After His Sweetheart Moved In, He Came Home Every Night-Chapter 123: She Wants to Confirm Wyatt Sterling’s Feelings
"I hope you really know what you’re doing."
After saying this, Alice York brushed past Mindy Vaughn.
When she reached the door, she stopped and turned to ask, "Where’s Nathan?"
"The butler took him to get a haircut. Old Master Sterling is going to Arden in two days to bring her back," Mindy Vaughn said.
Even though Mindy Vaughn didn’t say a name, Alice York knew who "her" was.
The only person Old Master Sterling would personally go to pick up was, of course, his third wife—Wyatt Sterling’s biological mother, Rosalind Sawyer.
Come to think of it, Alice hadn’t seen Rosalind Sawyer in half a year.
She’d heard that Rosalind Sawyer had returned to her family home in Arden three months ago. Wyatt Sterling’s maternal grandfather was critically ill, so Rosalind went back to fulfill her filial duties, meticulously caring for him by his sickbed. Apparently, the old man’s condition had improved, and Rosalind was preparing to come back.
’If Old Master Sterling is going to pick her up personally, Wyatt will probably go too.’
She thought of Rosalind Sawyer’s face, so well-maintained that she looked about the same age as her own mother, Mindy Vaughn. Every time Alice had to call her "Grandma," it felt incredibly awkward. On top of that, she was Wyatt Sterling’s mother. The whole relationship was just a complete mess...
Crossing the courtyard, Alice arrived at Old Master Sterling’s study.
Simon Sterling was standing at his desk, writing. A large sheet of xuan paper was spread out on the desk, and with a few swift, elegant strokes, he wrote five words.
"Last time, you mentioned you had someone you liked. Has that worked out?" Simon Sterling didn’t look up as he spoke, instead admiring the five words he had just written, very pleased with them.
Standing before the desk, Alice York replied, "It didn’t."
At her words, Simon Sterling looked up at Alice York, his gaze sharp and imposing. "Why didn’t it?"
Alice said, "I don’t like him anymore."
Her words made Simon Sterling laugh out loud. He set down his brush and leaned his hands on the desk. "You young people... your likes and dislikes come and go so quickly. One day you’re madly in love, the next you’ve broken up completely."
Laughter filled the study.
But Alice felt no sense of ease.
Her expression was tense as she said, neither servile nor overbearing, "We were never together. I found out he liked someone else, so I stopped liking him."
"Oh, is that so? To think he doesn’t like our Alice." Simon Sterling chuckled as he walked out from behind the desk. "Why don’t you tell Grandpa who this man is? So unappreciative."
Old Master Sterling had a powerful presence. Even though he was smiling as he spoke, the oppressive atmosphere around him was even more intimidating than when he wasn’t.
Alice was afraid of him.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have to mentally prepare herself every time she came to see Old Master Sterling before daring to step inside.
"Grandpa, he’s just an ordinary person. Besides, he’s already with the person he likes. I’ve wished them well, and we won’t have any contact in the future."
The moment her words fell, Alice heard Simon Sterling’s laughter grow even heartier.
After he finished laughing, all expression vanished from Simon Sterling’s face. He stared at Alice with his sharp gaze for several dozen seconds before saying, "Is that why you agreed to go on that dating show with Melody Lancaster?"
Alice swallowed and nodded. "Yes."
"You young people are always so impulsive." Simon Sterling sighed. "Troubled by love, only to create more trouble for yourselves. Don’t do it again. It makes Grandpa unhappy."
"I understand."
The weight that had been hanging over Alice’s heart since she walked in finally lifted.
The questioning had ended. The ordeal was over.
Simon Sterling turned back to his desk, rolled up the calligraphy he had just written, and handed it to Alice. "Take this. Hang it above your bed. Look at it from time to time to keep yourself alert."
Alice stepped forward to take it.
Simon Sterling didn’t let go. "You are one of the Sterlings. I shouldn’t have to remind you of your duty. You need to know what’s expected of you."
Alice nodded, very obediently. "I understand."
Simon Sterling was pleased with Alice’s attitude. He released his grip and said, "You may go."
Alice nodded. Taking the xuan paper from Old Master Sterling, she turned to leave. Just as she reached the door, he called out to her again. "Wait!"
Alice clutched the xuan paper tightly and squeezed her eyes shut.
As she turned, afraid Old Master Sterling would see the crease in the paper from her grip, she covered it with her hand. Her face was a mask of composure. "Is there anything else, Grandpa?"
"In two days, I’m going to Arden to bring Rosalind back. That boy Nathan is insisting on coming with me. What do you think, should you go along too?" Simon Sterling said.
Alice fought the urge to rip the calligraphy to shreds. She shook her head at Old Master Sterling. "The hospital is busy, so I won’t go."
’Old Master Sterling is going to pick up his wife, yet he’s inviting me, the granddaughter with a different surname. He must have something planned.’
The memory of that trip to Washington still made her heart pound with lingering fear. There was no way she was going to Arden.
She thought her refusal would be the end of it, but to her surprise, Old Master Sterling pondered for a moment before saying, "I’ll ask Nathan what he thinks later. If he doesn’t mind you going, you can go along."
"..."
After leaving the study, Alice was somewhat dazed.
As she rounded the corner of the hallway, Wyatt Sterling and Mason Cheney were walking toward her, one after the other. Alice wasn’t paying attention and only snapped out of it when an arm blocked her path. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞
She looked up into Wyatt Sterling’s stern face.
"What’s that in your hand?" Wyatt Sterling’s gaze fell on the calligraphy she was holding.
Alice held it out in his direction. "Do you want to see, Third Uncle?"
She asked casually, not thinking Wyatt Sterling would be curious. But he actually took it from her, unrolled it, and looked at the five large words written on it.
"A taut string urges haste."
He read it out slowly.
Alice said, "Grandpa told me to hang this over my bed and look at it all the time to keep myself in check."
Wyatt Sterling’s eyes darkened. Without a word, he tore the calligraphy to pieces right in front of Alice.
Alice: "..."
After ripping it, he crumpled it into a ball and tossed it to Mason Cheney, who was behind him. "Get rid of this."
"Yes, sir."
Mason Cheney took the torn and crumpled calligraphy and turned to find a place to dispose of it.
Alice stared, dumbfounded. "Third Uncle, you just tore it up like that? Grandpa will..."
Wyatt Sterling’s expression was grim. "What, were you really planning to hang it over your bed and look at it every day?"
"..."
She shook her head.
Of course she wasn’t going to hang it over her bed, let alone look at it. What shocked her was his action—that he had just torn it up without a second thought.
Wyatt Sterling walked over to Alice and stopped, reminding her, "Don’t stay at the main house tonight. Go back to Shorecrest."
"I know."
She agreed obediently. Seeing Wyatt Sterling walk toward Old Master Sterling’s study, she debated for a moment before finally hurrying after him. "Third Uncle."
Wyatt didn’t stop, but continued walking forward.
Alice kept pace with him and said, "Grandpa is going to Arden to bring your mother back to Silvanus. He wants me to go too, but I don’t want to. Third Uncle, can you help me?"
’Connecting all the recent events, she decided to take the initiative and ask for his help. If he agrees, it would prove that everything before wasn’t a coincidence. It would mean she might actually hold a special place in his heart...’
’If he refuses, it would just mean she was overthinking things, that he didn’t care about her at all.’
