After His Sweetheart Moved In, He Came Home Every Night-Chapter 77: Have Her Choose Wyatt Sterling?

Alice turned and walked straight out.

"Alice? Alice? Alice, wait, you’re back, Alice..."

Mindy Vaughn chased after her, straightening her clothes. She grabbed Alice’s wrist, a mix of shock and delight on her face. "Alice, it’s really you. You’re back."

In the courtyard, mother and daughter tugged at one another.

Alice glanced at Mindy Vaughn’s flushed face and whispered a reminder, "This is the Sterling estate. Do you have a death wish?"

If Old Master Sterling found out, ten lives wouldn’t be enough to save Mindy.

Mindy feigned ignorance. "Alice, what are you talking about? I wasn’t feeling well this afternoon, so I had Dr. Vance come take a look at me. That was Dr. Vance. Don’t you remember him?"

Alice replied calmly, "How could I not remember?"

Just then, Dr. Vance emerged from the room, dressed in a white lab coat.

He carried a medical bag and had a stethoscope around his neck. He was quite tall, with a sturdy, well-built physique and sharp, handsome features—exactly the type wealthy wives found appealing.

When Victor Vance saw Alice, he pushed up the gold-rimmed glasses on his nose and gave her a slight smile. "Alice."

In the Sterling home, he was the gentle family doctor. At Serene Creek Hospital, he was her colleague.

It was, after all, broad daylight, so Alice managed to keep her expression neutral. "Dr. Vance, is my mother unwell?"

Victor Vance replied with a serious look, "Your mother has no major health problems, but her blood pressure is too high. I suspect it’s from the constant stress of missing you, Miss Alice."

Alice saw through the lie but didn’t call them out on it. She turned and gave Mindy a pointed look. "I’m sorry to have worried you."

Mindy put on a wronged expression. "How can you say that? I couldn’t eat or sleep, just thinking about whether you’d ever come back. The heavens have finally opened their eyes and sent you back to me."

The deep affection between mother and daughter was on full display.

Victor Vance walked down the steps with his medical bag. "Well, I’ll be leaving now."

Alice said, "Dr. Vance, I’ll see you out."

"No need." Victor Vance smiled and waved his hand. "You just got back. You should spend more time with your mother. She’s feeling insecure."

Alice’s expression froze.

’I saw everything just now, but I can’t afford to tear away the facade. For my mother’s sake, and for my own peace. If Old Master Sterling found out, the consequences would be unimaginable.’

As soon as Victor Vance left, Alice immediately pulled Mindy back into the house and locked the door.

"Alice..." Mindy began, approaching her.

With a cold expression, Alice said, "Let’s not even get into your loneliness and boredom. But why here, in the Sterling estate? There are eyes and ears everywhere. After living here for so many years, surely you understand the consequences?"

Seeing her daughter’s lecturing tone, Mindy dropped the act and laid her cards on the table. "It’s precisely because I’ve been with the Sterlings for so many years that I know it’s safest here. It’s much easier to get into trouble outside."

Alice: "You..."

Mindy retorted stubbornly, "’You’ what? I’m telling you the truth. And don’t you dare use that tone to lecture me. I’m your mother. I know what I’m doing."

’This is insane.’

If she hadn’t stumbled upon it this time, Alice would have never known that her own mother was having an affair.

Ever since Nathan Sterling’s birth, Mindy Vaughn had been living like a widow. Silas Sterling refused to share a bedroom with her, and they had always lived in separate quarters. Apart from sharing a table at meals, a car when traveling, and a seat at functions, they were practically never in the same frame together.

At her age, her needs were strong; how could Mindy possibly restrain herself?

Mindy, feeling guilty after all, didn’t hold Alice’s words against her. She walked over and asked, "Did you sneak back here? Does the Old Master know you’ve returned?"

Alice suppressed her anger. "I didn’t sneak back. Grandpa knows. I’ve already seen him."

"That’s wonderful!"

Mindy was overjoyed.

Alice flinched as Mindy grabbed and shook her excitedly. "This is wonderful, my dear Alice! It’s so wonderful that you’re back. Mommy is so happy. You’re Mommy’s only hope."

For a moment, Alice shared in Mindy’s happiness.

But that phrase, "only hope," splashed over her like a bucket of cold water, snapping her back to reality.

"Quick, tell me, what did you go through in Washington? How did the Churchill Family treat you? Did anyone bully you? And how did you manage to come back this time..."

Mindy was desperate to know every detail. Alice told her half the story, concealing the rest, because some things were better left unsaid.

Alice stayed and had dinner with Mindy.

Nathan Sterling was also there.

But the kid really disliked Alice, and the moment he saw her, he poked where it hurt. "Why are you back? Weren’t you sold off?"

There were no outsiders here, so Alice slapped Nathan on the back of his head. "I’m your older sister. Show me some respect when you talk to me."

Nathan was stunned by the slap. He stared at Alice for a good while before bursting into tears. "Mom, sister hit me, WAAAH..."

Mindy was in a good mood today, so she didn’t blame Alice for hitting him. She pulled Nathan down to sit. "Your sister hits you because she loves you. If she didn’t love you, she wouldn’t hit you."

"..." Nathan wore a look of utter disbelief. He even forgot to cry.

Alice raised an eyebrow, feeling a sense of satisfaction. "Did you hear that? The harder I hit you, the more I love you."

With that, she beckoned with her finger. "Come here, let your sister give you another one."

Nathan scoffed. "You just wait."

Knowing he wouldn’t win this round, Nathan moved his seat to the other side, putting some distance between himself and Alice.

Halfway through dinner, Mindy suddenly brought something up with Alice. "If nothing unexpected happens, your Third Uncle will probably inherit the position of head of the Sterling family by the end of the year."

Alice quietly ate her food, not saying a word.

Mindy Vaughn put down her chopsticks. "The Old Master values him, and the family is relying on him. It’s only a matter of time before he becomes the family head. The first branch will be fine—their son and daughter are both in the company. But it’s not looking good for us. Nathan is still little, the Sterlings won’t let you into the company, and your uncle is a sick man on top of it all. Mommy is so worried..."

"What are you worried about?" Alice continued to pick at her food.

Mindy sighed. "Alice, it seems you don’t know what a terrifying person Wyatt Sterling is."

Alice’s hand paused as she was reaching for some food.

Mindy sighed endlessly. "Once he becomes the head of the family, there will be no place for us left in the Sterling household. The first branch might be able to put up a fight, but what do we have to fight him with? He’ll crush us in minutes."

At this, Mindy placed her hand on Alice’s wrist, pinning all her hopes on her. "Alice, you have to make us proud. You must marry Owen. As long as Owen protects you, our whole family will be safe."

Alice put down her chopsticks. She’d lost her appetite.

"Mom, why are you so determined to stay in this prison? We can live just fine without the Sterlings. I’ll work hard and earn money..."

"And what good is the pittance you earn?!" Mindy cut her off.

Alice was exasperated. Knowing how obsessive her mother was, she tried to compromise. "Why does it have to be Owen? Can’t it be someone else?"

’My feelings for Owen are purely platonic, like a sister’s for her brother. I can’t take that step, and I don’t want to.’

But Mindy completely misinterpreted Alice’s words.

"My dear Alice, how is your ambition even greater than mine? If you don’t choose Owen, are you telling me you’re going for Wyatt Sterling? Do you have what it takes to handle him? He might not even give you a second glance."