After His Sweetheart Moved In, He Came Home Every Night-Chapter 117: Who is Wyatt Sterling Protecting?
"By the way, who was the kind soul who exposed that whole sordid affair with the director and the guest tonight? Alice, do you know?"
Zoe Jenson patted Alice’s shoulder as she asked.
Alice already suspected who was behind it, but she had no intention of saying so. She just shook her head. "I’m not sure yet."
Zoe turned to Owen. "Owen, it wasn’t you, was it?"
Owen’s gaze was fixed on Alice. After a moment’s thought, he said softly, "Yes, it was me."
Alice’s head snapped up to look at Owen.
A half-smile touched Owen’s lips.
"Wow!"
Zoe’s eyes were filled with admiration.
"You’re incredible, Owen! Thank goodness you set that up, exposing the industry’s dirty secrets. And it was the perfect slap in the face for everyone who misunderstood Alice."
"When that woman was on stage being so aggressive with Alice, I wanted to charge up there and rip her to shreds. And then the very next second, that racy video of her and the director started playing on the big screen. It was so satisfying."
Zoe finished, her hands on her hips.
A faint smile played on Owen’s lips. "I won’t let anyone bully my sister."
Zoe beamed, turning to Alice. "He really is the same big brother who’s been looking after you since the day you joined the Sterlings."
Alice pressed her lips together, saying nothing. In the end, she decided not to explain that Owen had nothing to do with what was exposed tonight.
After leaving Hall 9.
Alice and Owen got into the same car and left together.
Holden Locke pulled open a car door and gestured for Zoe. "Zoe, get in. I’ll take you home first."
Zoe ducked into the car. Once Holden was seated, she asked cautiously, "Are you feeling a little down, Uncle?"
Holden laughed it off. "What’s there to feel down about?"
Zoe said, "That’s her big brother. He’s always treated her really well."
"I can see that," Holden replied, his expression neutral. "Alice is clearly close to him. It shows they’ve always had a good relationship."
Zoe fell silent. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of Seraphina Sheridan outside the car.
She was just about to roll down the window when she saw two men in sharp suits approaching Seraphina. They looked aggressive, but Seraphina’s expression betrayed no fear. She simply stood her ground.
They exchanged a few words, though Zoe couldn’t hear what was said, and then the two men left. Seraphina visibly relaxed, but her face remained pale and drawn.
The car window slid down slowly.
Zoe’s eyes met Seraphina’s. Seraphina offered a strained smile before turning to leave.
"What are you looking at?"
Holden’s voice came from beside her.
Zoe raised the window, murmuring, "So she really is one of those proud, tragic beauties."
"What?" Holden hadn’t understood.
Zoe shook her head. "It’s nothing. Let’s go."
...
When Alice returned to the Sterling estate, she didn’t see any sign of Wyatt Sterling.
’I thought he would have gotten back before me. Apparently, I was overthinking things.’
Owen walked her to the door of her residence. With the door behind them and no servants around, the area was peaceful.
"Grandfather’s men haven’t come for you yet. Don’t be scared. When they do, I’ll go with you. I was there today, so it’s only natural that I accompany you."
Owen could see Alice’s unease and assumed she was worried about the impending meeting with their grandfather.
Alice shook her head. "There’s no need, Owen. I can go by myself. I don’t want to drag you into this."
"Being dragged into it is the whole point," Owen told her.
Alice looked up, blinking.
Owen gently tucked her hair behind her ear. "If I’m involved, then I have the perfect excuse to stand by you. I don’t want you to face this alone. In case Grandfather gets angry, I can be there to watch your back."
"Owen..."
"Melody Lancaster can’t stand you, so this whole scheme was foolish. But desperate people take desperate measures. Just because she was rash doesn’t mean her plan is useless. It seems Grandfather is quite fond of her and Third Uncle."
Owen laid out the situation, and Alice listened intently.
’It was more or less what she had feared.’
"And one more thing..." Owen pulled his hand back, his gaze fixed on Alice’s eyes. "Third Uncle and Melody Lancaster have been together for years. They have a deep bond. If Grandfather tries to hold her accountable, Third Uncle will protect her, and there won’t be much Grandfather can do."
His words were a knife to Alice’s heart, causing a silent, piercing ache.
Owen said, "Alice."
Alice lowered her gaze, hiding the dejection in her eyes. "Mm."
"I’ll do everything I can to protect you. Don’t be afraid."
"Mm."
’She didn’t know what else to say, so she could only manage that single sound in response.’
"I’m heading back to my place. When Grandfather’s men come to get you, text me... Actually, don’t worry about it. I’ll know."
With that, Owen turned and left.
Alice watched him go before opening the door and heading inside.
She waited all afternoon and into the evening, but no summons from Old Master Sterling ever came. It was as if the matter had been quietly resolved, or perhaps it had never reached his ears in the first place.
Later that evening, Alice received a text from Owen.
[Just heard. Third Uncle spoke up for Melody Lancaster and defended her. Out of respect for him, Grandfather isn’t going to pursue the matter.]
After reading the text, it felt like a heavy mallet had struck Alice’s heart. A dull ache spread through her chest, an unspeakable misery.
She switched off her phone and tossed it onto the bed, feeling utterly drained.
’When Melody Lancaster had threatened her into joining the dating show, she had prepared for the worst. But the thought that Melody would also face the consequences had made all the anguish from the constant harassment and threats seem worth it.’
’But now, Wyatt Sterling had stepped in to protect Melody Lancaster.’
Perhaps driven by a sense of injustice, Alice picked her phone back up and called Wyatt Sterling.
It rang a few times.
Then, someone picked up.
"Third Uncle," Alice said softly.
The other end of the line was silent.
Alice summoned her courage, about to ask her question, when a woman’s voice suddenly cut in from the other end:
"Wyatt, is it okay if I shower here?"
’It was Melody Lancaster’s voice!’
Alice’s breath hitched. Her throat felt tight, as if blocked by a thorn, and for a long moment, she was speechless.
"Wyatt, could you help me with my zipper?"
"It’s behind my neck. I can’t reach it."
Melody Lancaster’s voice sounded closer now.
’Alice didn’t have to imagine the scene on the other end of the line. Their relationship was official; whatever happened between them was only natural.’
Alice moved to hang up, but she was a second too late. The line went dead.
Staring at the darkened screen of her phone, Alice felt herself go numb.
’He’d hung up on her so quickly. She tried to banish the thoughts from her mind, telling herself not to picture it, but the moment she closed her eyes, she was flooded with images of him and Melody Lancaster tangled together.’
Alice felt like she was going crazy. She threw the phone with all her might.
The moment the phone hit the floor, its screen lit up again. A call was coming in.
Alice glanced over. The caller ID on the screen read—Wyatt Sterling.
