Bianca Sterling and Robin Sutton sat on a bench in the hallway.
Robin Sutton had one leg draped over the man's lap.
She rubbed against him, a seemingly casual gesture.
Her voice was soft and coquettish. "Bianca, I hope your fiancée won't be mad that I called you out in the middle of the night!"
Bianca Sterling pinched her cheek dotingly, his voice uncharacteristically gentle. "What's there for her to be mad about?
You, on the other hand... how have you been taking care of yourself after all these years abroad?
You even managed to twist your ankle taking a shower!
You're such a little klutz. You really know how to make me worry!"
Robin Sutton said, "I told you I'm fine, but you still insisted on a full check-up!
Once the results are in, I can go back on my own.
You still have to go get your marriage certificate with your fiancée today!"
Bianca Sterling's tone softened considerably. "Ruby, you're always so understanding.
You know I don't love Willow West. Once the project is over, I'll divorce her!
You've had to put up with a lot lately."
Robin Sutton replied, "This is nothing!
As long as I can be by your side, Bianca, I'm happy—even if our relationship has to be kept in the shadows.
But the baby...
Bianca, can we really not keep the baby?"
'Robin Sutton is pregnant?'
'With Bianca Sterling's child?'
'At a critical time like this, isn't this fantastic news?'
"This is our first child. Of course we're keeping it!"
"Bianca, you're the best!"
Willow West took out her phone and sent another message to Stella Monroe: [Pull a file from Agape Hospital's obstetrics and gynecology department!]
Stella Monroe: [Whose?]
[Robin Sutton, gynecology!]
[NO Problem]
Willow West also took the video she had just recorded and sent it to Sasha Pierce.
Then, she left the hospital, her expression blank.
「The West Residence」
Willow West got out of bed, her face devoid of expression, and dressed herself like a marionette.
The family doctor walked over to Melanie Ulrich and said respectfully in a low voice, "The young miss has indeed had sexual intercourse within the last eight hours.
She is in her fertile window these next few days. As long as the position is right and they have adequate sexual intercourse, conception shouldn't be a problem!
The young miss is in good health, so the chances of her getting pregnant are very high!"
The tight corners of Melanie Ulrich's mouth curved upward. Only then did the family doctor leave.
Willow West remained expressionless. This was just how Melanie Ulrich was, ordering a monthly physical to confirm her chastity.
Willow had long since guessed that today's "humiliation" was inevitable.
Melanie Ulrich was very pleased with Willow West's obedience. She walked over to her and, with a rare look of maternal affection, helped her fasten her buttons.
All over her chest and collarbones were hickeys of varying sizes and shades.
It wasn't hard to imagine the frenzy of the previous night.
She gently reached out and fastened the last button, her voice uncharacteristically soft. "Willow, as long as you can successfully get pregnant with a child for the Sterling Family, the partnership between our two families will be even more secure.
Isn't a woman's purpose just to bear children and support her husband and family?
You've been sold to the Sterling Family, but at least you won't have to worry about food or clothing. Wouldn't you agree?"
Willow West's gaze was vacant and dull, and her voice was perfectly calm, without a single ripple of emotion. "Can I go to Mount Sonden Sanitarium now?"
"Go. But remember to get your marriage certificate with Bianca at ten in the morning!"
Willow West nodded mechanically.
Only then did she pick up her bag and leave the West residence.
Sitting in the car, Willow West's body trembled instinctively.
She took out an alcohol wipe and began to scrub at the places where the family doctor had touched her.
Over and over.
She took out the birth control pills she had bought earlier, numbly popped out two, and swallowed them dry.
Willow West had experienced this kind of humiliation countless times over the years.
'When she was lying naked on the bed, letting the family doctor examine her, she always thought that the fish about to be slaughtered on the cutting board must feel the same despair she did.'
'Except, when the fish died, it was all over.'
'But this was a humiliation Willow West had to endure again and again.'
'From the initial shame and indignation to her current numbness, Willow thought that in the West household, she was no different from a walking corpse.'
She glanced at her watch. It was already eight o'clock!
'She was running out of time!'
「Mount Sonden Sanitarium」
From the moment she entered the main gate, bodyguards were stationed every five steps along the sanitarium's corridors.
Willow West was already used to such a scene.
When she reached the last room in the hall, someone opened the door for her.
Willow West entered the room.
The room was as quiet as it had been for years, the only sound being the BEEP... BEEP... BEEP... of the various monitors.
It was as steady as a flat line, with no fluctuations.
Willow West sat by the bed, her expression gradually softening as she looked at the man lying there, his eyes closed, his body covered in tubes.
Her eyelashes trembled violently, but she forced her voice to remain steady. "Ian, I've come to see you."
Her hand trembled as she gently touched Ian's. The man lay there quietly, breathing but not moving.
As if he were only sleeping.
Willow West's eyelashes lowered. "It's been over ten years. How much longer are you going to sleep?"
Her voice was soft and gentle, stripped of the rebellious facade she wore for others, without a trace of pretense.
The opportunities she had to see Ian in a year could be counted on one hand.
Fifteen years ago, a car accident had turned Willow West's life upside down.
She was in a daze when she woke up that day.
Melanie Ulrich brought her to the West residence and told her, "From this day on, you are the eldest daughter of the West Family, the daughter of me, Melanie Ulrich, and Ethan West!"
"As long as you're obedient and play the part of our daughter, we will help you take care of Ian!"
Willow West had nodded blankly.
'But they were too young to know they had fallen into a hell from which they could never escape.'
For all these years, whenever Willow West showed the slightest hint of resistance, Melanie Ulrich would use Ian to control her.
It worked every single time.
Today, Ian was still deep in his slumber, showing no signs of waking.
A message from Melanie Ulrich popped up on Willow West's phone.
[It's nine-thirty. Don't forget to go to the city hall!]
Willow West just replied, "Mm."
At the same time, her phone rang with another call. It was an unknown number, but as if by a trick of fate, Willow West remembered it was Aiden Pierce's.
She answered the call. The man on the other end spoke slowly, his voice deep and husky, like a fine vintage wine.
"Little West, you left the hospital without even telling me. You really are quick to turn your back on people."
"Is there something you need, Uncle Pierce?"
"Don't you think yesterday's events warrant a 'thank you' from you?
To be so cold to the person who saved your life... it's truly disheartening.
What an ungrateful little brat."
The man's voice was laced with teasing.
Listening to him, Willow West's mind involuntarily flashed back to the shame and humiliation of that morning, when the family doctor had forced her legs apart.
Her voice was frigid. "Uncle Pierce, I'm sure you're aware that I'm supposed to get my marriage certificate with Bianca Sterling at ten this morning."
The man didn't speak, but a TAP, TAP, TAP sound came through the receiver, likely the sound of his long fingers drumming lightly on a tabletop.
They both fell silent, locked in a wordless standoff, as if they were testing each other.
In the end, it was Aiden Pierce who spoke first.
"What?
You don't want the earring anymore?"
"I do!"
Willow West admitted frankly. "But you know how strict my mother's control over me is!
If I dare not show up for the marriage registration today, my mother will definitely break my legs!
How about you pick another time?"
Aiden Pierce snorted. "And why should I wait for you?
Willow West, this is your only chance!
I told you, the offer expires."
With that, the man lost his patience and hung up the phone.
Listening to the dial tone, Willow West's heart was in utter turmoil.
For some reason, Aiden Pierce's appearance made Willow West feel like he was cornering her.
Forcing her to make a choice, step by step.
She knew that as long as she clung to Aiden Pierce, neither the Sterling Family nor Melanie Ulrich would be a problem.
But Willow West was afraid—afraid of falling into another abyss, one named Aiden Pierce.
An abyss she would never be able to climb out of.
After hanging up, Aiden Pierce's expression was clearly dark.
'If she doesn't go, Melanie Ulrich will break her legs?'
Heh.
'He, Aiden Pierce, couldn't even bear to touch those legs, and Melanie Ulrich dared to?'
Aiden Pierce was certain Little West had already made her choice; she would never go get her marriage certificate with Bianca Sterling.
But accidents could always happen, and Aiden Pierce always preferred to be absolutely certain of the outcome.
His face grim, he dialed Victor Quincy's number.
After listening to Aiden Pierce, Victor Quincy paused. "President Pierce, are you sure you want to do this?
This is tantamount to making a complete break with the Sterling Family!"
Aiden Pierce sneered. "They dared to lay a finger on her. Who the hell do the Sterlings think they are?"