After His Sweetheart Moved In, He Came Home Every Night-Chapter 61: Wyatt Sterling Slapped Her

Julian Dalton bent down and scooped his daughter up with one arm.

He had noticed Alice York’s expression moments before and smiled as he introduced them. "Miss York, allow me to introduce my daughter, Yael."

Due to her field of study, Alice York rarely encountered such fair, cuddly little girls in real life. She mostly saw them online or on television.

It wasn’t until this moment, upon meeting Julian Dalton’s daughter, that she truly understood what it meant for one’s heart to melt.

An involuntary smile touched her lips. "What’s the story behind her name?"

Before Julian Dalton could answer, Wyatt Sterling spoke up. "From The Verdant Bamboo Temple, the faint toll of the evening bell."

Alice York turned to look at Wyatt Sterling.

He raised an eyebrow. "You’ve never heard that line?"

"I have," she said, nodding. A grin stretched her lips, and her eyes danced with a brilliant smile—a rare, vivid expression from her that Wyatt Sterling seldom saw.

Alice York took a step forward, her gaze fixed on the little girl in Julian Dalton’s arms, and greeted her. "Hello, Yael."

The little girl blinked.

Julian Dalton said to his daughter, "Yael, this is Alice York. You’re from the same generation, so you should call her ’big sister.’"

Wyatt Sterling’s expression darkened, but he didn’t lash out.

Of course, Julian Dalton was doing it on purpose. He just wanted to see that look on Wyatt Sterling’s face.

Alice York didn’t notice the silent contest between the two men. All her attention was now on Yael.

She looked at Yael, and Yael looked right back, meeting her gaze openly, not the least bit shy. After a long moment, the little girl finally called out, "Big~ sis~ter~"

Alice York answered happily.

Just then, little Yael reached a hand out toward Alice York. Understanding his daughter’s intention, Julian Dalton carried her closer.

Alice York was confused, as Yael didn’t seem to be asking for a hug. Just as Yael’s hand was about to touch her neck, Wyatt Sterling suddenly grabbed her wrist and yanked her back. At the same time, Julian Dalton stopped his daughter. "Yael, you can’t touch that. It will hurt her."

Once Alice York had steadied herself, she finally understood what Yael had been trying to do.

She had wanted to touch the marks on her neck.

They were just too conspicuous.

She turned her head to look at the man who had just yanked her back. It was as if he had acted instinctively to protect her...

"Yael is still young and at that curious age. The marks on your neck are very noticeable. She probably thought you’d painted something on it," Wyatt Sterling said in a low voice.

Alice York nodded. "I understand, Third Uncle."

Julian Dalton started to put Yael down, but she refused, clinging to his arm like a little octopus. The scene was both heartwarming and funny.

He sighed and lifted her up again, explaining, "Yael isn’t shy. She’s just afraid of being ignored. She’s quite insecure and very clingy with me."

Without thinking, Alice York asked, "Is little Yael clingy with her mother too?"

The smile on Julian Dalton’s face froze.

Just then, Wyatt Sterling pulled Alice York away, leading her toward the hot spring pool behind the villa. "Let’s go for a soak first."

As Wyatt Sterling led her away, Alice York looked back at Yael, reluctant to leave. "I’ll come play with you later, okay?"

Yael smiled at her, her eyes as bright and glistening as fresh grapes.

Wyatt Sterling led Alice York to a medicinal hot spring.

It had cost hundreds of millions to build, yet it was smaller than she had imagined. Still, the surroundings were beautifully designed, with rockeries, lush plants, and a screen made of pure sandalwood.

"Did it really cost hundreds of millions?" she asked, skeptical.

Wyatt Sterling reminded her to watch her step. "Because it doesn’t look like it’s worth hundreds of millions?"

Alice York nodded honestly. "It doesn’t, really."

Wyatt Sterling told her, "What’s valuable aren’t these decorations, but the jade stones in the medicinal bath and the herbal formula concocted by an expert."

Alice York had a sudden realization. ’So that’s how it is. How shortsighted of me.’

The path underfoot consisted of intermittent stone slabs, with the gaps filled in by smooth pebbles. It was easy to experience a visual distortion while walking, creating the sensation that one might miss a step. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

It was a clever design, meant to prevent people from sneaking in to use the bath. Anyone unfamiliar with the path would likely stumble and make a loud noise.

Wyatt Sterling had just reminded her to be careful, yet Alice York still stumbled and nearly pitched forward. He caught her by the small of her back, his grip tightening hard enough to make her wince and frown in pain.

Wyatt Sterling released her. Seeing her frown, he muttered, "Serves you right."

The tip of her nose tingled, and he immediately took it back. "It doesn’t."

...

He was usually merciless with his insults, at times so scathing they were appalling, yet today he had actually held back.

"Watch your step," he reminded her again.

Alice York shot back cheekily, "Just let me fall, then."

SMACK.

Wyatt Sterling gave her a swat.

Humiliation washed over Alice York, and tears welled in her eyes. Rubbing her rear, she protested, "No spanking in broad daylight!"

It didn’t hurt, but it was mortifying. What if one of the Daltons’ servants had seen? She would have died of embarrassment.

The corner of Wyatt Sterling’s mouth lifted. "And at night, there are other ways to do it."

"You..."

She hadn’t even gotten into the hot spring, but her face was already flushed crimson.

Once she was in the hot spring, Alice York finally understood what made it worth hundreds of millions. After soaking for only a few minutes, she felt as if every channel in her body had been unblocked.

Wyatt Sterling sat on the edge of the pool, his long legs crossed, his gaze resting on her pale, delicate shoulders. "How is it? Comfortable?"

She nodded. "Very."

Wyatt Sterling said, "Your cycle is irregular, and your digestion is poor. Soaking in here will do you a lot of good."

’So that was his goal. He wanted me to soak in this medicinal bath to improve my health.’

’Does he still care about me?’

The atmosphere suddenly grew quiet. She looked up and found that Wyatt Sterling’s pupils had darkened.

Faced with such a raw gaze, Alice York grew a little scared and tried to edge away.

She was well aware of Wyatt Sterling’s habits. He would take her regardless of the time, place, or occasion. With her naked in the water right now, a situation like this would arouse him even more easily.

Wyatt Sterling saw through her. "No need to hide. You’re right here under my nose. If I really wanted to devour you, do you think it would be difficult?"

Alice York didn’t believe him at all and kept reminding him, "We’re at the Daltons’ house."

"How many times are you going to remind me?" His amused laughter reached her ears. "This is a medicinal bath Julian built for his daughter. It’s meant to treat her illness and save her life. Do you think I have no sense of propriety?"

Alice York was speechless.

That put her at ease.

Wait—

’He just said Mr. Dalton built this medicinal bath for Yael. Is Yael sick?’

She suddenly looked up. Wyatt Sterling, seeing her unspoken question, answered it for her. "Yael has a virus in her system."

Alice York’s eyes widened. "A virus? What kind of virus? Can it be cured?"

Wyatt Sterling replied, "If it were curable, this medicinal bath wouldn’t exist. The bath is effective when her symptoms flare up."

She was rendered speechless.

She hadn’t been able to tell at all that Yael was sick.

’What kind of virus could be so vicious?’

Then, remembering something, she asked, "What about Yael’s mother?"

"Unknown," Wyatt Sterling said.

Huh?

Alice York was baffled. "Unknown? Do you mean that literally?"

Wyatt Sterling said calmly, "I mean it literally. No one knows who she is. Julian has been searching for Yael’s birth mother for years."

But Alice York was confused. "Yael looks to be about four or five. How could there still be no news at all after all this time?"