Sign the Papers Mr. Langford novel Chapter 226

Jude felt a pang of guilt.

He knew exactly what Willow's status was within the Whitaker Estate.

The illegitimate daughter.

The younger sister brought in later.

No matter how perfectly she behaved, high society always whispered about her illegitimacy behind her back.

Jude had seen people disrespect her.

He had seen her swallow the insults with a smile, only to retreat to a hallway with red-rimmed eyes.

So, even knowing she was manipulating the conversation, he couldn't help but make excuses for her.

She just wanted to prove herself.

"I'll keep a close eye on the closed-door briefing," he told her. "But don't take jabs at Stellaris, and whatever you do, don't mention Wren."

Willow looked at him.

"What if the press asks?"

"Pivot."

She offered a faint smile. "Do you really think they'll let it go? She moved back into the Langford Estate. Everyone is speculating that they're getting back together. The media eats this stuff up—business, marriage, rival sisters. That narrative generates more traction than any PR release we could ever draft."

Jude frowned. "How did you know she moved back in?"

Willow's gaze faltered.

Just for a fraction of a second.

So fast that if Jude hadn't been staring right at her, he would have missed it entirely.

"Word travels fast," she replied smoothly. "It's a massive estate. You think people wouldn't notice a new car coming and going?"

Jude remained silent.

Willow's fingers curled into her palms.

She hated the way he was looking at her.

Like he was interrogating her.

In the past, Jude always looked at her with a mix of pity and indulgence. All she had to do was lower her head, and he would automatically fill in the blanks in her favor.

But lately, he had started asking why.

Why was she looking into Leo's school? Why was she suddenly pushing the family narrative in her speeches? Why did she keep trying to drag Wren into the conversation?

The moment a man started asking why, he became significantly harder to control.

Willow lowered her lashes, her voice trembling slightly. "Jude, do you think I don't deserve to fight for my place?"

Jude was caught off guard.

Jude didn't pull away.

A knock interrupted them, and an assistant peeked into the room. "Ms. Whitaker, Mr. Langford just replied. He won't be attending the rehearsal tonight."

Willow's smile froze for a split second.

Jude looked at her.

She quickly withdrew her hand, picking up her script with a perfectly natural tone. "Understood."

Once the assistant left, the room fell silent again.

Jude offered, "Lawrence has a lot on his plate right now."

"I know." Willow opened her script again. "My sister moved back in. Of course he's busy."

She said it lightly, almost like a joke.

But Jude could hear the unmistakable acidity beneath the words.

Willow didn't look at him again.

She kept her head down, her pen scratching against the paper as she crossed out "no family faces recovery alone" and replaced it with Jude's suggested phrasing.

She looked perfectly focused.

But inside, a thin wire of tension was pulling tighter and tighter.