Willow West looked up, her gaze meeting Bianca Sterling's bloodshot eyes. Her voice was unnervingly calm.
"Bianca Sterling, what are you trying to say?"
Bianca Sterling sobered up in an instant. "Willow West, you left the club at least two hours ago!
Where have you been for the past two hours?
Why are you just now returning to the Vireon River Residence?"
Willow West's heart tightened, but her expression remained composed.
"Bianca Sterling, you told me to come back to the Vireon River Residence, but you didn't give me access. The security guards stopped me outside and wouldn't let me in. Is this how you treat your fiancée?
If it weren't for your mother, I still wouldn't have been able to get through the gate!
What?
Did Miss Sutton say one little thing and you came running to interrogate me?
If you're not afraid of the Sterling Family elders finding out, go ahead and ask your mother to confirm it!
I don't care either way!"
Every word Willow West spoke was indifferent, devoid of any emotion.
Her clothes were still damp, clinging to her body and making her look utterly disheveled.
Even so, she still looked exquisite.
Like a doll in a display case—perfect down to the last strand of hair, but wooden and dull.
The mention of Mrs. Sterling made Bianca Sterling calm down.
'That's right!'
To punish Willow West for her recent, repeated acts of defiance, he had told the gate guards not to let her in.
The rain had lasted through the first half of the night, and Willow West's clothes were still soaking wet!
'This is proof that she was waiting outside for a long time!'
If Mrs. Sterling hadn't called him in the middle of the night, warning him not to cause any trouble before their engagement, he would have stayed out all night!
'That explains it!'
Bianca Sterling said, "So it was you who called my mom to tattle!
Willow West, how can you be so shameless?
You think you can control me by sucking up to my mom?
Dream on!"
Robin Sutton's voice, soft and gentle, piped up. "Sister-in-law, really!
Was it really worth tattling to Auntie over such a small thing?
Now Bianca has been scolded by Auntie because of you!
Huh, what's that on your neck?"
Hearing this, Bianca Sterling's gaze instantly fell on Willow West's long, slender, pale neck.
Below her earlobe was a faint red mark, a tiny spot that looked exactly like a hickey.
Bianca Sterling flew into a rage. He stumbled forward, grabbing the woman's slender wrist, sobering up almost instantly.
His eyes, practically bursting from their sockets, stared at the red mark. "Willow West, what is that on your neck?!"
Willow West extended her arm, her face impassive.
On the woman's smooth, jade-like arm, from top to bottom, were dense clusters of red, raised welts, along with scratch marks.
They were, indeed, signs of an allergic reaction.
His head clearing a little, Bianca Sterling vaguely recalled the day Robin Sutton returned to the country two months ago.
He had been holding a bouquet of lilies when he bumped into Willow West, who had been about to show him the engagement venue.
Afterward, she had an allergic reaction, went into respiratory shock, and even ended up in the ICU.
Because of that incident, he had been reprimanded by Old Master West and even slapped twice by the old man in front of Ethan West and the others!
It was from that moment on that Bianca Sterling's rebellious streak seemed to have been ignited.
He started staying out all night, even brazenly messing around with Robin Sutton and her friends.
The buried memory suddenly resurfaced, attacking him.
Bianca Sterling actually felt that perhaps he had gone too far tonight.
After all, if Ethan West weren't so disfavored by Old Master West—so desperate to use this project to secure his position as heir—the Sterling Family never would have gotten a piece of the holographic project.
The night breeze sobered Bianca Sterling up quite a bit.
In a vase on the table, a large bouquet of stargazer lilies was in full, passionate bloom.
That was because Robin Sutton loved lilies most of all.
Looking at Willow West's reddened arm, the few bloody scratch marks were especially jarring.
Willow West said, "Bianca Sterling, I know you're not satisfied with me.
On that point, we feel the same!
I thought that, based on our families' partnership, you would afford me the decency due to Young Madam Sterling!
I couldn't care less about your relationship with Robin Sutton!
But what you did to me tonight is nothing short of humiliating!
Bianca Sterling, have you forgotten that I was in the ICU two months ago because of my pollen allergy?
Even if you have no feelings for me, you should at least show me a little respect!
This marriage… if you really don't want to go through with it, I'll call my mother right now!
It's not like a daughter of the West Family can't find a husband!
And the Sterling Family isn't the only option for the holographic project!
Anyone with money can be a partner to the West Family!"
With that, Willow West took out her phone and made a show of dialing a number.
Robin Sutton was delighted. 'If that call goes through, the two families will definitely have a falling out!'
'Whether the marriage happens then will be anyone's guess!'
Willow West's action shocked Bianca Sterling completely sober.
He knew she was telling the truth.
When Mrs. Sterling had called him, her tone had been very harsh.
"Bianca, your mother knows you like that Robin Sutton is passionate and flamboyant, uninhibited!
But the partnership between the West and Sterling families is our family's stepping stone into Aethelgard's elite!
As long as the holographic project is successful, the Sterling Family will have a firm foothold in Aethelgard's circle of power!
We won't just be what outsiders call 'new money' anymore!
Willow West is well-read and reasonable, gentle and quiet. Even if you don't like her, for the sake of our families' partnership, you must give her the decency due to Young Madam Sterling!
As for Robin Sutton, a woman who is of no help to you… if you like her, just keep her on the side!
You don't need me to tell you which is more important, do you?"
He lunged forward, seized Willow West's wrist, snatched her phone, and hung up the call that was already connecting.
"Willow West, that's enough!
It's not like I did it on purpose!
Since you're having an allergic reaction, just go upstairs and rest!
It's already so late. Do you have to make a scene so the elders on both sides can't get any sleep?
Aren't you supposed to be the sensible one?!"
Willow West let out a heavy breath, looking deeply wronged. "I am sensible!
But that doesn't mean you can just drag my name through the mud!
Bianca Sterling, you don't have to love me, but you have to respect me!"
The woman's gaze was terrifyingly stubborn.
It was the first time Bianca Sterling had ever seen such an expression in Willow West's eyes.
"I get it. Go on up and rest.
We have to go get our marriage certificate tomorrow!"
Robin Sutton hadn't expected Bianca Sterling to back down at the crucial moment.
She seemed unwilling to accept it. "But, Bianca..."
"That's enough, Ruby!
Willow West's clothes are still wet, and she's having an allergic reaction. Let her go rest first!"
Willow West took back her phone and, without sparing the pair another glance, turned and went upstairs.
When she reached the turn of the staircase, her straight back finally sagged weakly against the wall.
'That was close!'
'I almost blew my cover!'
At Aiden Pierce's place, when she looked in the mirror at the mottled, intimate marks all over her body, she knew she'd be exposed.
Willow West had intentionally made that call to Mrs. Sterling to use her as a witness.
She had even gone so far as to induce her own allergic reaction.
She was certain Bianca Sterling wouldn't dare cause a scene.
She was even more certain that he wouldn't dare call off the wedding right before they were supposed to register their marriage.
She did all this for no other reason than to force Robin Sutton to make a move.
However, for everything she had endured tonight, Willow West was putting the blame squarely on Aiden Pierce.
'Who said Aiden Pierce was cold and ascetic?'
'Pah!'
'That man is like a dog, desperate to mark every inch of my body as his!'
The fiery, stinging itch on her skin right now was all thanks to him.
'I'll remember this debt!'
Willow West found a guest room, went inside, and locked the door from within.
In the bathroom, she stood before the mirror, about to take off her clothes for a hot shower, when she made a shocking discovery: one of her pearl earrings was missing.
And it was the most important one.