After His Sweetheart Moved In, He Came Home Every Night-Chapter 161: Wyatt Sterling Says, "I Am Serious
"Wouldn’t what? Do you also have a long-lost relative?"
the old woman asked.
At that moment, Finn Hawthorne was still uncertain. It was all just his own speculation. He didn’t think it could be such a coincidence, yet he was desperate to confirm it immediately.
Just as he was about to ask for the orphanage’s contact information, Alice York’s voice came from outside the door:
"Grandpa, Grandma, it’s me."
The old couple exchanged a look.
Finn Hawthorne shot over like a gust of wind, threw open the door, and appeared right in front of Alice York.
Alice York froze for two seconds when she saw Finn Hawthorne. "What are you doing in here?"
After asking, she instantly grew tense. She pushed him aside and walked in. Only when she saw the old couple standing perfectly fine in the room did Alice finally relax.
It was no wonder she was so tense. After all, Finn Hawthorne’s reputation preceded him, so she had to be on guard.
The old woman noticed her concern and said, "Don’t worry, Little Girl. This boy just came over to look around. He didn’t cause any trouble, and he wouldn’t dare to."
’That makes sense. Finn Hawthorne is actually a real coward.’
As Alice was thinking this, she turned around and saw Finn Hawthorne’s face magnified right in front of her. She jumped and pushed him away. "Don’t try to scare me."
Finn Hawthorne, having been pushed away, immediately leaned in again. "I wasn’t trying to scare you. I just suddenly feel like you’re..."
Alice shot him a look. "I’m what?"
Finn Hawthorne: "You seem very familiar."
Alice cursed at him, "You’re nuts."
Finn Hawthorne: "..."
After speaking, Alice started pushing him out. "There’s nothing for you to do here. Go to sleep. I need to talk with Grandpa and Grandma for a bit."
Finn Hawthorne planted himself in the doorway, not moving an inch no matter how much Alice pushed. "I won’t interrupt your chat. Can I please stay here?"
Alice: "Get out. I’ll count to three."
"Fine, I’m going, I’m going." Knowing he couldn’t stay, Finn Hawthorne didn’t pester her and obediently turned to leave.
However, Finn Hawthorne didn’t leave. He pressed his ear to the door, eavesdropping on what Alice was saying to the old couple. He heard Alice talking about their departure time tomorrow, confirming they would leave at three in the afternoon. After they finished with the important stuff, he heard Alice ask something about a household registration book. The old couple fell silent, and Alice didn’t press the matter. But then the old man started asking about Mindy Vaughn, followed by some other random topics that bored Finn to tears.
A few minutes later, Alice came out.
Seeing Finn Hawthorne still outside the door, her expression turned cold. "Were you eavesdropping?"
"Of course not. I still don’t know where I’m sleeping tonight, so I was waiting to ask." He was all smiles.
Alice walked out of the room and headed in the other direction. "Come with me. And don’t you dare bother them again."
"Okay." Finn Hawthorne immediately followed.
When they reached a room, Alice pushed open the door, flicked on the light, and said, "You’re sleeping here tonight."
Finn Hawthorne didn’t rush inside. He leaned against the doorframe. "Um... Alice, I want to talk to you."
Alice looked up at him. "Talk about what?"
As she looked up, their eyes met. Finn Hawthorne suddenly fell silent. He stared at Alice’s face for a long time, studying it carefully, and then slowly realized that Alice’s features... seemed...
"Do I have something on my face?" Alice found his stare to be far too intense.
Finn Hawthorne murmured, "Actually... we look kind of alike."
He didn’t know why, but even though it was just a guess with no direct proof, the moment he saw Alice, he felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity. ’Maybe it’s just my own bias,’ he thought.
Alice ignored him, writing him off as being neurotic, and turned sideways to exit the room.
Finn Hawthorne snapped out of it and quickly blocked her way. "Wait, Alice, I’m not done talking."
Alice’s patience ran out. "I may be easy to talk to, but that doesn’t mean I have a good temper. Think carefully. Are you sure you want to get beaten up right before bed?"
Finn Hawthorne sheepishly pulled his hand back. "I’m sorry."
The apology was so sudden that it caught her off guard. Alice gave him an utterly bewildered look. "Are you sick or something?"
"No, I just wanted to say I’m sorry. Before... I went too far," he said with genuine sincerity.
Alice could sense his sincerity, but the more sincere he acted, the more suspicious she became.
She suddenly grew wary. "You’re not planning to sneak off and escape tonight, are you?"
Finn Hawthorne immediately shook his head. "Of course I won’t run. I’ll wait until tomorrow and leave with you."
That tone...
That look in his eyes...
And that smile...
Everything about him felt wrong to Alice. She cleared her throat and told him in a clear, solemn tone, "There’s no chance for us. I’m not into younger guys."
"..."
After saying her piece, Alice turned and quickly walked away.
Back upstairs, she nearly ran into Wyatt Sterling as she pushed the door open. He reached out and closed the door. "What’s wrong? Why the rush?"
Alice shook her head without saying much, unbuttoning her coat and tossing it onto the foot of the bed.
Wyatt Sterling picked up the coat she had tossed on the bed and set it aside. "You were gone for a long time."
"I just chatted with them for a bit longer."
With that, Alice sat down on the edge of the bed. Right then, she was pursing her lips, a complex mix of thoughts on her face. Wyatt noticed something was off. He pulled a chair over to sit across from her, not asking anything, just watching her quietly.
Alice looked up. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
Wyatt: "Trying to see what you’re thinking."
Alice couldn’t help but smile. She said to him, "It’s Finn Hawthorne. I’ve noticed something strange about him."
"Strange in what way? Tell me." Wyatt leaned forward, getting closer to her.
Alice: "He probably doesn’t believe we’re leaving tomorrow. I bet he’ll look for a chance to escape tonight."
"It doesn’t matter."
Wyatt’s tone was light. "Today has been hard enough on him. This is about right. Felix Hawthorne’s men should be arriving soon anyway."
Wyatt had all of this figured out; he just hadn’t gone into detail.
Alice felt much more at ease. "Then let him run."
She took off her shoes and curled up on the bed. Seeing Wyatt still sitting there, she patted the spot next to her. "Aren’t you coming up?"
A faint smile touched Wyatt’s lips as he stood up and walked over.
He lifted the covers and lay down beside Alice. She snuggled up against him on her own. "Does your head still hurt?"
He’d been drinking baijiu, which tended to give him a headache.
"It doesn’t hurt anymore." He held her, enjoying her dependence on him in that moment.
Because he knew very well that for a long time to come, she would likely distance herself from him. Everything was about to change drastically, and today would feel like a fleeting, illusory dream.
"Alice."
This time, when Wyatt said her name, his tone was lingering and exceptionally gentle.
Alice shifted her head in his arms and hummed in response.
Wyatt asked her, "I asked if you were satisfied with today, but you never answered me."
Alice lifted her head. His jaw was right in front of her. She leaned in, gave him a small kiss, and said, "This is your answer."
Wyatt chuckled softly, then asked, "Will you always trust me?"
Instead of answering, Alice asked back, "Why do you ask?"
Wyatt didn’t explain. He lowered his head, kissed her, and said, "Remember today. Everything I did, every word I said... I meant it."
