After His Sweetheart Moved In, He Came Home Every Night-Chapter 17: A Hidden Man

"Why are you so nervous being your own home, hmm?"

The man’s deep, seductive voice chipped away at Alice York’s defenses, one word at a time.

She was fuming and felt wronged, but the worst part was that no matter how much she struggled, she couldn’t break free from the firm grip of his single hand.

"Wyatt, what gives you the right to treat me like this?"

Alice’s words came out in a breathy huff.

"What gives me the right..." The man chuckled, his predatory intentions clear. "What do you think?"

Alice murmured, "It’s already been three years."

"Hmm?" His jet-black eyes were fixed on her like nails. "What if I want another thirty years?"

"What?" Her eyes widened.

"If you don’t get it, forget it."

After those last few words, he said no more and resumed what he hadn’t finished.

The entryway light was still off, leaving Alice completely cloaked in darkness. Wyatt leaned down and kissed the corner of her eye, casually locked the door behind them, and then swept her up into his arms, carrying her to the bedroom.

The moment she touched the bed, Alice snapped to her senses and tried to roll away and flee. But the man caught her pale ankle, and without much effort, easily dragged her back and pinned her beneath him. "Do you have to be forced to beg for mercy before you’ll behave?"

Alice’s nose was red. The feeling of being misunderstood from before hadn’t faded, and now being coerced by him again, she felt even more aggrieved. "Wyatt Sterling, you’re a bastard."

Wyatt turned a deaf ear to her curses. He reached up and brushed aside the strands of hair stuck to her tear-streaked face. "Be good. Don’t always make me angry. Otherwise, it’ll be just like before—crying until your voice is hoarse will do nothing."

Alice raised her hands and beat against him. "You’re the one who broke your promise."

Wyatt grabbed her restless little hands. "I always keep my word."

"But you promised me that day..."

"You said ’that day.’ What does that have to do with today?"

"..."

Alice’s tear-filled, almond-shaped eyes widened, as if she couldn’t believe the man before her could be so shameless.

"Still crying?"

Wyatt’s fingertip brushed past the reddened corner of her eye. The tear that clung to the pad of his finger felt a little sticky.

Alice turned her face away, her voice muffled. "I don’t want to go on like this with you anymore."

Wyatt grabbed her face and forced her to look at him. "Found your next guy already?"

"What do you mean, ’next guy’?"

Before Alice could understand what he meant, a sharp pain shot through her chin. Wyatt’s grip was tighter than before. "Is it because I haven’t been seeing you as much? You got lonely and bored, so you went on a blind date to find another man to satisfy you?"

"Wyatt Sterling, shut up! Don’t you dare spout such nonsense!" Alice flared with anger.

"Heh. Did I hit a nerve, so you’re getting defensive?"

Alice’s eyes were red with fury as she struggled to escape his hold, her voice growing hoarse. "Can you please stop humiliating me like this?"

"Then let’s try a different way." Wyatt flipped her over. "Lift your hips yourself."

Alice didn’t want to go through it again. She simply couldn’t handle this man’s anger once it was provoked. Moreover, he had just humiliated her for no reason. If she still gave in to him after that, she might as well just bang her head against a wall.

BZZZ BZZZ BZZZ

The phone that had fallen on the carpet suddenly began to vibrate nonstop.

Alice quickly shouted, "...My phone! My phone’s going off."

"What a buzzkill." Wyatt released Alice’s wrist and pulled away.

Freed, Alice quickly straightened her clothes and got off the bed to get her phone. Unfortunately, she was a step too slow; Wyatt picked it up before she could.

Seeing the caller ID, he smirked. "Guess who’s calling."

’Who else would be calling at a time like this!’

’It had to be Zoe, worried sick because I haven’t come out after all this time.’ Alice snatched the phone back from his hand, but her expression froze when she saw the caller ID.

Mindy Vaughn!

A sudden panic seized Alice. Beside her, Wyatt sat down on the edge of the bed as if nothing was wrong. "Why aren’t you answering?"

Alice ignored him, turning her back to him as she answered the call. "...Mom."

"Why did it take you forever to answer my call? And this stupid door won’t open. When did you change the code?" Mindy’s furious voice came through the phone.

When Alice heard the door wouldn’t open, her heart leaped into her throat. "You came to see me?"

"I’m right outside your door." Mindy’s patience had run out. "Hurry up and let me in."

Alice turned to look at Wyatt, who was sitting on the edge of the bed. Cupping the receiver, she lowered her voice and asked, "Did you lock the door?"

Wyatt’s lips curled into a magnificent smile. "You should think about how you’re going to thank me."

’Thank him?’ Alice fought the urge to retort. If he hadn’t insisted on coming over today, none of this trouble would have happened.

"Alice, who are you talking to? Is someone else there with you?" Although Mindy couldn’t make out what Alice was saying on the other end, it was clear she wasn’t talking to her.

"It’s the TV," Alice said, trying to keep her tone steady. "I’m coming to open the door right now."

"Okay, hurry up."

Mindy hung up. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Alice’s mind was a mess. After thinking it over, she walked up to Wyatt Sterling. "My mom’s here. I have to go let her in now. Can you... just stay in my bedroom and not come out?"

A playful look crossed Wyatt Sterling’s face. "Are you begging me?"

Alice gritted her teeth. "Yes, I’m begging you."

Wyatt rose slowly to his feet. Alice noticed a dark, wet patch on his trousers. As for what kind of... fluid... it was, a blush crept up her ears, and she quickly pushed the chaotic image from her mind.

"Have I not taught you that when you beg, you should have the right attitude?" Wyatt stood before her, looking down on her.

"Uncle, I’m begging you." Alice gingerly tugged at the corner of his cuff. Her damp eyelashes hadn’t dried yet, and she looked utterly pitiable.

Wyatt’s eyes darkened. He pulled his cuff from her grasp and turned to the side. "I’ll give you ten minutes. Get rid of her as fast as you can."

"But ten minutes is too..."

"Too long?" Wyatt was especially ’understanding.’ "Fine, five minutes. If you go one minute over, I’ll open this door. You figure it out."

"..."

’Forget it. Better to endure this for now.’ She had to hurry and open the door.

Before leaving, Alice grabbed a bottle of perfume from her vanity. She and Wyatt had been tangled up in the entryway just now, and although she couldn’t smell anything, Mindy was an experienced woman. Alice was afraid she’d notice something, so it was better to be cautious.

She quickly tidied up the entryway, straightened her clothes and hair, and only after making sure everything looked normal did she finally unlock and open the door.

Mindy, who had been waiting outside, was already impatient.

She walked in with a stern face. "What were you dawdling for in there? It took you ages."

Alice explained, "I was changing."

Mindy’s gaze fell on Alice’s outfit. It was something she’d wear to go out, not loungewear.

"You’re at home and not going out, what’s there to change into?"

After saying that, Mindy stared intently at Alice’s face. "And just now on the phone, I heard a man’s voice. The more I think about it, the less it sounded like a TV. Alice, tell me the truth. Are you hiding a man in your apartment?"