The Villainess Needs a Hug (Ivy Windsor) novel Chapter 1013

Rationally, she knew this was likely the best man her daughter would ever cross paths with in her lifetime.

One could even argue that her daughter was marrying entirely out of her league.

But emotionally, she couldn't shake the feeling that he was unreliable. Perhaps it was his reputation as a playboy, or simply the fact that he was so exceptional. It didn't take a genius to realize that countless women would throw themselves at him.

And how many men could truly remain indifferent when women willingly offered themselves up?

She refused to let her daughter end up with a miserable marriage like her own.

Yet right now, seeing Naylor act so polite and respectful, she remembered what Katrina had said. Naylor had been the first to contact his own parents, using his vast connections to bring in a top specialist to save her life. He had quite literally pulled her back from the brink of death. That was a monumental favor, one that made it impossible for her to scowl or cast blame.

After a long moment of deliberation, Willa looked at Naylor and replied with relative politeness. "Thanks to you and your parents the other day, I suppose your merits have canceled out your faults. Let's call it even."

Hearing those words, Naylor rejoiced internally. She was basically saying she wouldn't hold his chaotic stunt against him.

That meant he still had a chance with Katrina.

"Of course, thank you, Mrs. Lester. We'll call it even," he replied with a smile, his gaze discreetly sliding toward Katrina.

Katrina caught his smug little look and gave him a faint eye roll before looking away.

Julian had been standing frozen the entire time. Cassandra shot him several pointed glares, signaling him to step forward and apologize to the older woman. Only then did he take two slow steps toward the bed. "Mrs. Lester, are you feeling any better?"

Willa looked at him, her heart aching with profound regret.

She had genuinely adored this prospective son-in-law and had been absolutely determined to entrust her daughter's future to him.

She never could have imagined the reality would be so utterly absurd.

Staring at Julian for a few seconds, Willa asked bluntly, "Julian, are all those things about your past true?"

Julian lowered his eyes, pushing up his gold-rimmed glasses with one hand, and remained silent.

That silence was an undeniable admission of guilt.

Willa's heartbreak deepened. Looking at his gentle, refined demeanor, she couldn't possibly connect him to such a messy, chaotic lifestyle.

"Cassandra?" Willa looked at her old friend, her voice trembling slightly with emotion. "You... this boy, he... why didn't you step in? He was such a good kid. How did he pick up such awful habits abroad and go so completely astray?"

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