After His Sweetheart Moved In, He Came Home Every Night-Chapter 133: Wyatt Sterling Demands She Kneel to Alice York
Everyone present understood Wyatt Sterling’s position in the Sterling family.
All he had to do was say the word for any problem to be resolved. After all, Alice York was one of the Sterlings—she had to obey them.
Besides, maintaining a good relationship with the Hawthorne Family was at stake. If this wasn’t handled well, the resulting gossip would be unpleasant.
"Kneeling to apologize to a cat would indeed be a great blow to Miss Hawthorne’s dignity," Wyatt Sterling said in a slow, deliberate tone.
Upon hearing this, a smile bloomed on Jean Hawthorne’s face. "I knew it. I knew Third Master Sterling wouldn’t let her disgrace the Hawthorne Family like this."
Wyatt Sterling replied, "Of course."
Jean Hawthorne looked at Vincent Hawthorne. "See, Dad?"
Vincent Hawthorne breathed a sigh of relief.
Finn Hawthorne, however, narrowed his eyes. For some reason, he didn’t think Wyatt Sterling would let the matter go so easily.
Alice York had never expected Wyatt Sterling to take her side. Hearing his words now, her heart was as calm as still water. ’So it’s true. No hope, no disappointment.’
She just felt sorry for the little kitten.
It had lost its life for no reason at all.
’Nathan would be heartbroken if he knew.’
’Forget it.’
But just as everyone thought Wyatt Sterling had smoothed things over, he spoke again. "In that case, you can kneel and apologize to Alice York."
The moment he said that—
Jean Hawthorne’s eyes flew wide. "What?" she exclaimed, agitated. "You want me to kneel and apologize to *her*?"
Vincent Hawthorne grabbed an incensed Jean Hawthorne and looked at Wyatt Sterling. "Wyatt, this isn’t the time for jokes..."
Wyatt Sterling enunciated each word. "I’m not joking."
Vincent Hawthorne: "..."
Finn Hawthorne, standing to the side, had an ’I knew it’ look on his face.
Alice York tilted her head to look at Wyatt Sterling. His expression was grim and serious; he really didn’t look like he was joking.
But it wasn’t necessary.
Her demand for them to kneel and apologize to the kitten was just a way to embarrass the Hawthornes. She knew they would never actually do it—kneeling to a dead kitten was too absurd.
"Dad, I’m not kneeling to her! Who the hell does she think she is?" Jean Hawthorne tugged on Vincent Hawthorne’s arm, pouting with an aggrieved expression.
Vincent Hawthorne looked torn. If it had been anyone else, he would have lost his temper by now. But on one hand was the person who had saved his life, and on the other was his daughter...
A smile never left Finn Hawthorne’s lips, as if he were a mere bystander. "Sis, on the way here, you were just telling me how wonderful this Third Master Sterling is. Well, that ’wonderful’ side of his is reserved for his own family."
Jean Hawthorne shot him an irritated glare. "Shut up."
Wyatt Sterling’s gaze landed on Finn Hawthorne. "I’d almost forgotten about you, the little shit-stirrer. Don’t think you’re not involved. You can kneel, too."
The smile on Finn Hawthorne’s lips cracked. "..."
"What’s the big deal? It’s just a bunch of kids who got a little carried away while playing. A few words of discipline for each of them will be enough."
Old Master Sterling, unable to watch any longer, came down the steps to play the role of peacemaker.
"Yes, yes, exactly. The children were just playing and didn’t know their limits. They just need to be disciplined individually." Vincent Hawthorne was quick to agree.
Wyatt Sterling’s eyes turned cold, but just then, Alice York spoke up. "Let it go."
Wyatt Sterling glanced at her, and the hostility in his expression slowly faded. He then turned to Vincent Hawthorne, his tone gentle as he reminded him, "Disobedient children need to be taught a proper lesson. Otherwise, someone else will teach them how to behave."
Though his words were gentle, the warning in his tone sent a chill down one’s spine.
Old Master Sterling turned his head, a new, profound look in his eyes as he watched Wyatt Sterling.
Vincent Hawthorne seized the opportunity to profusely apologize and praise Alice York, his pride all but gone. But Alice York remained silent through it all, until Old Master Sterling finally spoke up. "Alice York, don’t think you can be disrespectful just because you saved Mr. Hawthorne’s life. Where are the manners the Sterlings taught you?"
Alice York lifted her gaze to Vincent Hawthorne. "Mr. Hawthorne, you really didn’t need to come here in person."
Vincent Hawthorne said hurriedly, "Of course I had to come. That night, if it hadn’t been for you..."
Alice York calmly cut him off. "Mr. Hawthorne, you don’t need to keep bringing that up. I was just doing what any medical professional would have done."
Seeing her attitude, Vincent Hawthorne sighed. "I am truly sorry. Those two children have caused you so much trouble."
Alice York said nothing more. Cradling the cat, she turned and walked away.
She went to the backyard to find a spot to bury the kitten. Before she did, she cleaned it up and took a few pictures.
The kitten had been thrown to its death; there was blood coming from its mouth, nose, and eyes. Nathan Sterling couldn’t see such a cruel image. If he found out later and made a scene, she could show him a photo as a memento. She tried her best not to get the blood in the shot.
「Meanwhile.」
Vincent Hawthorne turned his attention to Finn Hawthorne’s hand. "Is the bite deep? The Sterlings’ family doctor can’t be as good as a hospital. Maybe we should go get it checked out properly."
His attention had been entirely focused on Alice York, so he hadn’t paid much mind to Finn’s hand or how it had been treated. He was worried he’d be held responsible when they returned to Arden, since Finn was in his care.
Finn Hawthorne let his hand hang loosely, his expression nonchalant. "The wound’s been treated. I’m fine."
Old Master Sterling glanced over. "I’m afraid you’ll need an injection."
Finn Hawthorne looked up. "An injection?"
He’d never been bitten by a cat, dog, or any other animal before, so he had no idea an injection was necessary.
The butler chimed in, "Yes, Young Young Master Hawthorne will need injections. A rabies vaccine and a tetanus shot. We don’t keep them here, but the doctor has ordered them, and they’re on their way."
"Two shots?" Finn Hawthorne’s voice rose a few notches.
The butler chuckled. "To be precise, it’s six shots in total."
"What? Six shots?"
His voice was even louder this time, startling a few birds from the trees.
The butler explained, "You’ll get two today: the first dose of the vaccine and the tetanus shot. The remaining four doses will be administered three days, seven days, fourteen days, and twenty-eight days from now. That’s the only way to ensure the vaccine is effective."
Hearing this, Finn Hawthorne’s face darkened. "Killing that little beast was letting it off easy."
"Exactly," Jean Hawthorne chimed in.
Old Master Sterling smiled. "Then we’ll wait for Finn to get his shots before we have dinner." 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂
"Very well," Vincent Hawthorne replied.
Old Master Sterling’s smile vanished. He turned to look at Wyatt Sterling, who was standing a short distance away, and then walked over with a grim expression.
"How can an outsider like her be so arrogant?" Jean Hawthorne said in a low voice, steadying Finn Hawthorne’s arm. "If Grandpa Sterling hadn’t stepped in, I bet she would have been even worse."
Finn Hawthorne scoffed. "You’re one to talk. You’re the one who goes around demanding people kneel and apologize to you."
"I..." Jean Hawthorne lowered her voice even more, terrified her father would overhear them. "That’s only because you kept screaming about how much it hurt! What’s wrong with me standing up for you?"
Finn Hawthorne pulled his hand away. "I have my own sister. Do I need you to stand up for me?"
"Finn Hawthorne, you’re such an ungrateful bastard! I protect you like this, and you’re still thinking about that sister you’ve never even met? Besides, it’s been over twenty years. For all you know, she’s been de—"
Before she could finish the word "dead," Finn Hawthorne shoved her away.
His earlier, laid-back smile was gone. His face was now a mask of fury as he called out her full name. "Jean Hawthorne, shut your filthy mouth."
"Finn, you..."
Finn Hawthorne’s voice was firm and resonant. "My sister is alive and well! She has to be, somewhere in this world, waiting for us to find her. And I *will* find her!"
After he said this, an image of Alice York’s face suddenly flashed through his mind.
’Damn it,’ he thought. ’Why did I just think of her?’
