Substitute Bride: Utterly Pampered by Her Billionaire Husband

Chapter 1360: Deep Spring at Bronze Sparrow Terrace

Perhaps sensing the tense atmosphere in the dining room, the little prince tugged at Willow Crawford’s sleeve, "Mommy, what’s wrong?"

Willow Crawford did not want the little prince to be prematurely involved in the adult’s intrigues and power struggles, so she gently said, "Little prince, Mommy is fine. Go upstairs and play for a while. Mommy and grandma have things to discuss."

"Okay." The little prince obediently ran upstairs.

Now only Willow Crawford and Lady Pearl remained in the dining room. Willow Crawford raised her head, her clear eyes sweeping over Lady Pearl’s face opposite her, her expression calm, her gaze like a clear spring reflecting all the ugliness of the human heart. "Madam, I can turn a blind eye to you moving my bodyguards, but when you so casually pushed my personal maid to already over fifty-year-old Earl Roy without a word, I truly don’t know how you dared to have such audacity to target me!"

Lady Pearl knew she was at fault, but she would never admit her mistake; on the contrary, her face turned ugly, "Willow, I’m your mother-in-law, your elder. Is this how you speak to me?"

Willow Crawford elegantly picked up the gold-threaded napkin to gently wipe her lip corner, a faint smile on her face, "How I married in, how you put on the mother-in-law hat, Madam, do you need me to remind you?"

Lady Pearl seemed to hit a dead end. She knew neither Alani nor Westria nor Willow Crawford had forgiven Prince Rosen’s opportunistic actions those five years ago.

Lady Pearl softened her tone, "Willow, I... had no choice. These five years, Earl Roy’s power has grown increasingly large, posing a threat to our royal family. He has taken a fancy to Una, I...I can only..."

"I’m aware of Earl Roy’s issues, I will handle them personally. Madam, if you wish to meddle in state affairs, I am more than willing to step down from my current position and let you take over." Willow Crawford directly interrupted Lady Pearl.

Lady Pearl’s expression shifted; the vast royal family now depended on Willow Crawford, the foremost princess consort, and she could not shirk her duties.

"Willow, I can’t, I..."

Willow Crawford slowly stood, her lips curled up in a smile that did not reach her eyes, "Since you can’t, then I kindly ask you to remain quiet. My tolerance has a limit, this is the last time. Don’t think life will remain idle; the taste of turmoil and distress could be unpleasant."

After speaking, Willow Crawford turned and left.

"Princess Consort, will you not continue dining?"

"No need, prepare the car."

"Yes, Princess Consort. May I ask where you wish to go now?"

"Earl Roy’s residence."

Willow Crawford left, and Lady Pearl collapsed in her chair, also subdued by the powerful aura exuded by Willow Crawford.

In fact, Lady Pearl still remembered the image of Willow Crawford in her youthful days; so obedient and gentle, harmless to people and animals,

but from the moment Willow Crawford married in, she changed.

She stopped loving to smile.

She became indifferent.

Because Prince Rosen died, at that time Lady Pearl wanted Willow Crawford to personally give birth to the little prince. She still remembered when she made this request; Willow Crawford’s gaze at that time was so cold it made her shiver.

Lady Pearl felt no guilt at all; if at that time Willow Crawford had agreed to bear the little prince for Rosen, they would genuinely be a family. Yet Willow Crawford refused. It was like a thorn stuck in her throat; she couldn’t help guarding against her.

...

On the royal parlor car.

The personal butler handed over a bowl of bird’s nest soup, "Princess Consort, you’ve been busy outside all day and have not eaten, please have the bird’s nest soup first."

Willow Crawford shook her head, "I don’t have an appetite. Has the background of Earl Roy been thoroughly investigated?"

The personal butler quickly asked in a formal tone, "It has been investigated, but Earl Roy’s background is very clean, nothing can be found, Princess Consort, what are you suspecting?"

Willow Crawford looked out the window, and a sharp glint appeared in her clear eyes, "Sometimes, not finding any problems is the biggest problem. Previously, Earl Roy was just one of many earls, not famous at all, but these past years he suddenly created his own business sector, accumulating more and more assets under his name. As far as I know, Earl Roy is now involved in networks, finance, real estate, entertainment, among various sectors. His industry circles are about to encompass half this territory. Economic foundation determines the superstructure; naturally, Earl Roy is becoming increasingly arrogant."

"That’s right, this Earl Roy actually dared to fancy your maid, Princess Consort, his audacity is too great," the personal butler commented.

Willow Crawford curved her lips and posed a question, "Don’t you think... this Earl Roy is targeting me?"

The personal butler paused, growing more and more impressed with Willow Crawford, the foremost princess consort, filled with admiration. The daughter of the Crawford family was never ordinary; some things flowed from her very bones and blood.

...

At the Earl’s residence.

Willow Crawford got out of the car and glanced at Earl Roy’s residence. This mansion was luxurious and grand, not a bit less splendid than the royal family, and at first glance, it resembled a bronze sparrow tower, deep in spring within the bronze sparrows. This could fully illustrate Earl Roy’s current dazzling wealth.

"Princess Consort, why have you come? I’ll immediately report to the Earl..." someone intercepted Willow Crawford.

Willow Crawford, "No need, I will directly find your Earl."

"But Princess Consort..."

"What, do you dare to stop me? Or are you saying your Earl’s residence cannot accommodate even me, the Princess Consort?" Willow Crawford asked.

"This..."

Willow Crawford stepped forward directly entering Earl Roy’s residence, her long skirt swinging out a stunning and graceful arc in the air.

Soon Willow Crawford saw Earl Roy and Una in the second-floor corridor; Earl Roy was forcibly holding Una in his arms, his hands all over her, Una struggled and said, "Earl, let go quickly, please have some respect for yourself, if this matter is known to the Princess Consort..."

"Una, now even your Princess Consort fears me a bit, so just yield to me!" Earl Roy was inflamed with lust.

Willow Crawford stopped walking and sneered, "Earl Roy, if you fancy my maid Una, just say so,

three matchmakers and six engagements, the eight-person sedan chair to marry, why imitate the ways of bandits and villains?"

Earl Roy stiffened, looking up to see Willow Crawford standing ahead; her white dress accentuating her unparalleled beauty, she watched him calmly with a smile, condescendingly overlooking him, like an immortal maiden standing in the clouds, capturing the radiance of the setting sun.

This was the foremost princess consort, Willow Crawford.

Earl Roy awkwardly released Una, "Princess Consort, how come you honor us with your presence?"

Una immediately ran to stand behind Willow Crawford, "Princess Consort."

"Una, are you alright?"

Una shook her head, "I’m fine."

Only then did Willow Crawford return her gaze to Earl Roy’s face, "Earl Roy, are you free to talk in the study?"

Willow Crawford headed to the study.

Earl Roy’s expression changed, attempting to stop her immediately, "Princess Consort, let’s speak here."

Willow Crawford paused, her clear eyes fell on the study’s tightly closed sandalwood door, she smiled, "What, is there already an esteemed guest in Earl Roy’s study?"