After His Sweetheart Moved In, He Came Home Every Night-Chapter 159: Learning the Shocking Secret: Alice York Was Adopted
Downstairs.
Alice York walked over to the two men in the courtyard. "Mason Cheney, you’ve been drinking too. Go get some rest. I’ll watch him."
Mason Cheney shook his head. "No need. I didn’t drink much."
Alice noticed Mason’s slightly flushed face. "You drove for so long today, and you drank at lunch. The afternoon is still long. Go get some rest. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure he doesn’t run off."
Mason was indeed a bit tired. He was usually used to it, but he couldn’t refuse Alice’s repeated insistence, so he had to go rest.
Once Mason was gone, Finn Hawthorne looked up at her. "What makes you so sure I won’t run?"
Alice said flatly, "Because you’re afraid of dying."
"..."
A direct hit, right where it hurt.
Just then, the little old man brought over a basin of chicken feed and handed it to Finn. "Go feed the chickens."
Finn Hawthorne: ?
The little old man said, "The moment I think about how much money you owe our Little Girl, I can’t stand to see you idle."
"..."
Finn reluctantly took it. He glanced down and was nearly nauseated enough to vomit by the feed in the basin. He gagged a few times and asked, "How do you... feed this?"
Alice said, "Come with me."
With that, she headed out of the courtyard. Finn averted his gaze, refusing to look into the basin, afraid he’d really throw up his lunch. He then followed her.
The old lady walked over to the little old man’s side. "I’ve noticed something. That troublemaker gives everyone attitude, but he’ll only listen to our Little Girl."
The little old man said, "Well, she’s his creditor."
The old lady replied, "That boy is clever. He knows our Little Girl is soft-hearted and easygoing. He’s acting obedient, hoping she’ll just forgive his debt."
It dawned on the little old man. "You’re a better judge of character."
The old lady huffed and turned to go inside. The little old man followed her. "Is Wyatt asleep?"
The old lady said, "You got him that drunk. He’ll have to sleep for at least two hours."
The little old man chuckled, scratching the back of his head. "That kid is so humble and genuine. I thought he’d stop when he couldn’t drink anymore. Who would’ve thought he’d keep drinking without a word of complaint, just to keep me company."
The old lady chuckled. "He’s worthy of our Little Girl’s affection. And that boy is sincere, too. He’s serious about being with her. It’s just... he’s a bit on the older side."
"He’s thirty-two, huh? That is a little old. But you can’t tell from his looks; he doesn’t look old at all, so it’s fine." The little old man mulled it over. "Honestly, I can’t shake the feeling that he looks familiar. Like that young man who showed up at our gate a year or two ago."
This jogged the old lady’s memory as well. "Two years ago, the night our Little Girl came back? You said you saw a young man outside the gate?"
"Yes, yes! I thought he was a thief at first. I asked him what he was doing, and he said he had the wrong house. Then he turned, got into a car, and left..." The little old man tried his best to recall the scene, but finally shook his head. "It was too dark. I couldn’t see clearly."
The old lady’s expression turned serious. "Then it must have been him. He must have been dropping our Little Girl off."
"So our Little Girl was already with him back then?"
"I just found out. They’ve been together for three years."
"But I got the feeling our Little Girl didn’t know he was there that day."
...
「Outside the courtyard.」
Alice York was teaching Finn Hawthorne how to feed the chickens, completely unaware of the conversation her grandparents were having.
She carefully explained how to scatter the feed, but Finn couldn’t get over his psychological block. He didn’t dare look at the feed and ended up flinging it everywhere.
Alice put her hands on her hips, speechless. "Is it really that disgusting?"
Finn Hawthorne: "It’s like manure."
"..." Alice held out her hand. "Give it to me."
Finn tossed the entire basin of feed toward Alice. He wasn’t looking when he threw it, so his aim was off. Even though Alice lunged for it, she couldn’t catch it. The basin and feed tumbled to the ground, scattering everywhere and scaring off the chickens.
Finn froze. "I didn’t do it on purpose."
Alice shot him a glare. "You’re more of a hindrance than a help."
Finn bristled at the comment but didn’t argue back, knowing he had messed up.
When he saw her start to scoop up the spilled feed, Finn’s face twisted into a knot of disgust. "Aren’t you grossed out?"
Alice: "Go feed the dog."
"What???"
Alice ignored him and went about her work with practiced efficiency. She had done these chores many times before and always helped her grandparents whenever she came back.
After she finished feeding the chickens, Alice went to check on how Finn was doing with the dog. As she got closer, she saw the guy using a stick to shove the food toward the dog. The dog, feeling threatened by the stick, was baring its teeth at Finn. Both man and beast looked like they were at their breaking point.
"..."
Unbelievable.
Wyatt Sterling made a huge mistake tormenting him like this.
「By the time midnight fell.」
Alice carried a bowl of millet porridge upstairs.
Finn, filthy from head to toe, was squatting by the door. The old lady passed by and didn’t get a good look, muttering, "Why is the dog squatting here?"
Then she took a closer look, turned, and walked away.
Finn Hawthorne: "..."
’When will this day of slaving away ever end?’ Finn thought miserably.
Seeing Alice about to go upstairs with the porridge, he called out to her, "How much longer are you staying here?"
Alice knew he was on the verge of a breakdown, so she didn’t tease him. "We’re going back to Silvanus tomorrow. Probably in the afternoon. It won’t be too late."
"Really?" Finn suddenly perked up.
Alice nodded.
Finn asked again, "Then can you let me go tomorrow?"
Alice thought for a moment before replying, "I’ll ask him later."
Finn deflated. "Why can’t you be the one to decide? Aren’t you supposed to have him wrapped around your finger? You should just make the call."
Alice: "You’re overthinking things. Go get washed up. You look like a scavenger right now."
"..."
With that, she turned and went upstairs.
Suddenly, he heard a CLICK from behind. Finn spun around to see Mason Cheney taking a picture of him with his phone.
He lunged for the phone. "Don’t take pictures of me! Can’t you see what a mess I am? Delete it! Delete it right now!"
Mason was agile and dodged, preventing him from grabbing the phone. "I’m taking it precisely because you’re a mess. Photos make for good memories. For Young Master Hawthorne, this will be an even more unforgettable one. Now go wash up. You really stink."
"..."
After Mason left, Finn’s eyes immediately reddened. He desperately wanted to cry, but felt it would be too humiliating, so he held it in and went to take a shower first.
He showered for a very long time. When he came out, there was no one around.
Finn went to ask Mason where he was sleeping tonight. Mason said he didn’t know and told him to ask the old couple. So, he had no choice but to go find them.
He found their room and was about to raise his hand to knock when he suddenly heard voices from inside. His hand froze.
"Old Vaughn, do you think... we should tell our Little Girl the truth? We’re getting old. We can’t really take this secret to our graves. It wouldn’t be fair to her."
The old lady’s voice was heavy, tinged with a hint of sorrow.
The little old man tapped his tobacco pipe and sighed. "It isn’t fair. If it hadn’t been for Mindy back then, our Little Girl could have gone to a better family."
The old lady said, "That’s right. I heard the other families who adopted from the orphanage later were all very well-off. If our Little Girl had gone to one of them, her life would surely be more comfortable and happier than it is now."
"Fate plays its tricks. It was all destined."
The little old man took a drag from his pipe. "Mindy’s condition was terrible back then. If we hadn’t rushed to adopt a child to replace the one who died, Mindy would have gone mad."
「Outside the room.」
Finn Hawthorne’s eyes went wide.
’Holy crap,’ he thought. ’What kind of earth-shattering secret did I just overhear?!’
Alice York isn’t their biological granddaughter? She was... adopted!!
