After His Sweetheart Moved In, He Came Home Every Night-Chapter 2: Getting Involved

"Mom!" Alice’s face hardened. "That’s enough."

Mindy, however, produced an outfit she had prepared earlier and stuffed it into Alice’s hands. "Owen is taking a rest in his bedroom on the third floor. I called you back at just the right time. No one else is around, so go on, quickly."

Alice bit her lower lip, and her face was filled with humiliation.

For the past few years, she had constantly wondered if her own mother hadn’t been the one to hand her that cup of tea that night, would she have gone on believing that her mother loved her, even just a little?

But the answer was still no.

Disheartened, Alice tried to hand the clothes back and said, "I’m not doing this. You can forget about it. Besides, you can only cry wolf as many times as you want. But next time, think twice before you call me again."

Having said her words, Alice went to open the door.

This time, she was determined not to be manipulated by anyone, any longer.

But before she could even step out the door, she heard Mindy threat coming to her. "Alice, some things might have had a history of three years, but I don’t think they can ever be truly ignored. And since Owen is back, it seems like the right time to air it all out in public."

Alice’s limbs went stiff, and she froze in place.

Mindy’s threat was like a bucket of ice water that was dumped over her head.

Her whole flesh went cold, and so did her heart.

Mindy sneered. "Are you doing this or not? You’d better think twice before you make decision, Alice."

Alice’s nails dug into her palms. In the end, she gave in and said, "Fine. I’ll do it."

Then she turned and went inside to get changed as the fate told her to.

Mindy had picked out a velvet dress with an extremely low neckline—so low it was practically bursting at the seams once zipped. Since it was still early spring, it came with a knitted shawl that offered meager protection from the chill.

When Alice walked out after changing, she was basically wearing a blank mask. Seeing her, Mindy beamed, with her eyes narrowing into happy slits. She couldn’t have been more pleased.

"I knew you are the sweetest. You never disappoint me. See? Look at this beautiful dress I had made just for you. It just fits perfectly." Feeling satisfied, Mindy handed Alice a fruit platter she had prepared for this occasion.

Alice said nothing, but accepted the fruit platter and headed out.

She walked very quickly and didn’t pay close attention to what Mindy had said at the doorway, just a few faint words such as "You have to bring up that night. If he doesn’t admit it, I will stand up for you!"

A sarcastic smile touched the corners of Alice’s lips.

The Sterlings’ residence seemed empty tonight, just as Mindy had said. She really had timed her presence perfectly.

She made her way to the third floor smoothly. As she rounded the corner, she could see Owen Sterling’s door appearing right ahead.

As she was just a few steps away, Alice stared at the door and felt lost in thought.

In truth, she didn’t mind seeing Owen Sterling. What she really minded was Mindy’s open manipulation.

Owen Sterling was her cousin in name. Although they had little interaction within the Sterlings, she held this cousin in high regard and had never harbored any improper thoughts about him.

As for the mistake that had happened that night...

As her thoughts were drifting, a door suddenly opened.

It wasn’t Owen Sterling’s door, however, but the one to Alice’s left.

Alice turned her head, but before she could get a clear look at the person inside, a sudden force yanked her into the room.

CRASH! The fruit platter scattered across the floor.

The room wasn’t completely dark but lit by recessed wall sconces, yet Alice still couldn’t make out the man’s face. All she saw as she was dragged inside was the malachite dial of the watch on his wrist.

The man leaned over her, as his warm breath seeped over every inch of her skin. The scent of cedarwood that filled the air tantalized her every nerve.

It was all too familiar.

"Wyatt Sterling, you..."

Before Alice could finish, his large hand seized her jaw, forcing her to tilt her face up and meet his dark gaze.

"What did you just call me?"

Fear sprouted in Alice’s heart. She quickly corrected herself, and dropped the full name. "Uncle," she called out, then explained, "Uncle, I was just passing by."

"And?" He gripped her chin, as his pressure not increased all at once.It was getting tightened little by little.

Tears welled in Alice’s eyes from the pain. She tried to turn her head to break free. "Uncle, let go."

"What are you doing here?" he demanded.

Alice bit her lip.

Could she admit her mother had sent her upstairs to find Owen? Of course not. "I... I was just passing by..."

"Do you have a room on this floor?" he asked.

Alice shook her head. "No."

He sneered. "Then if you were ’just passing by,’ who were you looking for?"

Alice suddenly met his gaze. "You. I came to see you."

The air went still for a moment.

It was so quiet Alice could hear her own heart pounding quickly in her chest.

Wyatt Sterling had deep-set, captivating features, especially his eyes. When he stared intently at someone, it felt as if he could pull them in. She had never dared to meet his gaze like this.

After a long moment, she heard Wyatt Sterling ask, "Are you sure you came to see me?"

Alice swallowed hard. Though her heart was racing with panic, she nodded. "Yes. I came for you."

The words had barely left her lips.

Wyatt Sterling chuckled softly, and then his hands began to move.

Alice’s eyes flew open. "Wait, Wyatt, I... I might be..."

"Might be what?" The kisses he pressed to her ear grew hotter. He chuckled, and ignored her protests. "And who gave you permission to call me Wyatt directly?"

"Uncle, please listen to me. We really can’t."

She had rushed back today and hadn’t had a chance to see the result of the pregnancy test. She wasn’t sure if she was pregnant.

But even if she were pregnant, she couldn’t tell him.

Her relationship with Wyatt Sterling absolutely could not see the light of day. Besides, for a man as cold and heartless as him, any woman getting pregnant with his child would only lead to a disastrous end.

He lowered his head, and his dark eyes locked onto hers. "You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?"

Alice knew he had misunderstood her. She shook her head to deny it, but he pinned her by the waist. "Don’t move."

A long while later when Wyatt Sterling had finished, Alice had to brace herself against a cabinet to stay upright. She was totally terrified.

She struggled to calm her racing heart, knowing she couldn’t leave the room like this. If anyone saw her, they would know instantly what had just happened.

CLICK.

The lights in the wall switched on.

Alice turned her face away from the sudden brightness, and bent down to pick up her fallen shawl.

A shadow fell over her. Alice looked up and finally got a clear look at the man’s face.

Wyatt Sterling was standing before her, impeccably dressed, with a smirk playing on his lips as he watched her.

Their eyes met, and for a moment, Alice’s vision swam.

In all the years since she and her mother had joined the Sterlings, she had met every member of the family. It was safe to say there wasn’t a single unattractive man among the Sterlings. But if one had to rank them, Wyatt Sterling would undoubtedly come out on top.

He was the most outstanding of the Sterlings’ younger generation in both looks and ability. He was the patriarch’s most beloved youngest son, the future head of the Sterling Family, as well as her "Uncle" in name.

Wyatt Sterling was never a man Alice should have gotten involved with.

But the root of it all traced back to that night three years ago,to the cup of tea her mother had handed her.