Chapter 190: You are pregnant
Willow’s hand froze mid-air, the glass of water hovering just inches from her lips. Theodore’s question had caught her off guard, and her expression shifted instantly from surprise to irritation. She scowled, slowly placing the glass back on the table. "What did you just say? Do you have any conscience at all? How could you even think I’d be interested in Zack?"
Theodore felt relief wash over him, but his curiosity lingered. What drove Willow to collaborate with him if she wasn’t interested in Zack?
"Then why do you want to partner with him?" he asked, his tone still filled with doubt. "If you really need a partner, I’m right here. I’ve always respected your independence and never pressured you to work with me. But I’m asking now—work with me. I can help you build your brand."
Willow’s response was immediate and firm. "No... that’s not going to happen," she rejected the offer flatly. "I don’t want any favors from the Reids."
Theodore’s patience frayed at the edges, his eyebrows knitting together in frustration. "Willow!" he snapped, his voice rising slightly. "I’m your brother. I want to help you."
But Willow was unmoved. "You’re not separate from the Reids," she shot back. "If I accept your help, it’ll give your stepmother an excuse to start spewing nonsense about me. I won’t give her that satisfaction. Mom struggled alone, kept her distance from the Reids, and I’m just following in her footsteps. I can’t take your favor. I’m sorry."
Theodore’s frustration boiled over, his fists clenching on the table. He had always felt powerless when it came to Willow. No matter how much he wanted to support her, she pushed him away.
"Why are you so stubborn?" The helplessness in his eyes was evident as he looked at her, pleading for some understanding. "Do you even see me as your brother? Why can’t you let me help you? I’m not like my father."
He wanted nothing more than to be there for her, but she kept building walls between them—walls that seemed impossible to break down.
Willow’s expression softened as she noticed the tension in Theodore’s eyes. She reached across the table, gently placing her hand on his tightly clenched fist.