After His Sweetheart Moved In, He Came Home Every Night-Chapter 48: He Said, I’m Her Man

Alice York went to the hospital to have a displaced ligament set.

Her injury wasn’t severe, so the procedure was relatively simple. After discussing it with her, the doctor performed the reset without local anesthetic, completing it in one smooth motion.

It was truly painful.

But the pain only lasted for the instant of the procedure.

The swelling on her ankle visibly subsided by more than half, and she could walk again. It was still a little sore, but that was to be expected.

Alice York lowered her pant leg and said to the attendant waiting by her side, "Could you please go pay the bill for me? I’ll transfer you the money from my phone."

The attendant asked worriedly, "Are you all better now?"

"Yes," Alice York said. "My injury isn’t serious. I can go home now that it’s been set."

The attendant’s timely arrival had made Alice curious, but since they wouldn’t give her a straight answer, she didn’t press the matter.

’Perhaps... it’s just as I suspected.’

’But I hope I’m wrong.’

Just then, another attendant walked in, holding an admission form. "Miss York, I’ve already checked you into the hospital. You won’t be returning to the Churchill estate tonight."

Alice York’s slender brows furrowed. "Hospitalized?"

’Why would I need to be hospitalized for this?!’

"Yes, Miss York. I just explained your condition to Mr. Churchill. He said it would be best for you to stay one night for observation. He wouldn’t be able to answer to the Sterlings if anything were to go wrong."

Alice York was left speechless.

But she had no grounds to object.

’William Churchill was always so cautious, worried he wouldn’t be able to answer to the Sterlings if something happened to me. Still, I suspect this was Kyle Churchill’s idea. Keep me in the hospital, and he won’t have to see me!’

’Fine. One day is just one day.’

’I’m actually more relaxed away from the Churchill estate anyway.’

Alice York readily accepted the arrangement.

The attendants escorted her to her room and then left. Not a single one stayed behind.

The door closed, and she locked it. Treading lightly, she walked to the window and pulled open the curtains. Soft moonlight spilled into the room. She looked up and realized it was already dark outside.

BUZZ...

Her phone was vibrating on the bedside table.

Lately, Mindy Vaughn had been calling her every day. She would say a few words and then start crying. At first, Alice could offer some comfort, but when Mindy started crying during every single call, Alice grew annoyed.

She knew Mindy Vaughn must have pleaded with Old Master Sterling, and the result was obvious. But Mindy clearly wasn’t ready to give up and had hinted several times on the phone that Alice should try to escape.

’But where could I possibly run?’

’The Sterlings have their hands in everything. Even if I ran, I’d be caught and dragged back immediately.’

She answered the phone. Mindy Vaughn’s gentle voice came through. "Alice, have you had dinner yet?"

Alice York gazed at the night outside. "I’m not hungry. I haven’t eaten."

"You have to eat," Mindy Vaughn said, her tone filled with concern. "You must take care of your body. Where there’s life, there’s hope."

Alice York let out a small laugh, her hand resting on the windowsill. "Have you come to terms with it? Finally accepted that I’m stuck at the Churchill estate?"

Mindy Vaughn sighed. "Whether I accept it or not, there’s nothing I can do. I can’t even come to Washington to see you... But I did talk to Owen..."

"You went to Owen?"

Alice York suddenly cut her mother off, her tone urgent.

Mindy Vaughn knew what Alice was worried about. "Don’t worry, I didn’t mention that night three years ago."

Alice let out a sigh of relief, realizing Mindy hadn’t mentioned it. When she came to her senses, she found her palm was slick with sweat. She had been incredibly tense.

For the past three years, Mindy Vaughn had believed the man from that night was Owen Sterling. Alice felt it was better to let her mother remain mistaken; it was certainly preferable to her finding out the man was actually Wyatt Sterling.

If her mother ever found out it was Wyatt Sterling that night, she couldn’t even imagine...

"Things are difficult enough as it is. If I brought that up now, it would sound like blackmail. If that angered Owen and he washed his hands of the matter, you’d have even less of a chance to come back."

Alice caught her mother’s implication.

Before Alice could ask, Mindy Vaughn lowered her voice on the other end of the line and whispered, "Alice, Owen said... he has a way to get you out of Washington."

SWISH. The window slid shut, and she drew the curtains.

Alice leaned her back against the window, facing the door. Cupping her hand over the phone’s receiver, she whispered, "Getting me out of Washington won’t be easy. It’ll be hard to answer to Old Master Sterling if he finds out. Owen wouldn’t take such a risk for no reason. Are you sure you didn’t mention it?"

Mindy Vaughn was displeased with Alice’s attitude. "I said I didn’t mention it, and I meant it! What’s that tone?"

Alice calmed herself. "Owen has always been so disciplined and proper. I just don’t believe he would do something that harms the Sterling family for my sake."

’Besides, all the Sterlings are selfish. Never mind the older ones; even young Nathan Sterling made it a point to label her as an outsider.’

’And it’s not like she and Owen Sterling were related by blood. At most, he might pity her circumstances, but there was no reason for him to take such a risk on her behalf.’

Mindy Vaughn’s tone was exasperated. "You just don’t realize your own worth. In the entire upper-class circle, how many women are more beautiful than you? Men are visual creatures. Obviously, Owen can’t get you out of his mind and wants to help you."

After her speech, Mindy Vaughn didn’t forget to praise herself. "I’m the one who gave you those looks, after all. If Old Master Sterling hadn’t insisted you study medicine, I would have sent you into show business to make a fortune."

Alice had nothing to say.

’Her mother’s greed was more horrifying than she had imagined.’

Getting back to the point, Mindy Vaughn reminded her, "Owen said he’ll find a way to contact you. When he does, you have to cooperate with him fully, do you understand?"

Alice didn’t want to listen to Mindy’s temper, so she decided to just agree for now. Just then, she heard the sound of the doorknob turning. Startled, she gripped her phone tightly.

She had bolted the door after the attendants left, so it couldn’t be opened from the outside.

’A knock at this hour could be a nurse doing their rounds, but it might not be.’

"Alice? Are you listening to me?"

"Alice? Alice York!"

Mindy Vaughn had to call her name several times before Alice finally responded. "Mom, something’s happening here. I have to go."

"Is someone from the Churchill family there?" Mindy asked.

Alice didn’t have time to explain. She hung up and limped toward the door.

"Who is it?"

She was more relaxed during the day, but at night, her guard was up. Even in a hospital room, she couldn’t just open the door for anyone.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK—

Three knocks were her only answer.

Alice frowned. A nurse would have answered. The person outside remained silent, knocking again instead. Something was definitely wrong.

She pressed the call button for a nurse. Two minutes later, a nurse arrived, and only then did Alice open the door. "There was someone here just now..."

She trailed off mid-sentence, freezing when she saw the man standing behind the nurse.

’How could it be Wyatt Sterling!’

’Was he the one who was just knocking and not saying anything?’

"Do you two know each other?" the nurse asked, uncertain.

Alice snapped back to reality and quickly denied it. "I don’t know him! He was just banging on my door, it was terrifying! He must be up to no good. Get rid of him, quickly!"

Hearing this, the nurse’s gaze toward the man instantly became wary. "Who are you, sir?"

Upon hearing Alice’s denial, Wyatt Sterling’s expression turned thunderous.

’After all that waiting, this is what I get? "I don’t know him"?!’

He pushed past the nurse and stepped inside. His tone was glacial as he bit out each word, "I’m her man!"