After His Sweetheart Moved In, He Came Home Every Night-Chapter 139: Seeing the Hickey on Her Neck

KNOCK, KNOCK.

A knock sounded at the door.

Alice York snapped out of her daze and immediately went to open it.

"Alice, are you up yet?"

Mindy Vaughn was standing outside the door. She was already dressed and had put on exquisite makeup.

Alice asked, "Mom, are you going somewhere?"

Mindy said, "Didn’t you say last night that you wanted to go back to Rhovan to see your grandparents? I’ll go with you."

Alice furrowed her brow. "I didn’t get a chance to tell Grandpa about going back to Rhovan last night."

"I know. I’ll go with you to talk to your grandpa now. We can leave as soon as he agrees. Don’t waste time, go get washed up and ready."

Alice was baffled by Mindy’s overnight change in attitude. Just yesterday, when she’d heard Alice wanted to return to Rhovan, she had immediately forbidden it. But today, not only was she allowing it, she was even offering to go with her.

Ever since Mindy had married into the Sterlings, she hadn’t seen Alice’s grandparents. Alice was always the one who contacted them during holidays.

"What are you spacing out for? Go get changed. You..." Mindy’s urging trailed off as she suddenly glimpsed a red mark on Alice’s neck.

Alice hadn’t realized it herself, but when Mindy leaned in for a closer look, she finally reacted and turned to the side.

"Wait a minute. Alice, what’s that red thing on your neck?" Mindy grabbed Alice, not letting her get away.

Alice’s expression instantly returned to normal. "Is there? It’s probably just a mosquito bite."

"Let me see." Mindy leaned in again.

Alice backed away. "I’ll go wash up and change right now. Mom, I’m so happy you can go to Rhovan with me. Wait for me, I’ll be right out." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Mindy reached for her but missed. "Hey, wait..."

But Alice had already ducked into the bathroom.

The ever-suspicious Mindy followed her into the room. A faint scent of lavender incense washed over her. Her eyes scanned the room and landed on an incense burner on the cabinet, from which wisps of white smoke were rising.

She gave it only a glance before looking around the rest of the room. The furnishings were neat and spotless. She then felt the bedding and breathed a sigh of relief, marveling at how she’d let her imagination run wild. ’It’s just a red mark from a mosquito bite. How did I even jump to *that* conclusion?’

’Then again, it might not really be a mosquito...’

Mindy immediately walked to the bathroom door. "Alice."

"Yes?"

Alice’s voice came from the bathroom, accompanied by the sound of running water.

"Have you requested time off from the hospital?" Mindy asked casually.

Alice replied, "I didn’t request leave. If Grandpa agrees, I’ll just switch shifts with a coworker."

The sound of the water was a bit loud. Mindy said, "Turn off the water."

A few seconds later, the water stopped.

Mindy pressed against the door and asked, "Have you broken up with that guy yet?"

Alice stared at her own furrowed brow in the mirror and took a deep breath. "I’ll handle it."

"You still haven’t broken up?" Mindy’s tone immediately hardened. "How long are you going to drag this out with him?"

Alice said, "I know what I’m doing."

Mindy’s voice was urgent. "If you knew what you were doing, would I have to ask you again and again? And haven’t you noticed that Owen is still very interested in you? I saw him talking to you constantly yesterday..."

Just then, the bathroom door suddenly opened.

Mindy’s words came to an abrupt halt.

Alice’s face was devoid of expression. "He only sees me as a little sister, the same way he sees Yara. Besides, I’ve washed up. I’ll change my clothes and go see Grandpa."

With that, she came out of the bathroom and opened the wardrobe to pick out her clothes.

Mindy’s bright red lips opened and closed, but in the end, she suppressed her anger and waited for Alice to finish changing.

In the backyard, there was a gazebo by a small, man-made pond.

It was filled with numerous koi fish.

At that moment, Old Master Sterling and Vincent Hawthorne were sitting together fishing. A bodyguard from the Hawthorne family stood nearby. Across the pond, a good distance away, were the siblings Finn and Jean Hawthorne.

Alice and Mindy arrived at the gazebo, one after the other.

"Miss York, you’re here." Vincent Hawthorne stood up with a smile and greeted her when he saw her.

Alice smiled back and greeted him in return.

Vincent Hawthorne enthusiastically showed Alice the two koi he had just caught. "A double hook, and both were perfect catches."

Mindy, who had walked up behind them, glanced over. "Impressive, Second Master Hawthorne."

Vincent Hawthorne let out a hearty laugh. "If you want to talk about impressive, that would be the Old Master. On one line with a double hook, he somehow managed to catch eight koi, all perfect catches."

Old Master Sterling chuckled. "Just good luck."

Alice walked over to Old Master Sterling’s side and crouched down. "Luck is only half of it. The other half comes from all the years of expert experience you’ve honed, Grandpa."

Old Master Sterling glanced at the young woman crouched beside him. "It’s rare to hear you speak with such spirit. Is there something you want?"

Alice smiled and didn’t beat around the bush, getting straight to the point. "Grandpa, I’d like to go to Rhovan with my mom."

She said "go to," not "go back to."

Old Master Sterling showed no reaction.

To Alice, as long as the Old Master didn’t say no outright, there was still a chance. She continued, "Just for a day. We can be back by tomorrow afternoon."

Another fish took the bait with a perfect bite.

Old Master Sterling slowly reeled the fish in, unhooked them one by one, and tossed them into the bucket beside him.

He tossed them in forcefully, and the splash wet Alice’s face and hair. She gently wiped the water away.

Everyone witnessed this scene. Vincent Hawthorne chose the right moment to break the awkward silence. "Miss York, are you going to Rhovan to visit friends or family?"

Alice lifted her head and answered, "I was born in Rhovan. My grandparents are there."

"I see. Well, they must be getting on in years. It’s good to go back and see them," Vincent Hawthorne said with understanding.

Alice shot Vincent Hawthorne a grateful glance just as she heard Old Master Sterling ask, "Have you bought the plane tickets?"

"Not yet," Alice said truthfully. "I need your permission to go to Rhovan, Grandpa. I wouldn’t dare buy tickets without asking you first."

After she finished, she heard Old Master Sterling chuckle. "What’s all this about daring or not daring? If you want to go, then go."

Seeing the Old Master relent, Alice beamed, her eyes lighting up with joy.

Perhaps influenced by her smile, Old Master Sterling’s expression softened. "It’s not every day you get to go. How is one day enough? Come back the morning after next. Spend some proper time with them."

Alice quickly said, "Thank you, Grandpa."

"Nothing to thank me for. It’s because you’re a good, dutiful granddaughter." Old Master Sterling said with a smile on his face, then went back to his fishing.

Mindy was also happy for Alice. Seeing Old Master Sterling’s initial attitude, she had thought he wouldn’t agree.

After Alice and Mindy left, Finn Hawthorne, from across the pond, beckoned with his hand.

The bodyguard immediately went over to the other side of the pond.

"Young Master." The bodyguard bowed his head and stood behind Finn Hawthorne.

Finn Hawthorne fiddled with the bait in his hand and asked, "What did that woman come here to talk about?"

’She left looking so happy, like she’d just found a pile of money.’

The bodyguard recounted what had happened when Alice was there. After hearing the report, Finn Hawthorne smiled. "So, she’s going to Rhovan."

The bodyguard nodded. "Yes."

Finn Hawthorne cast his bait and sat down.

Then he raised his hand. The bodyguard leaned in closer, and Finn Hawthorne tilted his head to give his order: "Make some trouble for her. I can’t stand seeing her so happy."