Stella is the daughter of Lila's stepmother.
Lila did not respond to her.
She acted as if she hadn't heard, her face remaining cold and detached.
Stella didn't seem bothered by the cold treatment.
She tugged gently on Willy's hand and said softly, "Grandma will surely be alright. Don't let panic cloud your judgment. There must be some misunderstanding. I know Lila—she's always been simple and kind-hearted. She wouldn't do anything to harm anyone."
Hearing this, Willy curled his lips into a sneer. "If she were truly simple and kind-hearted, she wouldn't have secretly given birth to the child behind everyone's back, all while ambitiously scheming to enter my family through this."
The thought of how big the child had grown, and how his grandmother, bewitched, insisted he take responsibility, made anger surge uncontrollably in Willy's chest.
The root cause of all this was the woman standing before him.
If she had admitted her ambitions outright, he might have respected her more.
But no—not only did she refuse to admit it, she played the victim, acting as if she were wronged. This disgusted him even more.
Seeing the tense atmosphere, Stella turned to Lila and said, "Willy and I can handle things here. You should go back."
Lila wasn't sure what role Stella was assuming to say such a thing to her.
At first listen, it sounded as if she were the lady of the house.
Before Lila could respond, a sharp ringtone cut through the air.
Stella took out her phone, glanced at the screen, and her eyes unconsciously softened.
She swiped to answer, her voice exceptionally gentle, "Sweetie, have you had dinner yet?"
"Mm, Mommy is with Daddy. We'll be back in a couple of days."
"Okay."
She handed the phone to Willy. "Sissi is looking for you."
Willy reined in his emotions, and his expression visibly softened.
He walked toward the window to take the call.
Lila's mind was racing.
What exactly was the relationship between Stella and Willy now? From their words earlier, it seemed they had a child together.
If that was the case, then why did Willy's grandmother seek her out and say those things?
Just as she was lost in thought, Stella's voice sounded beside her, "Lila, give the child to Willy. If she goes to the Willy family, she'll live as a young lady of privilege. With you, she'll always be ordinary. Besides, I will treat her well."
Her voice was very low.
So low that Willy, not far away, couldn't hear.
Lila stared intently at the woman before her.
Elegant, intellectual, dressed in luxury brands, radiant and triumphant—the very image of a successful, powerful woman.
In comparison, she felt inferior.
The words of Willy's grandmother suddenly flooded her mind.
Memories of the past came rushing back.
Back then, Stella had followed her mother, Rosalind, into marriage with Lila's father, Marcus, thereby becoming her nominal sister.
Rosalind was Marcus's first love; for her, he hadn't hesitated to divorce Helen.
Although Stella wasn't his biological daughter, he loved her as his own—even more than he cared for Lila, his actual daughter.
At first, Rosalind played the part of a good stepmother, but gradually, her true nature emerged.
Back then, Lila was like a porcupine—filled with hatred for the woman who had destroyed her family, often confronting Rosalind in front of Marcus.
But after Rosalind gave birth to a son, Marcus completely lost patience with Lila.
Using the excuse that Lila had bullied Stella and disrupted the family harmony, he called Helen to take her away. Lila was twelve years old at the time.
Stella had always known how to read people and win favor. She often charmed Marcus into laughter and delight, But only Lila knew that her well-behaved and sensible exterior was merely a mask.
The bullying Lila suffered at school was entirely Stella's doing.
But no one would believe it.
Not even Willy and his brother.
The year Lila left Beijing, Stella had already fully integrated into the circle of second-generation elites. The boys saw her as a white moonlight, and the girls regarded her as a role model.
One had to admit, she certainly had her methods.
It took Lila a great effort to calm herself.
She lifted her eyelids and, equally quietly, replied, "Afraid I'll steal Willy away?"
Stella was taken aback for a moment but quickly collected herself.
When she spoke again, she raised her voice slightly, "Willy and I are completely innocent. Don't misunderstand."
These words happened to reach Willy's ears just as he ended his call.
Stella looked toward him, and their eyes met.
She added, "You comfort her. I'll step away for now."
With that, she walked over to Willy, reached for the phone.
Willy handed it to her but said, "There's nothing between us. Why would you need to step away?"
Stella scoffed, "Then how did the child happen?"
Willy frowned slightly and said flatly, "It was just a fling."
Stella gave him a light pat. "Alright, don't say things out of anger."
This time, without waiting for Willy to respond, she turned and left.
Lila had thought she long since felt nothing.
Yet, upon hearing the words "just a fling," her heart uncontrollably clenched in pain.
But she hid it well.
She showed not a trace of vulnerability in front of the man.
Meeting his cold gaze, she said calmly, "I'll leave once the old lady wakes up."
Having spoken, she averted her eyes.
Turning, she left Willy with only her retreating figure.
Willy took long strides, closing the distance until he stood right behind Lila.
They were very close.
He was tall and imposing. Even without seeing him, Lila could feel the pressure emanating from behind.
Above her head, she felt overshadowed.
Her hands, hanging at her sides, abruptly clenched into fists, so tight her knuckles turned white.
Willy lowered his head, his narrow eyes slightly narrowed, his gaze fixed on the woman's fair, slender neck. His well-defined face was unreadable.
He didn't speak, just stood there silently.
Time seemed to stand still. Lila's heart was in turmoil; Her emotions churned relentlessly, disrupting her thoughts.
She didn't know how much time had passed when the pressure suddenly vanished.
She let out a sigh of relief.
But it was surprising—from the moment Stella left, Willy had not said a word.
Lila thought perhaps he detested her so much that he couldn't even bear to say a single word to her.
Over two hours later, the surgery concluded.
Fortunately, the danger had passed—she had been saved.
However, she remained unconscious.
Lila followed all the way to the hospital room but was stopped by Willy just as she was about to enter.
"You're not needed here," he said coldly.
Lila halted, nodded, and said, "Fine. I'll wait until the old lady wakes up."
Willy, impatient, stated bluntly, "Take the child and leave this place. Make sure no one can find you. That's what you should do."
Hearing his heartless words, Lila suppressed her anger and retorted coldly, "I've done nothing wrong. Why should I leave? If you're so capable, then convince your grandmother not to come looking for us."
Her fierce response took Willy by surprise.
Pausing for a couple of seconds, he replied with a mocking smile, "Finally showing your true colors, aren't you?"
Lila raised her face, meeting his disdainful gaze without flinching.
Then, word by word, she said, "Since that's what you believe, then fine—let's get married. Tomorrow, I'll bring our daughter to see the old lady."