Chapter 37: Taking Her Hand

When Julian Kingston arrived at the hotel, Grandpa Sterling was the only one in the private room.

His old face was smiling so hard it looked like a blooming chrysanthemum.

"Julian, you're here? Quick, come and sit here."

Julian had heard Willow's voice over the phone earlier, so not seeing her here now, he simply assumed she had gone to the restroom.

Following Grandpa Sterling's wishes, he sat down and casually took a few bites of food.

"Isn't it usually just the three of us? What is there to gather for?"

"I was afraid Willa would get tired of the food at home, so I brought her out to try something fresh."

While Sterling spoke, he poured a glass of plain water for Julian. "Your work during the day is far too exhausting. Eat more to replenish your body."

Julian didn't think much of it; he smoothly took the glass and drank it in one gulp.

The two chatted for a few more minutes, but Willow still hadn't returned.

He became a bit restless. "Where is Willow?"

"She’s resting."

Saying this, Grandpa Sterling's eyes lit up. Julian had eaten quite a bit just now and had drunk a lot too.

This time there would absolutely be no problem.

"Julian, do you feel any kind of impulse right now?"

"Resting?" Julian frowned. "Dad, why didn't you say so earlier?"

Resting here? Where was she feeling unwell?

"You didn't ask either," Sterling waved his hand. "She..."

As he spoke, he suddenly realized something was wrong.

This brat usually never brought up women.

Yet right now, he was bringing up Willow.

Could it be...

He leaned closer. "Julian, are you thinking about a woman?"

Julian: "..."

He really ought to have his father's brain checked.

Grandpa Sterling was completely immersed in the joy of his successful plan and couldn't extricate himself.

He clapped his hands and laughed twice. "Good, fantastic."

He fumbled a room card out of his jacket pocket and shoved it into Julian's hand. "I’ve prepared everything for you. Go on."

Julian: "This is..."

"Boy, I know what's on your mind," Sterling patted his shoulder. "Your father won't harm you."

The veins on the back of Julian's hand tightly gripping the room card bulged slightly.

The person in the room was Willow?

But he wanted to wait until she loved him too before taking things a step further.

Yet for some reason, the moment he thought of her face, he found it somewhat difficult to control his impulses.

Afraid that complications would arise if too much time passed, Grandpa Sterling urged, "What are you dragging your feet for? Hurry up!"

That single sentence completely snapped the string in Julian's mind.

He didn't even bother to grab his coat and went straight upstairs.

Thinking of Willow sinking into the bed with her soft body, his footsteps quickened a bit.

Finally, he reached the reserved room.

He swiped the room card and pushed the door open.

Ambient romantic lighting, roses covering the entire floor.

The faint silhouette of a person was mounded under the blanket on the bed.

Approaching slowly, Julian's breathing grew a bit ragged.

In the end, following the desire of his own heart, he raised his hand and lifted the blanket.

When he saw everything clearly before his eyes, he froze on the spot.

It was actually—

A doll.

An inflatable one.

He pressed his temples several times before he managed to suppress the fire in his chest.

The person who did this was his father, his biological father.

After calming down, he called Grandpa Sterling.

"Dad, what do you mean by this?"

"Naturally, it’s to let you experience the matters between a man and a woman," Sterling reacted and shouted through the line, "You didn't finish already, did you? Did the tonic soup I had the kitchen stew go to waste on a dog? Or, were you the one who got..."

"Stop it," Julian cut him off just in time. "So, you prepared a... dummy for me?"

"A real person breaks the law," Sterling said righteously. "And we can't just throw money around to find a random person, right? That would be degrading both of you."

Julian: "..."

He was speechless.

He walked toward the door. "Where is Willow? Where is she resting?"

"She said she was tired, so I had the driver take her back first," Sterling said. "Wait a moment, Uncle Liu is calling me. Let me answer it."

By the time Julian reached downstairs, Grandpa Sterling hurried over and pulled him outside. "Willa has a fever. Quick, go back and check on her."

Hearing this, Julian didn't have time to settle scores with the old man and got into the car heading back to the estate.

Only when they were nearing the estate did Grandpa Sterling remember that he had drugged his son.

"Julian," he looked toward his lower half, "You aren't truly dysfunctional, are you? You took the medicine, yet I haven't seen it rise..."

Julian: ?

Grandpa Sterling smiled widely. "Legitimate medicine, just to promote some bodily expansion. Rest assured, rest assured."

Meeting his son's chilling gaze, he felt a bit guilty, but remembering he was the father, he cleared his throat and said, "I was just worried you were going down the wrong path. Alright, we’re home. Let’s go check on Willa quickly, you dispense some medicine."

"Mm."

Julian responded, got out of the car, and headed straight for Willow's room.

The maid was measuring her temperature. Seeing Julian arrive, she hurriedly handed over the thermometer. "Master Julian, it’s thirty-nine degrees."

Grandpa Sterling followed him inside and grew anxious upon hearing it. "This high? Quickly pack up and go to the hospital."

"Don't want to go to the hospital..."

Willow murmured with her eyes closed, "I don't like the hospital..."

"This silly child, still refusing to go to the hospital," Sterling listened with anxious helplessness. "Don't be afraid. We’re going right now."

"There’s no need to go."

Julian placed his hand on Willow's pulse. "Her high fever is triggered by acute psychological stress. In short, she suffered a fright."

"What? Someone bullied Willa?" Grandpa Sterling thought it over carefully. "No wonder something was off with her when school finished today. Uncle Liu, come, let's go make a call to inquire with the school."

"Right away, Master."

The two of them left shortly.

Julian went to his room to retrieve some medicine, then looked at the maid who had been guarding the bedside. "Go out."

The maid instinctively spoke, "Master Julian, Miss Avery has a fever, I need to stay and look after her."

"I will look after her," Julian half-knelt by the bedside. "Go out."

The maid complied, walking out and closing the door.

The moment the crack of the door sealed shut, she wasn't sure if it was a hallucination, but she seemed to see Master Julian take Miss Avery's hand...