After His Sweetheart Moved In, He Came Home Every Night-Chapter 137: Climbing into Bed in the Dead of Night
Alice sighed sympathetically.
’I can’t believe a family as powerful as the Hawthornes could have their child stolen.’
"Have they still not found that daughter?" she asked.
Owen Sterling shook his head. "Apparently not. But I’ve heard that countless people have tried to impersonate their long-lost daughter and claim a place in the family over the years. The Hawthornes verify every single one, terrified of making a mistake. Mr. Hawthorne, who was once hailed as a dazzling genius in both Hong Kong and Macau, hasn’t been seen by the media in years since his daughter was lost. His wife, on the other hand, frequently travels to the mainland."
Alice lowered the hand propping up her chin. "No wonder Finn Hawthorne was so hostile when his sister was mentioned," she mused.
"Just ignore him."
Owen Sterling said to Alice, "He’s enjoyed a double share of affection all these years. He probably hopes his sister is never found."
Alice furrowed her brow. "I don’t know, I think he actually cares a lot about his lost sister..."
"You’re just imagining things."
"Hm?"
Owen Sterling’s tone was firm. "Think about it. If his sister were found, she would steal all the attention and affection from him. He couldn’t handle such a drastic change."
’He had a point.’
But Alice didn’t argue, nor did she agree.
Meanwhile, Finn Hawthorne had gotten into his car to head out. He called two local friends to join him and drove straight to their destination.
Partway there, he received a call from his mother, and his playful mood immediately vanished.
Answering the phone, he said, "Mom."
Mrs. Hawthorne’s voice came from the other end of the line. "Did it go smoothly?"
Finn Hawthorne replied, "Second Uncle already met the benefactor, but it didn’t go very smoothly."
"Are you in a car?" Mrs. Hawthorne’s hearing had always been sharp.
Finn Hawthorne silently rolled up the car window. After the background noise disappeared, he replied, "Yeah, I’m in the car."
Mrs. Hawthorne said, "It’s not often you get to visit the mainland, so have fun, but stay out of trouble. I don’t want to get another call about cleaning up one of your messes."
Finn Hawthorne replied with a laugh, "Got it, Your Majesty."
Mrs. Hawthorne didn’t hang up right away. "You said it didn’t go smoothly. Did something go wrong?"
"Ugh, don’t even ask. Second Uncle’s benefactor is my kryptonite."
Then, Finn Hawthorne recounted everything that had happened that afternoon to Mrs. Hawthorne.
After hearing him out, Mrs. Hawthorne didn’t scold her son for provoking the "little kitten," but simply asked, "How old is that girl?"
"How should I know how old she is?" Finn Hawthorne knew his mom was just asking out of habit, so he told her directly, "Even if Alice York is the same age as my sister, there isn’t even a one in ten thousand chance she’s her."
On the other end of the line, Mrs. Hawthorne let out a soft laugh. "All these years, people have told me that blood ties are like a filter—they make you notice someone at first sight, even feel drawn to them. I’ve been relying on that feeling in my search. Seeing as you hate her so much, there must be no connection at all."
Finn Hawthorne suddenly fell silent.
"I’m hanging up now. Remember, stay out of trouble."
Mrs. Hawthorne hung up first. The dial tone buzzed for a few moments before Finn Hawthorne put his phone away, his expression lost in thought.
’He hated Alice York?’
’He did dislike her. A lot.’
’But he also didn’t understand why he’d felt the need to swagger in front of her like that.’
’Maybe it was because her cat had bitten him, and he was still angry? Or maybe it was because her posture was too straight, an irritating sight that sparked a destructive urge in him—a desire to see her bend.’
...
Alice returned to her room.
She hadn’t waited for their chat to end, so her discussion with Old Master Sterling about returning to Rhovan would have to wait until tomorrow.
She washed up and went to bed. Around eleven o’clock, close to midnight, the phone she’d left on her nightstand began to vibrate nonstop.
Startled awake, Alice picked up her phone and saw the caller ID: Wyatt Sterling.
’Calling her this late.’
’He must be crazy.’
Alice answered the call. "Third Uncle, I was already asleep."
"Come to my room."
said the man on the other end of the line.
Alice sat up, the blanket sliding off her. She gripped her phone tightly and hissed, "Are you crazy? This is the old family home."
Her reminder didn’t seem to bring the man to his senses. The same command-like words came through the phone: "Come to my room."
Alice closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I’m not coming."
Wyatt Sterling said, "Then I’ll come to you."
"Fine," Alice said, unintimidated this time. She was certain Wyatt Sterling wouldn’t actually come looking for her.
This was the old family home, after all. Although they had fooled around, it had always been in Wyatt Sterling’s room. He had never come to hers.
Mindy Vaughn was in the room next to hers.
And tonight, Silas Sterling was also staying next door.
Wyatt Sterling said, "You just wait."
Alice didn’t take him seriously at all. "I’ll be waiting, then."
’Either way, she wasn’t going to his room tonight.’
After hanging up, Alice lay down and went back to sleep. She didn’t know how long she slept, but just as she was drifting in a hazy daze, her blanket was thrown off, and a scorching hot body pressed down on top of her.
The moment she felt the heat, Alice was instantly wide awake.
She instinctively cried out, "Wya—"
The man clamped a hand over her mouth, his voice low and raspy as he warned, "The people next door will hear you. Think carefully before you scream again."
’Wyatt! Sterling!’
In the darkness, Alice couldn’t see Wyatt Sterling’s face, but the body pressing down on her and the faint scent of cedar were enough for her to recognize him immediately.
Wyatt Sterling released the hand covering Alice’s mouth. Gasping for air, she panted a few times, then whispered furiously, "Are you insane? This is my room."
"I just might be," he chuckled, his tone laced with a bit of self-deprecation.
Alice quickly tried to placate him. "It’s okay, I can take you to the hospital. We can even get you an appointment in my department."
...
A brief silence fell.
Alice thought Wyatt Sterling had calmed down, but he only grew angrier. He grabbed her by the chin. "Can’t you ever wish me well?"
Feeling aggrieved, Alice said, "But you’re the one who said you were going crazy."
Wyatt Sterling: "Did you think I was joking with you?"
Alice feigned innocence, retorting, "Weren’t you?"
"Alice!"
"Quiet down, Third Uncle. Is this something to be proud of?"
...
Wyatt Sterling was furious. He lowered his voice and ground out through clenched teeth, "You told me to come. I came. Why aren’t you happy?"
’How could she possibly be happy about this?’
’If the people next door heard, she wouldn’t be happy for a whole year.’
She was in a difficult position when she suddenly heard Wyatt Sterling’s warning whispered next to her ear, "Stay away from Owen Sterling from now on. I can’t stand seeing you two so close. If I see it again..."
"When was I ever ’so close’ with him!" Alice retorted immediately, her tone even more aggressive than his.
Wyatt Sterling: "I saw it with my own eyes!"
Alice suddenly fell silent.
’Was it her imagination? Right now, Wyatt Sterling really seemed like a jealous husband—a completely irrational, jealous husband...!’
