gloria had worn since childhood.
"Don't come by without reason from now on."
I turned and walked into the living room, showing no intention of inviting her in.
But Gloria followed anyway, closing the door.
"Sterling, what's wrong? Did I do something wrong?"
Her voice held grievance.
I sat on the sofa, rubbing my temples.
Somewhat of a headache. The day after Blake gave me the file, I'd arranged to meet her.
She'd seemed nervous facing me. "Sterling, was it really you that night..."
I'd stared at her for a long time.
Unfamiliar.
Her eyes, her scent, the way she spoke—nothing connected her to that night.
That woman who'd held me tight in the darkness, bodies intertwined.
"The necklace is yours?" I'd asked directly.
Gloria had nodded, pulling a photo from her bag and handing it to me.
In the photo, she wore that pearl necklace.
"Mom gave me the necklace for my birthday. I've worn it constantly, never taking it off."
Her eyes reddened. "That night... I really didn't expect it would be you. I..."
The evidence was conclusive.
The necklace was indeed hers.
But why did I feel no familiarity?
"What compensation do you need?" I'd asked very directly.
I wasn't someone who liked dragging things out.
Since it had happened, I should take responsibility.
Gloria's face had instantly paled.
She bit her lip, tears rolling down. "Sterling, I don't want compensation. I... I've always liked you."
She'd cried pitifully, voice choked. "I gave you my first time... but now you're asking what compensation I want? Do you hate me that much?"
I'd frowned.
This matter was indeed my fault.
When my sex addiction flared, I'd taken a woman's virginity.
Whether I liked her or not, I should take responsibility.
My father's promiscuity had driven my mother to depression and death—I'd hated people irresponsible about relationships since childhood.
I'd always believed I'd only have one relationship in my life, and would enter marriage.
Devoted. Faithful.
This was my requirement for myself, and my promise to my mother.
I'd said coldly, "I'll form an alliance marriage with the Brown family."
Gloria had frozen, then showed a delighted smile. "Really? Sterling, you'll really marry me?"
"I'll take responsibility." That's all I'd said.
But for Gloria, it was enough.
She'd been excited. "Sterling, I'll be a good wife. I'll..."
"Engagement first."
I'd interrupted her. "Let Blake and your father discuss the specifics."
Now, she stood in my living room, trying to wrap her arms around mine.
I coldly pulled away.
Having my personal space invaded felt very unpleasant.
So I made an excuse. "The jewelry set you wanted arrived. Go find Blake to get it."
Gloria's eyes lit up. "Really? The Cartier set?"
"Yes."
"I'll go find Blake right now!"
She left happily. Before going, she looked back at me. "Sterling, let's have dinner together tonight? I want..."
"We'll see."