Bound by the Past, Locked by the Heart novel Chapter 158

"He... he came too?"

Willa let out an awkward laugh and hurried to smooth things over. "Mr. Jenson, I'm so sorry. I'll go out and have a word with him."

She turned and marched up to Randal, suppressing her rising anger. "Didn't you say you wouldn't come inside?"

Randal met her gaze, pulling a phone from his pocket with absolute self-righteousness. "I didn't give you your phone. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to find you."

Before she could even properly scold him, Willa let out a tired sigh. "Forget it."

She took the phone and shoved it into her pocket. "Can you leave now? I'm right here. I'll go back with you when it's over."

Randal stubbornly stood his ground. "I'll wait by the door."

Willa reiterated firmly, "Then do not come inside."

He nodded, turned around, and obediently stood in the hallway outside the hall.

Only then did Willa walk back to the event.

Martin was still standing there, his color yet to fully return.

Willa offered him a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, he's not coming in."

Martin finally exhaled in relief, forcing a strained smile. "Then... let's head in and chat."

He led Willa deeper into the venue.

The salon went perfectly.

Martin introduced Willa to a variety of industry professionals—content creators, platform executives, and several heritage artisans.

She quickly blended right in, discussing content angles and brainstorming innovative ways to showcase old-world craftsmanship to modern audiences.

The time flew by.

Willa was in the middle of an engaging conversation with a master bamboo weaver when she suddenly noticed the atmosphere shift.

Whispers rippled through the crowd, and a barrage of strange, pointed glances began drifting toward the same direction.

She followed their gaze.

Randal had walked back inside. Across the sea of people, his dark, heavy gaze was fixated squarely on her.

Willa obviously heard it too, her voice trembling with sheer shock. "Randal, you put Zack in the hospital?"

"Yes," Randal admitted flatly, his expression completely unfazed, apparently seeing absolutely nothing wrong with his actions.

He thought for a second before adding an explanation. "The Yates family already handed over a massive development project to his uncle as compensation."

Willa stared at him in disbelief, her voice pitching up uncontrollably. "So you think money can fix absolutely everything?"

"But he's your cousin!" she fired back, unable to suppress her fury. "You two grew up together! Doesn't that mean anything to you?"

Randal's face darkened. "You don't understand, Wills. There is no family in our world. He was only willing to tail me and my brother when we were kids because our last name is Yates. It brought the York family greater benefits."

"But he's different..." Willa simply couldn't accept it.

Randal fired back, "How is he any different? Not even my own parents love me. Why would I believe in any other family tie?"

She couldn't convince him, and she couldn't empathize with his twisted worldview.

Perhaps this was the greatest chasm between them.

Their life experiences, their family backgrounds, and their core values were completely incompatible. Even if she hadn't dumped him so abruptly five years ago, their eventual split was inevitable.