After His Sweetheart Moved In, He Came Home Every Night-Chapter 39: Go Straight to a Room?

Alice York looked up and saw Wyatt Sterling.

He stood on the steps leading to the main entrance, a cigarette dangling from his lips. Smoke shrouded his face, and looking down from above, his expression was unreadable.

Alice York felt a prickle of unease and prompted Kyle Churchill beside her, "Let go."

Kyle Churchill pretended not to hear. He flashed a brazen smile at the man on the steps. "That’s right, Third Uncle. Miss York and I just got back from our date."

Wyatt Sterling’s face was expressionless as he watched them. "Did you two have a good time?"

Kyle Churchill swaggered a bit. "It was great. Miss York even said she hopes I’ll take her out again tomorrow."

With that, Kyle Churchill yanked Alice York to his side, striking an intimate pose. "Isn’t that right, Miss York?"

Alice York gritted her teeth, her voice barely a whisper. "I never said that."

Kyle Churchill’s laugh was wild and vicious as he murmured in her ear, "Or what? Are you going to tell your Third Uncle that you didn’t enjoy our date one bit?"

"..."

’Of course I wasn’t happy! But Wyatt Sterling was the one who told me to go on a date with Kyle Churchill. If I act reluctant or displeased now, he’s sure to be unsatisfied.’

She forced down the bitter taste in her mouth and looked up at the man on the steps, enunciating each word. "Third Uncle, I had a lovely time out with Young Mr. Churchill today. He took very good care of me."

’That should satisfy him, right?’

Wyatt Sterling removed the cigarette from his lips and flicked the ash, his expression impassive. "Good. As long as you had fun."

A car pulled up, and he descended the steps.

Mason Cheney got out and opened the rear passenger door, revealing Julian Dalton sitting inside, dressed in a suit. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

"What held you up for so long?" Julian Dalton asked, a half-smile on his face.

Wyatt Sterling walked past Alice York. "Just a small matter."

Julian Dalton didn’t buy it. His eyes flickered to the side, and he spotted Alice York standing with Kyle Churchill. He raised a hand in greeting. "Well, if it isn’t my little niece."

Alice York returned a strained smile. "Mr. Dalton."

She had assumed it was just a polite greeting, but Julian Dalton suddenly extended an invitation. "Wyatt and I are headed to Mount Serenity Peak. Since you’re here, little niece, why don’t you come with us?"

Alice York froze for a moment, then pointed to herself. "Me?"

Julian Dalton’s smile was captivating. "I generally look at the person I’m speaking to."

The line was quite flirtatious, but coming from Julian Dalton, it didn’t feel cheap. It was more like playful teasing.

Beside them, Kyle Churchill narrowed his eyes. ’What the hell is this guy Dalton playing at? Don’t tell me he’s interested in Alice York, too.’

"I’m sorry, Mr. Dalton."

Alice York didn’t want to go; all she wanted was to get away from Wyatt Sterling. But before she could finish her refusal, Wyatt turned back and cut her off. "Your Uncle Dalton made a kind invitation. Don’t disrespect him. Get in the car."

"..."

’Not this again!’

’This morning, he wanted me to entertain Kyle Churchill. This afternoon, it’s Julian Dalton. What am I, a professional escort?’

Kyle Churchill watched the drama unfold with amusement. "Miss York, your schedule is packed pretty tight. Think you can handle it?"

Alice York shot him a glare, but Kyle Churchill just laughed. "If you’d just choose me, you could be done with all of this. It’s a bargain, really."

Faced with the choice of being endlessly harassed by Kyle Churchill, Alice York gritted her teeth and chose to leave with Wyatt Sterling. Without further hesitation, she straightened her spine and walked toward the car.

Kyle Churchill hollered after her, "See you tomorrow, Miss York!"

The car door shut.

Julian Dalton, who had moved to the front passenger seat, glanced at the rearview mirror. "Our little niece doesn’t seem too happy."

Alice York’s voice was flat. "I’m just a little tired."

’Dealing with Kyle Churchill all morning had been utterly exhausting.’

Julian Dalton was quite considerate. "Mount Serenity Peak is a ways away. You can sleep for a bit. Don’t worry, we’ll wake you when we arrive."

"I’m fine."

Alice York glanced at Wyatt Sterling beside her. ’How could I possibly sleep soundly with him right there?’

Julian Dalton saw her reaction and couldn’t help but chuckle. "Well then, how about keeping me company with a little chat?"

Alice York nodded. "Alright."

But of course, Julian Dalton had to touch a raw nerve. "So, how did you get along with that Young Mr. Churchill today?"

"..." Alice York couldn’t tell if he was teasing her or asking casually, so she gave a simple reply. "It was fine."

"Such a good impression of Kyle Churchill?" Julian Dalton sounded surprised.

Alice York immediately picked up on the subtext in his voice. He was from Washington, he knew of the Churchill family, so he must have some idea of what kind of person Kyle Churchill was.

’If Julian Dalton knew, then surely Wyatt Sterling did too. He must have known Kyle Churchill was a bad guy, but he still made me go on a date with him...’

Alice York reined in her emotions and replied smoothly, "Young Mr. Churchill is generous, very patient with me, and has a witty sense of humor. It would be hard not to have a good impression."

It sounded like genuine, effusive praise. Julian Dalton’s expression froze. He shot a glance at the other face in the rearview mirror—Wyatt’s—and said nothing more.

"So, it seems you’re quite satisfied with this Kyle Churchill," Wyatt Sterling said, his tone tepid.

Alice York replied, "You picked him for me, Third Uncle. You should be more satisfied than I am."

Wyatt Sterling turned his head to look at her. He could see the pent-up grievance, the slight reddening at the tip of her nose. She kept her eyelids lowered, hiding her emotions, as if that would make them invisible.

When he spoke again, his tone was a bit softer. "Where all did you go with Kyle Churchill today?"

Alice York pulled herself together a little. "Shrine Street. It was very lively."

Wyatt Sterling asked, "You just walked around all morning?"

Alice York couldn’t resist a sarcastic retort. "Isn’t that how dates are supposed to work? A gradual progression? Or were we supposed to just go get a room?"

Wyatt Sterling’s eyes narrowed, and his piercing look sent a jolt of fear through Alice York’s heart.

She swallowed hard and quickly corrected herself. "We just walked around with Young Mr. Churchill all morning, then had lunch and came back."

Wyatt Sterling reminded her, "Alice York, you are not Silas Sterling’s biological daughter."

Alice York choked, but his next words were, "So cut the crazy talk."

She froze, stunned.

’When a direct relative has a history of mental illness, the next generation is bound to inherit it. But she wasn’t Silas Sterling’s biological daughter, so she hadn’t inherited anything. She was normal. Wyatt Sterling was reminding her not to be so reckless with her words.’

They reached the peak at two-thirty in the afternoon.

This trip wasn’t just for sightseeing; Alice York noticed several men in sharp suits standing near their parking spot, clearly waiting for them.

As soon as the car came to a stop, the men approached in an orderly fashion to greet them.

Alice York had no idea why Wyatt Sterling was here. After getting out of the car, she scanned her surroundings, unsure of the direction to Cloudpierce Pavilion.

Julian Dalton asked what she was looking for. She replied, "I heard you can get a panoramic view of all of Washington from Cloudpierce Pavilion."

Julian Dalton laughed. "Cloudpierce Pavilion is always crammed with people. What’s the fun in that?"

Alice York asked, "Is there a less crowded place to enjoy the view?"

"There is, and we’re heading there now," Julian Dalton said mysteriously, refusing to reveal the exact location.

Wyatt Sterling looked back and prompted her, "Come on."

Alice York followed silently.

Only when they arrived did Alice York realize the place Julian Dalton had mentioned was a mansion at the peak.

As the massive gates swung open, a spectacular view was laid bare before them.

Alice York asked casually, "Is this your residence in Washington, Mr. Dalton?"

"Not mine. It belongs to Wyatt."

Julian Dalton walked past her, flashing a meaningful smile. "And little niece, you’re the very first woman Wyatt has ever brought here."