Chapter 24: I Can't Get Out

Before Willow could speak, Julian Kingston spoke first: "It's too far."

"It's only ten minutes more than your place," Sterling Kingston looked at him with dissatisfaction. "Look at how you've taken care of Willa. How did she get so thin? She’d be better off with me; I’d feel more at ease."

"That's not it, Grandpa Sterling," Willow quickly explained. "I study dance, so I have to maintain my figure."

As for whether to move back to the estate...

She was a bit conflicted.

The benefit was that she could stay away from her uncle and avoid awkward situations.

But she was also afraid that one day she might lose her mind and talk in her sleep, accidentally revealing their one-night stand.

"She’s been under a lot of pressure lately; I don't recommend changing her living environment," Julian looked at her. "Willow, what do you think?"

Subconsciously, Willow lifted her eyes.

Julian’s handsome face was as indifferent as ever, as if he were truly making a professional medical suggestion.

Yet, she felt an unusual undercurrent swirling in the depths of his calm eyes.

"I..."

"In that case," Sterling clapped his hands and made the decision, "she’ll stay with you for now. She can move here once her emotions have stabilized."

Naturally, he prioritized Willow’s health above all else.

"Mm."

Julian actually gave him an answer for once.

Sterling found it rare and stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Julian, are you..."

He knew his son hated trouble more than anything.

He stayed away from anything unrelated to himself.

He had expected that if he brought it up, Julian would immediately send Willow back to the estate.

Instead, he was insisting she stay.

Beside them, Willow’s heart nearly stopped.

To be honest, if moving to the estate meant facing Grandpa Sterling’s wandering thoughts every day, she would rather stay at the penthouse.

While her mind raced through various responses, Grandpa Sterling continued:

"Do you finally want to raise a child?"

In his eyes, Willow was just a little girl. His son had been working for several years; the gap between them was immense.

To him, Julian accepting Willow was equivalent to him liking children.

Suddenly, he felt there was hope for a blind date again. "If you get married this year, you could be holding a baby by next year. What do you think? Want to give it a try?"

Julian shot a glance at his father. "Your brain is failing too."

Sterling: !!!

Where was his cane!

By the time he found it, Julian was already driving Willow to school.

When she got out of the car, Julian called out to her, "The penthouse is more convenient. The estate is too far."

Willow nodded.

It really was quite far.

Grandpa Sterling said it was only ten minutes more, but it had taken her uncle over an hour to drive.

Usually, it only took twenty minutes to get from the apartment to school.

Going back and forth like that would waste too much time.

...

After that day, Grandpa Sterling didn't mention Willow moving back to the estate again, saying they would wait until her stress was relieved.

When he asked what kind of pressure she was under, Willow could only make one up.

The school anniversary was coming up, and she was the lead dancer.

Sterling was incredibly excited to hear it and said he would definitely go to support her.

Willow’s eyes curved into a sweet smile.

Looking at Grandpa Sterling, she felt a sense of warmth as if he were her own grandfather.

This also made her more determined; she absolutely could not let a single clue slip out.

In the blink of an eye, it was Friday night.

In the afternoon, the teacher suddenly announced a break, and the class was rescheduled for next week.

Willow didn't notify Julian and took a taxi straight back to the penthouse.

As a dance student who practiced hard every day, the first thing she did upon returning to her room was grab her clothes and head into the bathroom.

She closed the door, took two steps forward, and lifted her lashes—

Inside the transparent glass shower door, a man stood naked. Water cascaded down his spine, flowed over his firm abdominal muscles, and disappeared into a certain indescribable place...

Finally, it dripped onto the floor along his long legs.

Willow felt she should close her eyes, but they remained fixed in a wide, uncontrolled stare.

Until the man in the shower spoke: "Willow?"

Willow snapped awake, spinning around in a panic. "Sorry, Uncle Julian! I didn't know you were showering. I'm leaving right now."

Her hands shook as she twisted the doorknob.

But she was too nervous, and the door wouldn't budge.

Finally, she gritted her teeth and used every ounce of strength in her body.

With a sharp crack, she froze.

The door handle had broken off...

She never knew that human potential could be so great...

From Julian’s perspective, the terrified girl was desperately trying to leave, warring with the door.

Then, she stopped abruptly.

He pulled on a bathrobe and asked, "What is it?"

"Un—Uncle," Willow felt like crying. "I... I can't get out..."