After His Sweetheart Moved In, He Came Home Every Night-Chapter 155: Alice York Says, "I’m the One Who Wants to Pursue Him
The man had already been scared straight and knew his place. He didn’t dare run his mouth in front of Wyatt Sterling. He had to make it back to Arden alive.
Wyatt Sterling tossed the handkerchief to Mason Cheney, ordering him to keep a close eye on Finn Hawthorne, then turned and left.
Finn Hawthorne shook his head and muttered under his breath, "He could have any woman he wants, but he just has to go for the grass near his own den. Getting into forbidden stuff, too. Tsk tsk. He’ll be the one paying the price sooner or later."
Mason Cheney: "Cut the chatter. Get to work."
...
Alice York was tying on her apron, getting ready to make lunch.
Her grandmother came in carrying a basket of vegetables. "Little Girl, don’t you worry about that. Let your grandma do it."
Alice York finished tying her apron and pulled her hair up with a claw clip. A few strands escaped to frame her face; she was beautiful even without any makeup.
"Grandma, you go rest. I’ve got lunch covered." Alice turned back to her work. "The three... I mean, Wyatt and the others helped me out a lot. I have to cook for them myself as a thank you."
’Of course, she wasn’t about to admit she was cooking herself because she was afraid Wyatt Sterling would turn his nose up at her grandma’s food.’
’Admitting it would just make her grandmother unhappy.’
Her grandmother, of course, couldn’t bring herself to rest. She took all the vegetables out of the basket and started washing them as she asked, "Little Girl, where are those two colleagues of yours from?"
Alice replied, "Silvanus."
Her grandmother said, "Oh," and then asked, "Are they both single, then?"
Alice replied without even thinking, "Yes, they’re single."
Her grandmother paused in her washing, a smile playing on her lips. "I think those colleagues of yours are quite nice—very presentable. And especially that Wyatt. He’s tall and strong, too. He was all muscle when he was chopping firewood."
Hearing this, Alice turned around, clearly surprised. "Wyatt... he was chopping firewood?"
Her grandmother said with a grin, "When your grandpa and I got back, we saw him with his head down, just chopping away. All brawn, that one. Not the scrawny, weak type. And I saw he’s very polite, too. He was nothing but courteous to us."
Alice was speechless.
For a moment, she didn’t know how to respond.
’She couldn’t possibly tell her grandmother that what she saw was just a facade. That in reality, Wyatt Sterling was ill-tempered and difficult, liable to give you the cold shoulder at any moment. You had to walk on eggshells around him constantly. He wasn’t easy to get along with in the slightest.’
’If she said any of that, her grandmother’s eyes would probably pop wide as saucers!’
"Little Girl." Her grandmother sidled up to Alice and asked in a hushed voice, "Bringing your colleague home this time... is there something you wanted to tell us?"
Alice’s heart skipped a beat. She quickly shook her head. "No, of course not."
Her grandmother continued to probe. "You don’t have to hide things from your grandma. Just say it. Are you two boyfriend and girlfriend? Did you pretend to be colleagues just to give us a chance to get used to the idea?"
Alice let out a little laugh, freeing a hand to wipe on her apron. "Oh, Grandma."
"Don’t try to change the subject. Tell me the truth." Her grandmother was waiting for an answer.
Alice shook her head very seriously. "We’re not boyfriend and girlfriend. We’re just... colleagues who are on slightly better terms. He has helped me out a lot."
Her grandmother’s eyes narrowed slightly. Alice didn’t look the least bit guilty, and let her grandmother scrutinize her.
After a moment, her grandmother was convinced.
Then again, she only believed they weren’t a couple. The suspicion remained. So she pressed on, "In that case, tell your grandma, is he pursuing you? Or did you lure him all the way out here because you want to pursue him?"
"..."
’That word, "lure," was a particularly inspired choice.’
’She had no idea how Wyatt Sterling would react if he heard that, but Alice herself found it hilarious.’
"What are you laughing at? Stop laughing and talk to your grandma. If he’s the one pursuing you, your grandpa and I will help size him up. If you’re the one pursuing him, your grandpa and I will be your wingmen."
"..."
Alice was laughing so hard she was doubled over. Her grandmother held her by the arm. "Fine, then, we’ll just say he’s pursuing you. Wait here while I go talk it over with your grandpa."
With that, her grandmother let go and turned to leave, but Alice quickly pulled her back. "Grandma!"
Her grandmother turned back.
Alice didn’t want to cause trouble for Wyatt Sterling, so she had no choice but to say, "I’m the one trying to pursue him."
Just outside the kitchen, Wyatt Sterling froze.
Her grandmother heard this, composed herself, and asked, "Really?"
Alice nodded, her tone a mix of truth and lies. "He’s an amazing person, really good. He’s helped me so much and shown me a lot of warmth. I’ve liked him for a long time. It’s always been me, crushing on him from afar."
Hearing these words from Alice, her grandmother believed her.
She took Alice’s hands in hers, patting them as she spoke with heartfelt gravity. "Don’t you worry. You’ve already managed to lure him all the way out here; your grandpa and I will definitely help you win him over. And he really is a fine young man. Your grandpa and I both admire him. Little Girl, you have good taste."
Alice was speechless.
Her grandmother had no sooner stepped out the front door than Wyatt Sterling appeared in the entryway. Alice jumped, clearly flustered. "Y-you! What are you doing here? Did you just arrive?"
Wyatt Sterling walked in, his expression serene. "I’ve been here a while. Listening to you talk from outside."
Alice’s heart dropped.
’Doesn’t that mean he heard everything she just told her grandmother?’
She rushed to explain, "I only said that because I was afraid my grandma would go and bother you."
The kitchen wasn’t large to begin with, and with the long-limbed Wyatt Sterling standing in it, the space suddenly felt much more cramped.
Alice nervously tried to gauge his reaction. He stood before the basin used for washing vegetables, his expression dark, and said nothing.
At that moment, Alice couldn’t figure out what Wyatt was thinking at all.
’If she told him it was true that she liked him, how would he react? Would he be happy?’
The thought brewed in her mind. Just as she was about to summon the courage to speak, Wyatt cut her off. "Say whatever you like, as long as your grandparents don’t bother me. You know what I’m like. I have zero patience."
Having said his piece, Wyatt Sterling left the kitchen.
Alice breathed a sigh of relief, but at the same time, her heart ached a little.
「Dinnertime arrived.」
Finn Hawthorne was the first one there. "Finally, food! I was about to die of starvation."
Mason Cheney helped bring out the dishes. Alice came in with bowls and utensils, saw that Finn Hawthorne was completely filthy, and reminded him, "Go wash your hands and face."
Finn Hawthorne: "I’ll eat first, then wash."
Alice: "I’m going to count to three. One..."
"Alright, I’m going! What’s with the counting? You’re just like my mom!" Finn Hawthorne grumbled, getting up reluctantly.
Just then, Wyatt Sterling walked over. Alice pulled out a seat for him and said, "I made all the food, and the bowls and utensils have been sanitized."
Wyatt Sterling glanced at her.
Alice pressed her palms together pleadingly. "For my grandparents’ sake, please don’t get a sour look on your face no matter what they say."
Wyatt Sterling let out a cold snort and sat down.
The old couple came over as well. The grandmother saw the feast on the table and couldn’t stop praising it, while the old man plopped a treasured bottle of white liquor on the table. The CLANG drew everyone’s attention.
Alice looked at the bottle of liquor and had a bad feeling.
Wyatt Sterling, however, just watched calmly.
The old man sat down and asked, "Wyatt, can you drink?"
Wyatt Sterling replied, "I can."
The old man grinned. "How about we have a few drinks, then?"
Before Wyatt could respond, Alice quickly interjected, "Grandpa, he can’t hold his liquor. He can’t drink. Besides, he has to leave this afternoon—"
Wyatt interrupted her. "When did I ever say I was leaving this afternoon?"
