After His Sweetheart Moved In, He Came Home Every Night-Chapter 100: Wyatt Sterling Says, "She’s My Person
As soon as the words were spoken, Old Master Sterling’s piercing gaze landed on Alice York.
It was a scrutinizing, probing look, his intimidating presence identical to Wyatt Sterling’s.
The nearby subordinates and servants, terrified of getting caught in the crossfire, lowered their heads in unison.
"Then why don’t you tell me how it’s so different now?" At that moment, Old Master Sterling’s glare was like a knife—sharp enough to flay a man alive, chilling to the bone.
Wyatt Sterling took out a cigarette case, toying with it nonchalantly between his fingers. "Can’t you see for yourself?"
Alice York appeared calm, but inside, she had already cursed Wyatt Sterling a million times over.
Old Master Sterling’s face darkened. His eyes twitched with fury as he spoke, "Wyatt, don’t you dare tell me that you and this girl..."
"Grandfather."
Before Old Master Sterling could finish, a childish voice from outside the door interrupted him. He turned his head and saw Nathan Sterling and Mason Cheney walking toward the ancestral shrine, one behind the other.
"Nathan, what are you doing here?"
Old Master Sterling was surprised. He had specifically instructed the servants to watch Nathan and keep him away, precisely so the boy wouldn’t find out about his own mother’s sordid affair.
"Grandfather, I’m the one who asked Third Uncle to bring me."
Afraid he might be stopped, Nathan Sterling quickened his pace and ran into the ancestral shrine.
Old Master Sterling turned to Wyatt Sterling. "So Nathan came to you on his own?"
Wyatt Sterling replied coolly, "What else?"
Old Master Sterling didn’t believe him in the slightest. "You’d better give me a reasonable explanation."
"Are you not planning to deal with the matter at hand?" Wyatt Sterling’s tone was unhurried, his control of the situation subtle yet absolute.
Old Master Sterling choked on his anger. He hadn’t planned on dealing with Mindy Vaughn today anyway. Silas was still away, and now that Nathan was here, enacting family punishment was out of the question.
"We’ll discuss this after your second brother returns." To avoid frightening Nathan any more, Old Master Sterling had no choice but to let the matter rest for the time being.
Alice York listened to the exchange between Wyatt and the old master with a pounding heart. She was relieved they hadn’t dragged her back into it, but ’now that the seed of suspicion has been planted, my life here is going to be even more difficult.’
"Mommy, does it hurt?"
Nathan Sterling crouched down, his eyes full of heartache as he looked at Mindy Vaughn’s swollen cheek.
Mindy Vaughn brushed the disheveled hair from her forehead and quickly said, "It doesn’t hurt. Mommy’s fine. It’s just... Nathan, how could you... How could you possibly go and ask..."
’Normally, the boy didn’t even dare to meet Wyatt Sterling’s gaze. He must have had to summon so much courage just to approach him.’
Nathan Sterling sobbed, "I’m sorry, Mommy. They all call me a little psycho and ignore me. They say talking to me is just a waste of breath. I didn’t know what else to do. I wanted to see you, so I had to work up the courage to ask Third Uncle for help."
Hearing the words "little psycho" come from her son’s mouth, Mindy Vaughn’s heart ached terribly. She pulled Nathan into a tight embrace, comforting him while murmuring words of self-blame.
It was a heartwarming scene of a loving mother and a devoted son.
As for Old Master Sterling, his already grim expression turned into a mask of uncontrollable rage upon hearing the words "little psycho."
His cane slammed hard against the floor, making a sharp CRACK.
"Bastards!"
Everyone except Wyatt Sterling jumped at the sound of the cane hitting the floor.
Old Master Sterling summoned the butler. "Go find out exactly who has been saying things like that to Nathan."
"Yes, sir." The butler bowed his head.
Old Master Sterling continued, "If any of them deny it, have Nathan point them out. Don’t let a single one get away."
This public display made it clear that Old Master Sterling was determined to stand up for his grandson, which gave Mindy Vaughn a glimmer of hope.
She thought that perhaps, for Nathan’s sake, the old master would show her a bit more leniency. But instead, he ordered her to kneel in the ancestral shrine for the entire night!
"Since Silas isn’t back, I won’t decide your punishment just yet. You will kneel here and reflect on what you have done."
Mindy Vaughn’s face went ashen. Kneeling for an entire night would cripple her.
Old Master Sterling had the servants pull Nathan Sterling away, and then he left the ancestral shrine.
Nathan Sterling struggled fiercely, kicking and punching the servants. "Let me go! I want my mommy!"
But he was only an eight-year-old boy. No matter how strong he was, he couldn’t overpower two grown men. In the blink of an eye, he was carried out.
Alice York was, of course, also forced to leave. As she turned, she saw the servants forcing Mindy Vaughn to her knees. Mindy’s face was filled with unwilling resentment, her hateful gaze fixed on something in the distance. Then, as if she sensed it, her eyes met Alice’s.
It was as if she’d grabbed onto a lifeline. Her eyes grew wild with desperation. "Alice, it was Victor Vance! He manipulated me! I didn’t want to do it!"
Alice York clenched her fists.
"Alice, you can help me, can’t you? You can definitely help me, right? Alice..."
Alice York said nothing, silently watching Mindy Vaughn struggle.
"Miss Alice, please leave now," a servant urged her.
Alice York had no choice but to look away and step out of the ancestral shrine.
In the distance, she saw the backs of Old Master Sterling and Wyatt Sterling walking side by side. After a moment’s hesitation, she ran after them. "Grandfather!"
The two figures stopped.
Alice York hurried to Old Master Sterling’s side. "Grandfather, my mother was manipulated by Dr. Vance. He already has a bad reputation at our hospital. Many of my colleagues know what kind of person he is."
Old Master Sterling scrutinized Alice York, his gaze profound. "Are you trying to plead your mother’s case?"
Alice York met his gaze evenly. "I’m just stating the facts."
’Thinking about it now,’ Alice reflected, ’Mindy Vaughn did everything she could to hold on to the Sterlings’ wealth and glory. How could she not have known the price for getting caught having an affair!’
’She must have agonized over it countless times before taking that final step. In the end, Victor Vance must have manipulated her.’
Old Master Sterling snorted coldly. "Why should I believe any ’facts’ coming from you? Like mother, like daughter. You’re cut from the same cloth."
Alice York pressed her lips together, humiliated.
Wyatt Sterling spoke up coolly, "What are you standing there for?"
Alice York stepped aside, clearing a path for them.
Wyatt Sterling accompanied the old master for a long way. As the main residence came into view, Old Master Sterling switched his cane to his other hand and asked in a low voice, "Wyatt, tell me the truth. Why did you agree to bring Nathan and his sister to the ancestral shrine today?"
Wyatt Sterling didn’t reply.
Old Master Sterling stopped walking and turned to face Wyatt Sterling. "What are you really up to?"
Wyatt Sterling took out his cigarette case again. He lit the cigarette he hadn’t been able to in the shrine, took a drag, and said, "What could I possibly be up to? I was just playing the good Samaritan."
"You? A good Samaritan?" Old Master Sterling didn’t believe it for a second.
Wyatt Sterling chuckled, his voice full of meaning. "Of course I am. If I weren’t such a good Samaritan, how would you have managed to catch them in the act?"
How could Old Master Sterling not understand the implication?
Everything had happened so suddenly that he’d only been focused on his anger, not stopping to consider if someone had intentionally exposed the affair.
Old Master Sterling immediately asked, "So you already knew about Mindy Vaughn’s filthy business with that Victor Vance?"
Wyatt Sterling kept the cigarette between his lips. "Second Brother loves her deeply. I was just turning a blind eye."
Old Master Sterling pressed, "If you were turning a blind eye, then why expose it to me now?"
Smoke obscured Wyatt Sterling’s face, but his deep-set eyes remained fixed on the slender figure in the distance. "Because she laid a hand on someone she shouldn’t have."
