After His Sweetheart Moved In, He Came Home Every Night-Chapter 126: Alice York’s Salvation

Wyatt Sterling was the one who went to that parent-teacher conference.

Alice York paced back and forth in the hallway, waiting. It was the first time she’d ever felt that two hours could be so long—so long it felt like a century had passed.

"Alice York."

Hearing her name called, Alice York immediately looked up. In her line of sight, Wyatt Sterling’s tall figure stood at the top of the stairs.

He had dressed casually for school that day. A slightly loose turtleneck sweater simply outlined his stately frame, and with the daylight shining behind him, he looked like a figure in a painting. It was a scene Alice would never forget, no matter how many years passed.

"Come up."

He gave a light beckoning wave.

Alice snapped back to her senses and scrambled up the stairs as fast as she could. Her school uniform was too thick, and she was panting from the heat and exertion.

When she was standing in front of Wyatt Sterling, she tilted her head back to look up at him.

"Third Uncle."

She said the title timidly.

Wyatt Sterling glanced at the thin sheen of sweat on her forehead, his tone mild. "The parent-teacher conference is over."

Alice breathed a sigh of relief.

Wyatt Sterling added, "Your teacher said he wants to talk to me."

As soon as the words left his mouth, he saw the almond-shaped eyes before him widen slightly, filled with worry, panic, and helplessness...

At sixteen, her face was still so youthful that she couldn’t hide a single emotion. It was all written on her face.

"During the meeting just now, your teacher praised your grades in front of everyone," he said unhurriedly. "Your performance on this month’s exam was as consistent as ever."

Hearing these words of affirmation, the tension in Alice’s brow slowly eased, and her once-somber face instantly lit up, becoming radiant.

But before the corners of her lips could even turn up, the light in her eyes dimmed again. She asked him cautiously, "Third Uncle... do you have time right now?"

Years of low self-esteem had conditioned her to second-guess everything she did or said.

She didn’t dare make even the smallest request directly, always testing the waters first and gauging his expression.

If the other person showed even a hint of impatience, she would immediately drop the idea. This time was no different.

"And what if I said I didn’t?" A faint smile played on his lips.

Alice mustered her courage. "The teacher wants to talk. Can you still go?"

Wyatt Sterling didn’t say whether he would go or not. He just watched her quietly for a moment, then turned and started walking in a certain direction.

’...He’s leaving?’

Alice felt a surge of panic, but she didn’t dare call out to him.

The fact that Wyatt Sterling had even come to her parent-teacher conference today was more than she could have ever dreamed of. No one in the Sterling family cared about an outsider like her. Even her own mother treated her like a burden. Only he...

She ran after him, trying to muster her courage for one last attempt. "Third Uncle, could I trouble you for just a few more minutes? Just a few minutes, the teacher, he..."

A faint smile remained on Wyatt Sterling’s lips. "This direction I’m headed in... isn’t it toward the office?"

"..."

She stopped in her tracks and looked up in that direction. He was indeed heading toward the offices.

She waited outside the office for about ten minutes until the teacher personally escorted Wyatt Sterling out, a rarely seen, amiable smile on his face.

"Please, don’t trouble yourself further," Wyatt Sterling said, turning around. "Thank you for your time."

The teacher quickly replied, "Not at all, not at all. It’s my duty."

Not every parent received such treatment, and Alice knew very well that the teacher was only acting this way because of Wyatt Sterling’s status.

"Alice York." Wyatt Sterling turned his gaze to her.

Alice looked up at the man, who stood as tall and straight as a pine, her heart swelling with gratitude. Just as she was about to open her mouth to thank him, he spoke first. "Now, it’s our turn to talk."

She froze for a second.

He said, "Your teacher said you need to communicate more with your guardians."

She was speechless for a moment, then followed Wyatt Sterling out of the school gates.

His car was parked under a maple tree just outside the school. It was late autumn, and fallen maple leaves carpeted the ground, painting a dreamlike, picturesque scene.

He stopped by the car door and turned to face her. "Your school’s latest student psychological evaluation results are out. Your teacher said your mental state is very poor."

Alice lowered her head.

He asked, "Do you regret coming to the Sterlings?"

She thought for a moment, then told the truth. "I do."

"It’s too late for regrets," he said, then added casually, "You can tell me if you’re having any difficulties."

Alice didn’t take his words to heart. The people of the Sterling family were all too cold-hearted; she couldn’t count on them.

Just then, Wyatt Sterling took out a slip of paper. On it was written a name and a string of numbers.

"This is my number. You can call me if you need anything. Except at night, I should be able to pick up during the day."

He held out his hand, and the thin slip of paper fluttered in the wind.

Alice took it. The name written on it—Wyatt Sterling—was in the Slender Gold calligraphy style, the strokes powerful and firm, just like the man himself.

"You haven’t been eating properly at school?" He had noticed long ago how very, very thin she was.

Alice tucked the slip of paper away, clenching it in her palm. "I have a small appetite, so I don’t eat much."

Most girls her age still had some baby fat on their faces, but Alice had none. It wasn’t due to her natural constitution, but to malnutrition. The stomach problems she would develop later in life could be traced back to this very period.

Wyatt Sterling asked, "Is your allowance enough?"

"It’s enough."

In reality, she had no allowance at all. Mindy Vaughn paid her no mind, so her daily life was a constant struggle. But she didn’t want to reveal her predicament.

When she looked up again, she saw Wyatt Sterling take a wad of cash from his wallet and hold it out to her.

She quickly shook her head. "Third Uncle, you don’t have to."

"Be good to yourself."

His tone as he offered the money left no room for refusal.

After she took the money, he turned and got into the car.

The car window slowly rolled down. Alice shuffled half a step closer to the door, watching him with expectant eyes.

Wyatt Sterling glanced at her. "Go on back."

Alice stood her ground. "You go first."

He repeated, "Go back."

She obediently listened, turning around but looking back every few steps. In her ever-distancing view, the car parked under the maple tree didn’t move until she had entered the school grounds.

After such a long time of feeling suppressed, that was the happiest day Alice had had in ages.

No matter how many years passed, Alice would never forget the sight of Wyatt Sterling standing under that maple tree. He became someone she could admire from afar, but never reach...

Perhaps the dream was too beautiful, because a silent nightmare suddenly dragged her down to Hell. The russet maple leaves before her eyes transformed into blood-red tea.

She swiped the remaining half-cup away, curling up on the carpet in unbearable agony. "Mama, Mama... Mama, don’t do this to me..."

Mindy Vaughn crouched down to help her up. "Mama is doing this for your own good. If you miss your chance with Owen, you’ll never marry a better man."

"Mama, I’m begging you, I don’t want to..."

Her body was curled into a tight ball. It felt as if millions of ants were gnawing at her from the inside. She bit down on her lip, her consciousness fading, until the skin broke.

"Don’t be afraid. Even if Owen doesn’t end up marrying you, as long as you two sleep together, he’ll feel guilty and compensate you, and you’ll still live a good life. But Mama has faith that Owen will take responsibility for you."

The blood filling Alice’s mouth did nothing to awaken Mindy Vaughn’s conscience. In fact, it only made her more frantic.

She brought a handkerchief to wipe the blood from Alice’s lips. Once they were clean, she tried to pull her up again. "Come on, be a good girl. Mama’s taking you over there now."

"No..."