After His Sweetheart Moved In, He Came Home Every Night-Chapter 134: Cannot Underestimate Alice York
"Wyatt, I noticed you seemed quite concerned about that girl, Alice York, just now."
As Old Master Sterling spoke, his gaze was fixed on Wyatt Sterling’s face, not missing a single expression.
Wyatt Sterling took out a cigarette and held it between his teeth. With a soft CLICK, the lighter in his hand sparked to life with a faint blue flame.
He lowered his head to light the cigarette, taking a drag and exhaling. The smoke swallowed his face. "Are you really not seeing it, sir, or are you just pretending not to?"
Hearing this, Old Master Sterling’s face darkened. "What do you mean?"
"Heh."
A low, sly laugh rumbled from Wyatt Sterling’s throat.
He took the cigarette from his lips and turned slightly. As the smoke cleared, it revealed his deep-set eyes.
Those eyes, mockingly cheerful, were fixed on Old Master Sterling beside him. "It seems the older you get, the more muddled you become."
The remark made Old Master Sterling visibly displeased. "If you have something to say, say it clearly."
Wyatt Sterling said slowly, "Alice York saved Vincent Hawthorne’s life. The Hawthornes traveled all this way to Silvanus to repay their debt. If that misunderstanding had been allowed to continue, her humiliation would have been a small matter. Being looked down upon by the Hawthorne Family, however, is a major one."
Old Master Sterling’s displeased expression softened slightly. "You’re saying we can’t let the Hawthornes look down on Alice’s status within the Sterling family."
Wyatt Sterling said meaningfully, "So you really didn’t see it, sir."
"..."
Old Master Sterling, feeling he had lost some face, retorted, "Nonsense. Of course I saw it. I was just testing you."
Wyatt Sterling glanced at Old Master Sterling out of the corner of his eye. "A family like the Hawthornes... they’ve been entrenched in Arden for centuries. Their foundation is deep, and they’ve produced exceptional people for generations."
At this, Wyatt Sterling tapped the ash from his cigarette. "Among the three Hawthorne brothers, Vincent may not be the most brilliant, but with his family backing him, he’s still a man of some standing. It’s just that his reputation was a bit poor in his early years. He was especially arrogant before his illness and got into a lot of sordid business."
None of this was a secret. Old Master Sterling had heard it all years ago, so he wasn’t surprised to hear it again from Wyatt Sterling.
"Keep talking."
Old Master Sterling was now clearly interested.
Wyatt Sterling let the cigarette burn down between his fingers. "If some ordinary person had saved Vincent Hawthorne, he would have, at most, had someone send a gift or some money to settle the matter. But this time, he came personally. That’s obviously out of respect for our Sterling family."
"That’s true." Old Master Sterling nodded in agreement.
Wyatt Sterling added unhurriedly, "If you look down on Alice, others will naturally do the same. Right now, in front of the Hawthornes, we must show that we value Alice. We need to let them know that the debt they owe is a significant one."
As he finished speaking, Old Master Sterling’s face broke into a smile, his gaze filled with approval as he looked at Wyatt. "You really do think of everything."
Wyatt Sterling’s magnificent lips curved. "Heh."
Old Master Sterling raised a hand and placed it on Wyatt Sterling’s shoulder, neither lightly nor heavily. "Your calculations are so meticulous, even I almost missed it. You truly are the successor I’ve groomed. I’ll be at ease leaving the Sterlings in your hands in the future."
Wyatt Sterling said flatly, "You’re in good health, sir. The Sterlings still need you to hold things together."
"At my age, I’m just waiting to retire and enjoy my life. Holding up the family business is up to you young people now." As he spoke, Old Master Sterling casually added, "Owen has also joined the company. I hear he’s made some decent accomplishments. With him helping you in the future, it’ll save you some trouble."
"The only person he’ll be saving any trouble for is you."
After speaking, Wyatt Sterling stubbed out the half-smoked cigarette between his fingers, turned, and walked away.
Old Master Sterling turned to watch Wyatt’s retreating back, the smile fading from his face.
The sun was setting, and the fiery evening clouds against the towering trees in the backyard formed a magnificent, picturesque scene.
Coming out of the backyard, Alice York ran into Mindy Vaughn.
"What are you doing here?" Mindy Vaughn walked straight toward her.
Alice hid her mud-stained hands behind her back. "Just taking a walk."
Mindy looked at her suspiciously. "What are you hiding behind your back?"
Alice quickly brought her hands out, then just as quickly put them back behind her. "See?" she said with a calm expression. "Nothing."
"Alright, I already know. Did you really think you could hide it from me?" Mindy Vaughn pulled Alice’s hands out from behind her.
She looked down. Alice’s hands were filthy, the dirt caked under her fingernails.
Mindy sighed and asked, "It’s buried, isn’t it?"
Alice grunted in affirmation, then reminded Mindy, "Don’t let Nathan know yet. I’ll find another kitten for him. We can tell him after some time has passed and he’s bonded with the new one."
"Of course I know we can’t tell him now. I’m his mother; it’s not like I don’t know his condition." 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶
Mindy Vaughn’s tone always sounded irritated.
Alice couldn’t be bothered to deal with her anymore and headed toward the dining room.
’Even though I really don’t want to see the Hawthornes, if I hide away and don’t go, it’ll be hard to explain things to Grandpa, and one problem after another will just keep coming.’
Mindy Vaughn kept pace with Alice. "I heard about what happened earlier. At least give the Hawthornes some face. Don’t let your temper ruin things."
Alice didn’t say anything.
Mindy said, "I really don’t know who you get that rotten temper from."
At her words, Alice stopped abruptly.
She turned to face Mindy Vaughn. "You used to always say my temper was just like Dad’s. Now you’re saying you don’t know who I get it from. Is it because so many years have passed that you’ve completely forgotten him?"
Mindy’s tone was cold. "It’s been over a decade. I forgot long ago."
Alice’s brow furrowed. "When I was little, Grandma and Grandpa always told me how much you loved Dad back then. I guess time really can wash everything away. All that love has just scattered to the winds."
The words were very unpleasant for Mindy Vaughn to hear.
But in the end, she didn’t refute any of it.
’As for forgetting, of course she hadn’t forgotten. In fact, in recent years, she kept hearing rumors of people seeing someone who looked strikingly similar to Noah York. But she was the only one who hadn’t seen him.’
’Just a little while ago, someone had even called and sent her a photo. The profile... it really did look like him.’
As they neared the dining room, Alice suddenly stopped walking. She said to Mindy Vaughn, "I might have to go to Arden with Grandpa in a few days. I’m not sure what will happen exactly, so you should be mentally prepared."
Mindy Vaughn said, "I know about it."
Alice glanced at her.
Mindy spoke bluntly, "Looking at me is useless. I don’t have a say; I can’t influence any of Old Master Sterling’s arrangements. But what happened in Washington probably won’t happen again this time. Just go and don’t worry. When you get back, I’ll find a way to push things forward with you and Owen. Delays are dangerous."
"..."
"What’s with that look?" Mindy Vaughn wasn’t angry, but her tone was earnest. "I’m doing all of this for your own good. You can’t possibly want to keep living on pins and needles like this."
"..."
