After His Sweetheart Moved In, He Came Home Every Night-Chapter 169: Alice York Is Always the One Who Gets Hurt
She wasn’t sure. As she got closer, she tentatively called out his name, "...Finn Hawthorne?"
The man slowly turned around.
Alice York finally got a clear look at his face. It was indeed Finn Hawthorne.
Normally, it would have been nothing, but he was holding a rose in his mouth, which looked utterly ridiculous.
She couldn’t help but laugh. But as she laughed, she grew worried she might offend him, and that he’d get annoyed and cause trouble for her again, so she forced the smile from her face.
Finn Hawthorne saw her entire change in expression.
He took the rose from his mouth and walked up to her, dejected. "Why are you holding back? Just laugh if you want to. I won’t get mad."
Alice rolled her eyes at him.
But the guy in front of her suddenly said loudly, "Yes, that’s it! Show your emotions."
Alice wanted to call him crazy, but she was afraid he’d enjoy it. Instead, she asked directly, "Why haven’t you gone back to Arden yet? Is there a reason you’re here looking for me so early in the morning?"
"I haven’t. I’m staying an extra day to handle some other business, and... to see you," Finn Hawthorne said, holding the rose out to her.
Alice, of course, had no intention of accepting it and stated clearly, "You’re not my type."
"..." Finn Hawthorne immediately tried to explain. "That’s not what I meant. I just feel... I feel..."
He stammered for a long moment, unable to finish the sentence.
Alice finished for him. "That you feel a sense of familiarity with me again?"
Finn Hawthorne nodded like he was pounding garlic.
Alice frowned. "You couldn’t stand the sight of me before, so why the sudden sense of familiarity? Or did getting ordered around for a day give you Stockholm syndrome? You like being pushed around?"
Finn Hawthorne: "..."
’Bullshit!’
’Who likes being pushed around?!’
"Alright, Finn Hawthorne. You’re a grown man. Stop doing such childish things. Our feud is over. Can we just stay out of each other’s way?"
This was the last of Alice’s patience.
She really didn’t want to get too involved with the person in front of her.
’As for what the Old Master said about getting close to one of the Hawthornes, if she really had to choose, Finn Hawthorne would be the first one she’d rule out.’
Clearly sensing Alice’s dislike for him, Finn Hawthorne grew especially dejected. He said, "Actually, I came today because there’s something I wanted to tell you."
Alice looked at him. "What is it?"
Finn Hawthorne said hesitantly, "I have... a biological sister who I was separated from for many years."
Alice nodded. "I’ve heard about that. The Hawthorne Family has been looking for her all these years. What about it?"
’This was the Hawthorne Family’s business. She didn’t understand why Finn Hawthorne would bring it up with her!’
At that moment, Finn Hawthorne stared into Alice’s eyes and told her, word by word, "We found her."
Alice was surprised at first, then a genuine smile spread across her face. "Congratulations. This must be wonderful news for the Hawthorne Family."
"Yeah," he replied.
Alice’s smile faded as she noticed that Finn Hawthorne didn’t seem happy about finding his sister.
’Could it be that he...’
"You can’t be... unhappy about your sister coming home, can you? Worried about one more person to fight over the inheritance with?"
"..."
Finn Hawthorne didn’t say anything.
’How could he not want his sister to come back?’
’But he felt conflicted. The first time he saw Tess Thompson, he didn’t feel any sense of familiarity at all. She was a complete stranger, and he didn’t even want to talk to her much.’
’Forget it. If he said that out loud, it really would make him seem like he resented his sister coming home.’
Alice continued, "Well... you’ve been separated for over twenty years. No matter how close the blood ties are, you can’t expect to become close right away. It’s normal not to feel a connection at first. It will just take some time together."
After speaking, Alice checked the time. "I have to go. See yourself out."
She had to get back quickly, afraid Nathan Sterling would get angry if he waited too long.
But as she turned, she saw Nathan Sterling standing by a flower bed not far away, facing her direction.
"Nathan, did you pick out your clothes?" Alice walked toward the flower bed.
Nathan had a sour look on his face as he asked coldly, "Who is he?"
Thinking of the cat, Alice’s heart skipped a beat. She immediately blocked Nathan’s line of sight. "He’s... a friend of mine."
Nathan: "Move."
Alice didn’t move.
Nathan walked right around Alice, but she quickly grabbed him. "Nathan, it’s time to go change. Grandpa will be upset if we’re late."
Nathan looked up at her.
The two of them—sister and brother—stared at each other for a long moment. In the end, Nathan actually listened to Alice and turned to go change his clothes.
Alice breathed a sigh of relief. ’It’s best not to let Nathan and Finn Hawthorne meet right now. Nathan won’t let the matter of his cat’s death go.’
Unfortunately, while Alice had managed to stop Nathan, she failed to prevent Finn Hawthorne from coming over.
Just as she was about to lead Nathan away, Finn Hawthorne walked up from behind and actually asked, "Alice, whose kid is this?"
Alice’s body went stiff. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂
’The more you try to avoid something, the faster it happens.’
’What’s bound to happen will happen.’
Alice squeezed her eyes shut, then slowly turned around. By then, Nathan’s face was flushed with anger. He raised his hand and pointed at Finn Hawthorne. "It’s you!"
At this moment, Finn Hawthorne still had no idea what was about to happen.
He swatted away the hand Nathan was pointing at him with. "Kid, haven’t your parents taught you it’s rude to point at people?"
Nathan, furious, rushed forward to hit Finn Hawthorne.
Alice quickly grabbed him. "Nathan, Nathan, calm down, Nathan..."
Finn Hawthorne never expected to be punched by a child, especially when he hadn’t even had time to react.
But he wasn’t one to be messed with. He’d hit back, even if it was a kid.
But when he saw Alice desperately holding the boy back, his anger suddenly subsided. His tone was still harsh, though. "You little brat, don’t mess with me."
Nathan’s eyes were red. "Give me back my kitten."
Finn Hawthorne didn’t understand. "What do you mean, give you back your cat?"
Nathan shrieked hysterically, "You threw my kitten to its death! It was you, I know it!"
Finn Hawthorne: "..."
’So the cat he’d killed that day belonged to this kid, not Alice.’
’He’d only just run into the actual owner today.’
Alice held Nathan back tightly and shot a look at Finn Hawthorne. ’Go! Now!’
But Finn Hawthorne ignored Alice’s look. He was one to own up to his actions, so he admitted it directly. "I did it. But your cat bit me first. I was just getting a little payback, and it died."
"You’re lying! You were the one who provoked my kitten, you monster! I’ll kill you!"
Even when he first learned the truth about his kitten’s death, Nathan hadn’t been this upset. But now, with the person who killed his kitten standing right in front of him, Nathan’s emotions spiraled out of control, and he was hell-bent on charging over to attack him.
Alice could barely hold Nathan back.
After struggling several times, Nathan suddenly found a burst of strength and shoved Alice away.
The shove sent Alice staggering into the nearby flower bed, her palm landing hard on a sharply trimmed branch.
For a moment, the air stood still, and she felt no pain.
When she came to her senses and looked down, she saw blood gushing out.
"Alice!"
"Sister!"
