Chapter 319
As Matthew said this, Willow was leading Aaron to find the USB drive he had thrown away. His words. drained the color from her face, leaving her pale and shaken
Matthew always had a knack for humiliating her to the point where she could hardly breathe. With her
gaze lowered, Willow picked up the USB drive from the edge of the greenery and grasped Aaron’s hand, heading toward lan
She had never crossed paths with lan before. But rumors about this privileged man had reached her ears. According to gossip, he suffered from severe germophobia and shared Theodore’s peculiar allergy to
women.
As she approached lan, she maintained a cautious distance, mindful of the rumors she had heard. Despite her clear conscience, Matthew’s words were too cruel. She worried they might repulse lan, who was already known for avoiding female company.
lan also noticed Willow beside him. She was bathed in the glow of the streetlamp, and her face was ethereal yet hauntingly pale.
Willow’s oversized wool coat did little to hide her frailty. It made her look even more delicate, like a leaf trembling in the wind, ready to be crushed into dust with the slightest force.
lan’s brow furrowed deeply. For the first time, the sight of a woman’s frail figure made his chest ache.
Gazing at her pallid face, a heavy emotion settled in his chest. Acting on instinct, he stepped forward and gently clasped her hand.
“Willow, you’re not dirty. I trust my own eyes, and I believe you have the
est cord in the world.”
Willow’s eyes widened in disbelief. She never expected this lofty man to look past the slanderous words. and see her without a hint of disdain. Instead, he declared her soul the purest.
“Mr. Nightingale, thank you.” Willow’s heart fluttered, her voice choked with emotion. “Thank you for believing in me.”
Remembering how lan had used his laptop to send files during their ride back, she hesitantly asked, “Mr. Nightingale, my computer is upstairs, and it would be a hassle to get it. Could I borrow your laptop to
show a video?”
“Of course,” lan responded calmly.
He turned to give a subtle nod to his chief assistant, Eric, who swiftly fetched his laptop from the Rolls
Royce.
Willow realized lan was still holding her hand. She instinctively tried to pull away.
Feeling Willow’s attempt to withdraw, lan inexplicably hesitated to let go of her soft, cool hand. He involuntarily tightened his grip, experiencing a flutter of emotion he couldn’t quite understand.
When Willow kept trying to pull her hand free, he realized his mistake. Rarely showing such vulnerability,
Chapter 319
lan’s face reddened slightly. He did not want to offend Willow, so he quickly released her hand.
22
Willow had always been careful to maintain a respectful distance from lan, avoiding both undue flattery
and provocation.
But in Matthew’s eyes, their interaction seemed like a calculated attempt by Willow to seduce lan, full of coy maneuvers and false resistance. Layers of scorn filled Matthew’s eyes.
“Boss, here’s the laptop!” Eric eagerly presented the laptop to lan, but Willow politely declined. “Thank you, Mr. Pearson. I’ll handle it myself.”
