After His Sweetheart Moved In, He Came Home Every Night-Chapter 80: The Same Retribution Befalls Wyatt Sterling

Chapter 80: Chapter 80: The Same Retribution Befalls Wyatt Sterling

Alice York’s first day back at the hospital was particularly busy.

It wasn’t until the end of her shift that she learned Director Linden had arranged a dinner party for that evening to welcome three top-tier surgeons.

Having recruited three such talented individuals at once, Director Linden was anxious not to slight them in the least.

Seth Sawyer came out of the CT room and ran into Alice. He fell into step beside her and asked, "Are you going to the party tonight?"

"I’m not sure yet." She put her hand in the pocket of her white coat, fiddling with the end of a pen inside.

’Wyatt Sterling had told her to come to Shorecrest tonight. The dinner party would surely end late, and Wyatt probably wouldn’t approve. That’s why she said she wasn’t sure.’

Seth Sawyer assumed Alice wasn’t interested and made a point to tell her, "I heard Director Linden booked a buffet."

Alice tilted her head, the corners of her mouth curving into a smile. "There are other reasons I’m not sure."

Seth Sawyer let out an "oh." "So, can you tell me where you were while you were away?"

Alice deliberately joked, "North Myanmar."

She was borrowing the line Wyatt Sterling had used to scare her.

Seth Sawyer’s expression clearly stiffened. "North Myanmar? What would you be doing there?"

When Alice saw that Seth had actually believed her, she couldn’t help but stifle a laugh. Seth then realized he’d been had, but he didn’t call her out on it. Instead, he played along. "Let me guess, you got scammed by an online lover, right? It’s a miracle you made it back. Have you had a full physical to see if you’re missing any organs? I mean, besides the heart, liver, and brain, you can live without most of the other ones. It’s not a huge deal."

"You’re making it sound more and more convincing," Alice scoffed, unable to stop laughing.

"Oh, it gets even more convincing. Let me tell you..."

The two of them chatted all the way to the office door.

Just as they were about to enter, Alice suddenly fell a step behind. "I need to make a call."

Seth Sawyer looked back at her. "You’re not checking in with someone, are you?"

Alice neither confirmed nor denied it, leaving him with an expression that would keep him guessing for a while. She walked off and found a quiet, deserted spot to call Wyatt Sterling.

"Third Uncle."

She could faintly hear a child’s laughter on the other end of the line. A moment later, the laughter faded, and she heard Wyatt Sterling’s voice. "What is it?"

Alice said, "Director Linden is hosting a welcome dinner at Jade Pavilion for the three new colleagues tonight. I just came back to work, and I don’t want to miss such a lively event."

Wyatt Sterling asked her, "Do you want to go?"

Apprehensively, she said, "Yes."

"Then go," Wyatt Sterling said.

’She probably hadn’t expected him to agree so readily. Instead of feeling relieved, she wondered if he was being sarcastic.’

"Can I... really go?" she asked again, uncertain. She added, "The dinner will probably end very late."

A low, deep chuckle came from the other end of the line. "If it’s late, it’s late. Just have a good time."

...

’She was actually a little thrown by how agreeable he was being.’

"Anything else?" the man asked.

"No..." Just as he was about to hang up, Alice quickly asked, "Was that a child’s voice I heard earlier? Was it Yael?"

Wyatt Sterling replied, "What sharp ears you have."

"Of course. My hearing has always been excellent."

’So good, in fact, that she often thought if she’d been born a century earlier, she would have made an excellent spy.’

Wyatt Sterling chuckled. "You heard right. It was Yael. She and her father just arrived in Silvanus. They’ll be staying at Shorecrest for a while."

Hearing this, Alice instantly brightened. "Mr. Dalton and Yael are staying at Shorecrest?"

"Yes," Wyatt Sterling confirmed.

’An image of little Yael’s soft, pale face surfaced in Alice’s mind, and her heart melted. She wanted to pull the girl into a hug and kiss her cheek right that instant.’

’Just moments ago she had been dreading going to Shorecrest, but now she found herself wanting to get back there as soon as possible.’

After ending the call, Wyatt Sterling turned to see Yael standing there, looking at him nervously.

Wyatt Sterling walked over. He wasn’t in the habit of squatting, so he simply looked down at the little girl. "What do you want to ask?"

Yael had always been a little afraid of Wyatt Sterling, which made her seem very timid.

Before she could muster the courage, she glanced back toward Julian Dalton, who offered her a gentle, encouraging smile. "If you want to know, just ask. Your Uncle Sterling will tell you."

With her father’s encouragement, Yael found her courage and asked Wyatt Sterling, "Was that the lady?"

A smile touched Wyatt Sterling’s lips. "Which lady?"

Julian Dalton’s teasing voice drifted over. "Yael, this Uncle Sterling of yours has far too many ladies around him to count. You have to say her name, or he won’t know which one you mean."

Wyatt Sterling shot Julian Dalton a look. "I rarely hear a kind word from you, but you’re always quick to sling mud."

"It was Miss Alice."

Yael’s voice piped up.

’Yael thought to herself, ’Good thing I remembered Miss Alice’s name. When I see her again, I have to tell her how smart I am.’’

Wyatt Sterling leaned down slightly. "You like her a lot?"

Little Yael nodded, but then immediately clarified, "I only like Miss Alice."

’Uncle Sterling has too many ladies around him. I have to say her name.’

Wyatt Sterling said, "She’ll be back late. She’s at a work dinner." 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Little Yael said, "Oh," then ran to ask Julian Dalton what a "work dinner" was. Julian explained it carefully, but she still only seemed to half-understand.

Wyatt Sterling straightened up and walked over. "How does it feel, raising a daughter all on your own?"

Julian Dalton pouted. "What goes around comes around."

But Wyatt Sterling just laughed it off. "Your karma won’t be visiting me."

"Don’t speak so confidently about the future." Julian threw cold water on his certainty, his expression wickedly charming.

Wyatt leaned against the arm of the sofa and tutted. "Why the long face now? Where’s all that high-and-mighty spirit you had when you drove her away?"

...

Mutually assured destruction? Nope, this was a world where only Julian Dalton got hurt.

The night grew deep.

A private room in Jade Pavilion was filled with people.

Alice was sitting close to Seth Sawyer. Throughout the dinner, he regaled her with gossip about patients being admitted to various departments, especially colorectal surgery. To play along with patients’ lies, the doctors were practically forced to become award-winning actors. The stories were absolutely brilliant.

Head Nurse Cassia was the life of the party. The way she toasted Director Linden, in particular, left everyone dumbfounded.

Seth Sawyer quickly pulled out his phone and started a recording. "I used to scoff at this stuff, but now I’m studying it frame by frame."

Alice said, "Send me a copy when it’s done. I need to learn, too."

’If she learned how, maybe she could use it on Wyatt Sterling. Saying the right things to him might save her a little grief.’

Everyone drank quite a bit, mixing red and white wine, and Alice was no exception.

As the dinner party was winding down, Alice’s phone rang. It was a call from Mindy Vaughn. She didn’t have to answer to know her mother was calling to hurry her back to the family home.

She grabbed her phone and stood up, stumbling a little, her head spinning. Seth Sawyer steadied her. "Careful."

"I’m fine."

A nerve in Alice’s brow began to throb violently. She had a bad feeling that something was about to happen, but she tried to reassure herself it was just the alcohol. ’Don’t overthink it.’

She stepped out of the private room and found a quiet spot to answer the call. "Mom."

Mindy Vaughn’s tone was explosive. "Why did it take you so long to answer my call? Did you go back to West River? What did you promise me when you left the house today? Alice York, do you really think you’re all grown up now..."

"Mom!"