After His Sweetheart Moved In, He Came Home Every Night-Chapter 124: Alice York Is Willing to Believe Him
"Help you with what?"
Wyatt Sterling stopped and looked down at Alice York beside him. Her almond-shaped eyes were full of expectation.
"I don’t want to go anywhere. Right now, I just want to stay in Silvanus."
Alice was halfway through her sentence when she realized she was too close to Wyatt Sterling. Afraid of being seen, she took a small step back and continued, "Grandpa’s words made it clear he wants me to go, too. Third Uncle, you must have a way to make him change his mind, right?"
The corner of Wyatt Sterling’s mouth lifted into a smirk. "So sure I have a way?"
Alice’s eyes were brimming with hope. "I’m sure you have a way, Third Uncle."
’For a moment, Alice allowed herself to believe Wyatt Sterling’s feelings for her were genuine—that she must matter to him.’
But in the next second, that unrealistic fantasy was shattered by his words. He told her, "You put your faith in the wrong person."
Alice froze, her lashes fluttering.
The smile on Wyatt Sterling’s lips faded. "Old Master Sterling wants you to go. It’s not my place to interfere."
Alice’s hands, hanging at her sides, curled into fists. "...Third Uncle, if you just say the word—point out some fault of mine—Grandpa won’t make me go."
She pleaded, desperate for him to agree.
The silence stretched. Wyatt Sterling reached for Alice. For once, she didn’t flinch, her gaze fixed on him.
Just as his fingertips were about to brush her cheek, he abruptly pulled his hand back. "I was very pleased today," he said coolly. "I can’t seem to find any fault with you at the moment."
"..."
He was referring to the better part of the day she had spent with him at Shorecrest.
She swallowed against the bitter taste in her throat. "Are you really not going to help me, Third Uncle?"
Wyatt asked coolly, "You don’t want to go because you’re afraid it’ll be like the trip to Washington? That you’ll be sold off?"
Alice bit her bottom lip and gave a slight nod.
The shadow of the Washington trip still loomed over her. She was terrified of going through something like that again. The process might be different, but the outcome would be the same.
And the Sawyer family of Arden was said to be just as formidable as the Churchill family of Washington.
Wyatt Sterling could see the fear in Alice’s eyes. "It’s alright to go. No one will sell you this time."
At his words, Alice shook her head vehemently. "No. I don’t want to go."
Mason Cheney, who had just returned, approached them. "Third Master, the housekeeper is on his way up."
Alice immediately looked to Wyatt Sterling, but he said nothing, simply turning and heading toward Old Master Sterling’s study.
Alice opened her mouth to say something else, but Mason Cheney stepped in front of her, blocking her view. "Miss Alice, why don’t you head downstairs for now."
As Wyatt Sterling’s back disappeared from sight, Alice murmured to the man in front of her, "Assistant Cheney, if I don’t want to go to Arden... Third Uncle will help me, right?"
Mason Cheney gave a boilerplate response. "I’m sorry, Miss Alice. I’m not privy to that information."
"Never mind."
’Asking Mason Cheney was pointless.’
’The only silver lining was Wyatt Sterling’s ambiguous attitude. It meant there was still a chance... Maybe he would help her in the end?’
’But she couldn’t count on something so uncertain. All those times he seemed to be protecting her... maybe they were just coincidences...’
Alice’s thoughts were a tangled mess. She hurried downstairs, and on her way to find Mindy Vaughn, she ran into Nathan Sterling holding a small cat.
"What are you doing back here?" Nathan Sterling, who had a new haircut, approached Alice with the kitten in his arms.
"I messed up, so I’m back to get chewed out," Alice said, her gaze landing on the kitten in Nathan’s arms.
It wasn’t a pedigree cat, but a little calico, probably only a few months old.
Hearing that she’d messed up, Nathan’s expression flickered, and his voice was laced with nerves. "What did you do wrong this time?"
Alice’s lips curved into a smile. "Guess."
Nathan missed the cunning glint that flashed in Alice’s eyes. He drew closer. "Is it serious?"
Alice feigned a look of distress and sighed. "Very serious."
Nathan’s grip on the kitten suddenly tightened. The little cat, feeling squeezed, let out a few mews. He snapped out of it and loosened his hold, staring at Alice for a long moment before finally spitting out three words: "You deserve it."
Alice pursed her lips. "I do deserve it. I’m not very popular in this family. Whether the mistake is big or small, it’s always treated as a major offense."
As she spoke, she studied Nathan’s expression.
He looked anxious but was trying hard not to show it. The kitten squirmed in his arms, wanting down, so he let it go.
Alice suddenly asked, "Did you find that kitten?"
"Yeah."
He mumbled in reply.
The kitten scampered off and vanished in a flash. "Aren’t you going to get it back?" Alice asked.
"It won’t go far." Nathan looked back at Alice, hesitating several times as if he wanted to say something. His conflicted expression amused Alice.
She let out a snort of laughter.
Nathan’s eyes widened slightly. "You’re about to get chewed out and you can still laugh?"
"When you get chewed out so often it becomes normal, you’ll understand my state of mind..." She paused, then added, "Of course, I hope you never have to understand it."
With that, Alice turned to leave.
Nathan called after her. "So what did you do wrong?"
"I’m in love."
Those three simple words hit Nathan like a ton of bricks. He raised his voice, shouting, "Who are you in love with? Don’t tell me it’s..."
Before he could finish, Alice spun around and pointed at him. "Shut your mouth."
"..."
Alice didn’t stay at the family estate for dinner. She went straight back to Shorecrest to wait for Wyatt Sterling’s return.
As dusk fell, an unfamiliar car slowly pulled into the courtyard.
A car door opened, and a small figure hopped out. Alice took a closer look—it was Yael Dalton.
From the other side of the iron gate, Yael spotted Alice too. She waved excitedly, calling out in a sweet, childish voice, "Alice~"
A security guard opened the side gate, and Yael didn’t wait for the others, dashing inside as if she owned the place.
"Slow down, you’ll trip!" Alice crouched down to greet her, worried the cobblestones in the courtyard would trip little Yael.
Yael’s short legs pumped as she ran, flinging herself at Alice. "Alice, hug me~"
Alice opened her arms, and the two of them, one big and one small, shared a full embrace.
Julian Dalton leaned against the car door, smiling. Seeing Wyatt Sterling approach, he slung an elbow over his shoulder. "See that? My Yael really likes Alice."
Wyatt shot him a sidelong glance, his eyes cold. "What’s your point?"
"Alright, let me rephrase," Julian said, grinning. "My Yael really likes *your* Alice."
As soon as he emphasized that one word, Julian watched the mood of the man beside him visibly brighten, like clouds parting to reveal the moon.
Julian sighed with a smile. "If only your Alice had the time. I could leave Yael in her care for a couple of days and not have to worry."
Wyatt Sterling didn’t reply, simply starting toward the house. Julian followed, still smiling.
Having not seen her for a few days, Yael was even clingier to Alice than before. She would only drink water if Alice was the one to give it to her, and she even declared that she wanted to sleep next to Alice that night.
