"Willow West, Ruby ended up in the hospital yesterday because you refused to bring her medicine!
Apologize to her today, and we'll let this whole thing go!"
Bianca Sterling blew out a smoke ring, looking at Willow West with contempt.
'He knew that as long as Melanie Ulrich gave the word, she would definitely show up.'
Robin Sutton wore makeup to look wan and sallow, giving her a pitifully weak appearance that would make anyone's heart ache.
She walked up to the two of them and naturally looped her arm through Bianca Sterling's.
"Miss West, I don't blame you!
After all, you're so in love with Bianca. It's only normal you can't stand seeing him with another woman!
But you've really misunderstood. We're just like siblings!
I really was sick and in the hospital last night. That's why Bianca came to stay with me."
Robin Sutton looked at Willow West, deliberately putting on a pitiful act.
'She loved Bianca Sterling?'
This was the most ridiculous joke Willow West had ever heard.
'Only someone like Robin Sutton would treat Bianca Sterling like a treasure.'
Willow West had originally thought that as long as Bianca Sterling was a decent man, marrying him would be fine.
But Bianca Sterling just had to be a total scumbag.
"Since when did the hospital relocate to a hotel?
Was the king-sized bed in Room 3101 at the Lantis Hotel comfortable last night?"
At these words, the color drained from both Robin Sutton's and Bianca Sterling's faces.
'Wasn't that the hotel where they got a room last night?'
'How did Willow West know?!'
Robin Sutton nervously tugged on the corner of Bianca Sterling's shirt, bit her lower lip, and said in an aggrieved voice, "Bianca..."
Although Bianca Sterling felt a pang of guilt, he still roared at Willow West, "Willow West, are you crazy?!
Ruby was feeling unwell, so I took her somewhere to rest!
Do you even know why you're here tonight?"
Willow West's lips curled into a smile. 'Of course she knew!'
Mimicking Robin Sutton's "playing innocent" act, she said, "Bianca, if you don't like me, we can break up. Why would you make me bring medicine to Robin Sutton?
Don't you know how she feels about you?"
Her voice was soft and delicate, tinged with a sob.
The others in the private room couldn't help but start sympathizing with the heiress of the West Family.
In their social circle, everyone knew Bianca Sterling was a notorious player.
Back when their engagement was announced, everyone said Bianca Sterling was the one who got the better end of the deal.
Now, seeing Willow West's meek and humble act, they couldn't bear to watch her get bullied.
"Bianca, that's enough. Willow West is the young miss of the West Family, after all, and it's not like anything happened to Robin Sutton!"
One of Bianca Sterling's buddies muttered something under his breath.
Bianca Sterling was about to fly into a rage, but after being talked down, he thought his friend had a point. Then, he saw Willow West's tearful yet alluring eyes, and his anger instantly vanished.
"Since you're here, come and hang out. Stop looking like you're at a funeral!"
But Robin Sutton was relentless.
In front of everyone, she placed a hand on Bianca Sterling's chest.
"Bianca, it's all my fault. I've caused a misunderstanding between you and sister-in-law!"
Perhaps afraid of the gossip, Bianca Sterling actually pushed Robin Sutton's hand away.
He sat back down on the sofa and began puffing away on his cigarette.
Willow West held back her tears and shot a provocative look at Robin Sutton.
'Putting on a "playing innocent" act?'
'Like I can't do that too!'
Willow West's years at the Feminine Virtue Academy hadn't been for nothing!
She turned and walked out of the private room, heading for the restroom.
'From this little drama, it's not hard to see that Robin Sutton does have some genuine feelings for Bianca Sterling.
But she has the ambition of a thief without the guts.
She needs to try harder.
As soon as Robin Sutton becomes Mrs. Sterling, I'll be free.'
She stood before the sinks, wiped away the tears she had just squeezed out, and took out her cushion foundation to touch up her makeup, looking at her exquisitely made-up face in the mirror.
With a trembling hand, she lit a slim cigarette. But before Willow West could bring it to her lips, it was plucked away by a hand with well-defined knuckles.
Willow West turned her head and met the man's eyes, which were as dark and cold as a winter lake.
Aiden Pierce wore a dark suit and a white shirt, still buttoned up to the very last button.
In such a simple outfit, Aiden Pierce gave off a refined, abstinent air.
'This man is seriously a walking mannequin.'
Aiden Pierce leaned forward, and with his long fingers, stubbed the slim cigarette out in the ashtray behind Willow West.
The man's eyes were downcast, his expression unreadable.
Willow West's heart pounded.
"What a coincidence, Uncle Pierce!"
Aiden Pierce frowned. "A coincidence?
I came here specifically to collect a debt!"
Willow West laughed. "Who could be so bold?
To dare to owe you money!
They must be truly blind!
Well then, you must be busy!
I won't disturb you. Goodbye, Uncle Pierce!"
'Best if we never see each other again!'
The woman turned to leave.
Aiden Pierce reached out and seized her slender wrist.
The man's fingertips felt almost scorching hot.
It made Willow West's mind involuntarily flash back to his searing heat from the night before—the same heat that had made her lose control and moan an untold number of times!
Her heart instantly began to race.
The man leaned down, his impossibly handsome face suddenly closing in.
His lips inadvertently brushed against her cheek as he moved closer to Willow West's ear.
It sent a shiver through her.
The pleasant, cool scent of pine that was unique to him assaulted Willow West's senses as he leaned in.
Her heartbeat lost its rhythm.
"Little West, what are you pretending for!
I came looking for you. Don't you have a clue?
Don't you think you owe me an explanation?"
Willow West played dumb. "What explanation? I don't know what you're talking about!?"
Aiden Pierce's fingers fished two crisp hundred-dollar bills from his shirt pocket and fluttered them in front of Willow West's eyes. "'A feudal relic. Boring in bed. Pay-by-performance?!' Is that it? Am I only worth two hundred dollars?"
As Aiden Pierce's thin, sexy lips repeated, word for word, the message Willow West had written on the note, her heart instantly tensed, beginning to churn violently.
'Aiden Pierce is really petty and holds a grudge!'
'Looks like he came here today specifically to settle the score with me!'
"Little West, were you not satisfied with my performance last night?"
Aiden Pierce advanced, his overwhelming arrogance forcing Willow West back until she had nowhere left to retreat.
Her back hit the smooth ceramic tiles. She turned her face away, trying to escape Aiden Pierce's aggressive aura.
"Uncle Pierce, I'm young and foolish. Please don't hold this against me!"
"Young?
You seemed plenty bold when you were taking my clothes off!
Little West, do you want me to help you remember how much you enjoyed yourself last night?
How you cried and begged me to be gentler, to go slower?
Hmm?!"
Mortified, the woman's small, fair face, no bigger than a palm, was suffused with a faint pink blush.
'Wait, didn't I call this guy a feudal relic? So why is it that every time Aiden Pierce opens his mouth, such shameless, predatory words come out?'
"Aiden Pierce, shut up!"
She instinctively reached out and covered the man's mouth.
Seeing Willow West lose her composure, the man's lips curved into a barely perceptible smile.
He lightly bit the palm of her hand, scaring Willow West into snatching it back.
She always felt inexplicably nervous in front of Aiden Pierce.
"To be taken by force, and then humiliated!
And you still want me to shut up?
Little West, is this your attitude when it comes to solving problems?"
Willow West smiled, but it was a completely false smile. "I beg your forgiveness, Uncle Pierce!
If you're not satisfied with how I've handled things, then please, you tell me how it should be handled!
I'll do whatever you say!"