Bound by the Past, Locked by the Heart novel Chapter 196

"I think I've made myself perfectly clear." Scarlett stood up, elegantly smoothing out an invisible crease in her dress, looking down at Willa from her high horse.

"It doesn't matter if you accept this invitation or not. As long as you know your place and behave, I won't go out of my way to make things difficult for you."

"Also, stop dreaming that you can keep stringing him along forever. Randal already promised me that after we get married, we're moving into our new marital home."

Hearing this, Willa's heart didn't feel a single ripple of devastation; surprisingly, she actually let out a quiet breath of relief.

This meant that once Randal was married, he wouldn't have the time or energy to keep her imprisoned like this anymore.

She replied evenly, "I understand."

Scarlett paused, clearly not expecting such a thoroughly detached reaction.

But her goal was achieved. She picked up her designer bag and turned toward the door, her tone dripping with absolute superiority. "Well then, Ms. Vance, focus on your recovery. You don't need to worry about the medical bills."

As Scarlett reached the doorway, Willa suddenly called out to her. "Ms. Sterling, I heard Randal is planning to join Vanguard Properties?"

Scarlett stopped in her tracks. She turned her head, her expression tightening slightly. "Vanguard? Why are you asking about that?"

"No particular reason, just curious. The Sterling family has such a massive empire—why must Randal join Vanguard specifically?"

Scarlett let out a soft chuckle and walked back toward the bed.

"The Sterlings do hold shares in Vanguard, but it isn't my father's primary focus. As for why Randal insists on joining them..." She paused, a deeply suggestive smile curling her lips. "I'm quite curious about that myself."

Willa's breath hitched.

Scarlett suddenly began to laugh. "You asking these questions... don't tell me you actually think Randal is joining Vanguard to investigate your father's case?"

She tilted her head, the mockery in her eyes completely unconcealed. "Don't flatter yourself."

Scarlett's voice dropped to a cold cadence. "Your father failed in his supervisory duties, which is why that accident happened. What does that have to do with Vanguard?"

Willa took one look and realized she had completely lost her appetite.

She forced herself to take a bite, but the moment she swallowed, an inexplicable wave of nausea surged from her stomach.

She covered her mouth, leaned over the side of the bed, and dry heaved.

"Ms. Vance, what's wrong?" The nurse jumped in shock, rushing over to support her shoulders.

Willa waved her hand, trying to say she was fine, but the moment she opened her mouth, another violent wave of nausea hit her.

She stayed hunched over, dry heaving several times, but nothing came up.

She hadn't had much of an appetite and had been feeling slightly nauseous over the past few days of her hospital stay, but she had assumed it was just the fever.

Now that the fever had mostly broken, this sickening sensation was only getting stronger.