After His Sweetheart Moved In, He Came Home Every Night-Chapter 166: He Wants Her to Form a Marriage Alliance?

Chapter 166: Chapter 166: He Wants Her to Form a Marriage Alliance?

There was no way Alice York would dare go with him.

Dealing with Finn Hawthorne was already giving her a massive headache. ’If another member of the Hawthorne family showed up, it’d be a miracle if I didn’t meet a miserable end!’

So, she feigned compliance, then caught him off guard and bit down hard on Finn Hawthorne’s wrist.

"Agh! Ouch, ouch, ouch! You bit me again!"

Finn Hawthorne flung his hand away in pain. The moment she was free, Alice turned and ran. By the time Finn came to his senses, she had already jumped into a taxi, which sped away without a backward glance.

"Alice!"

"Alice!!"

Finn Hawthorne took a few steps after her, but it was futile.

He looked down at his wrist, where a pale bite mark remained, a clear testament to how hard she had bitten down.

It really, truly hurt.

Finn Hawthorne couldn’t help but think, ’If anyone else had dared to bite me like that, man or woman, I’d have made them pay dearly.’

But when Alice bit him, not only was he not angry, he was annoyed with himself. ’How could I not take it? If I hadn’t let go, she wouldn’t have gotten away.’

"Third Young Master."

Someone had come up from behind.

Finn Hawthorne turned and recognized one of his bodyguards. Looking further ahead, he saw his car parked by the side of the road.

They were here to pick him up.

Before getting in the car, Finn Hawthorne shot the bodyguard a fierce glare. The bodyguard was completely baffled, wondering what he’d done wrong. ’Could it be that I was two minutes late?’ he thought.

The bodyguard’s guess was spot on.

It was precisely because the bodyguard was two minutes late that Finn hadn’t been able to take Alice away. He was absolutely furious.

...

Alice York returned to West River. Before she could even take a sip of hot water, she was summoned to the old mansion by a call from Mindy Vaughn.

Remembering how Wyatt Sterling had used her phone to hang up on the Old Master, she felt apprehensive the entire way to the mansion.

By the time she arrived at the old mansion, night had already fallen.

The butler led Alice directly to the dining room.

She had expected the whole family to be eating dinner together. But when she entered the dining room and saw only the Old Master at the table, her heart began to pound.

"Grandfather."

she called out, her tone as normal as she could make it.

"You’re here. Sit." Simon Sterling tapped the fingers he had resting on the table.

"Miss Alice, this way." The butler pulled out the opposite chair for her.

Alice sat down with composure. A servant laid out her place setting, but she didn’t move until the Old Master across from her spoke. "It’s just the two of us, grandfather and granddaughter. No need to be so formal. Go on, eat."

’Just me and Grandfather?’

Ever since joining the Sterling family, this was the first time she had eaten alone with the Old Master, with no one else present. But since he had spoken, she couldn’t just sit there frozen. She picked up her chopsticks and served herself some food.

She took very little and ate even less.

Simon Sterling noticed. "Is the food not to your liking?" he asked.

Alice glanced at the table laden with food. Every dish was exquisite, a feast for the senses. ’It’s not that the food isn’t to my liking,’ she thought, ’it’s that I don’t dare to eat it.’

Perhaps her expression betrayed her thoughts. Simon Sterling put down his chopsticks, his tone surprisingly gentle. "It’s not your last meal. Why are you eating with such trepidation?"

Alice forced a smile. "I’m not."

Simon Sterling looked up and signaled to the butler. "Serve her."

The butler approached, serving her food with a fluid grace that spoke of countless repetitions. Once finished, he gestured slightly. "Miss Alice, please enjoy."

Alice nodded and picked up her chopsticks again.

’I don’t know what trick Grandfather has up his sleeve,’ she thought, ’but for now, eating quietly can’t be wrong.’

After a moment, she heard the Old Master say, "You must have suffered a great deal on your trip to Rhovan."

"..."

Alice looked up. Rather than give a reckless answer, she chose to remain silent.

Simon Sterling watched her. "I admit, I didn’t expect that boy from the Hawthorne family to be so vengeful. To think he’d chase you all the way to Rhovan just to harm you."

Alice’s face grew noticeably paler. "I didn’t expect it either," she said softly.

Simon Sterling grunted in acknowledgment. "Fortunately, your Third Uncle acted quickly and went to Rhovan himself. That’s the only reason a life wasn’t lost. Otherwise, I’m afraid the future relationship between the Sterlings and the Hawthornes would be very difficult to smooth over."

Alice’s heart tightened.

’Is Grandfather bringing up Third Uncle saving me in Rhovan on purpose?’

’No... the last part of his sentence is the real point. Grandfather obviously cares more about the relationship between the Sterling and Hawthorne families.’

’How I die doesn’t matter, but if my death affects the relationship between the two families, then Grandfather has no choice but to take notice.’

"I called you that day, but you didn’t answer." Simon Sterling set down his chopsticks, picked up the glass of tonic wine beside him, and took a slow sip.

’So, we’re finally getting to the missed call... ’

Alice’s hand, clutching her chopsticks, barely managed to remain steady.

The old man sitting before her was the master of the Sterling family, a man who had weathered countless storms and ruthless struggles in his lifetime. Of course she was afraid.

As the sound of the glass meeting the table echoed softly, Alice also set down her chopsticks.

She was afraid that if she didn’t put them down, they would clatter from her grasp.

Simon Sterling took in all of Alice’s nervousness and fear. "I was worried something had happened to you. Fortunately, I asked Wyatt later and learned that you were simply in a coma due to severe shock."

Alice was taken aback.

’That was Wyatt Sterling’s story?’

’Why didn’t he give me a heads-up? My heart almost stopped from fright a moment ago.’

"It’s a rare occasion for you to go home, only for something like this to happen. I understand you must feel awful." Simon Sterling’s tone grew even gentler. "When you get back from Arden, I’ll allow you another trip home. You can arrange the timing yourself."

A look of surprise crossed Alice’s face. "I can?"

Simon Sterling nodded. "Of course."

Hearing this confirmation, Alice’s heart leaped with joy.

’This is wonderful! I can go back and spend time with my grandparents again, and I can even set the dates myself. A week or two should be fine, right?’

But before her happiness could fully set in, the Old Master spoke again. "This trip to Arden, besides bringing Rosalind back, has another purpose."

"..."

Alice suppressed her budding excitement and said calmly, "Please continue, Grandfather."

’I knew this dinner wasn’t just about what happened in Rhovan. Whatever he’s about to say now is the real reason I’m here.’

The Old Master raised his hand, and the butler brought over something that had been prepared in advance, placing it in front of Alice.

It was a stack of photographs.

The photo on top was of a young man in a black trench coat, standing beside a Jeep. His features were deep-set and sharp, and he was incredibly handsome.

He looked vaguely familiar.

She didn’t touch the photos, instead looking up at the Old Master. "Grandfather, is this part of some arrangement?"

Simon Sterling gestured with his chin. "There are four photos. Have a look."

Alice looked down and began to examine them one by one.

As she studied the first photograph, the Old Master said, "That is Felix Hawthorne, the eldest grandson of the Hawthorne family and the heir Old Master Hawthorne values most."

’No wonder he looked familiar. He’s Finn Hawthorne’s older brother. They have similar features.’

Alice moved on to the second photo. It was Finn Hawthorne.

"This one needs no introduction. You two have already crossed paths several times. Though there may be some bad blood between you, I believe that with more understanding and time spent together, there’s nothing that can’t be resolved."

Alice remained silent, continuing on to the third and fourth photos.

The Old Master introduced each one. "Francis Hawthorne, and Jade Hawthorne. Both are quite outstanding among the Hawthornes. Francis, in particular, has abilities on par with Felix. He’s a very promising young man."

Alice still said nothing.

Because she now understood exactly what the Old Master intended.