After His Sweetheart Moved In, He Came Home Every Night-Chapter 86: Staring Fixedly at Her

Alice came downstairs and didn’t see anyone in the living room.

She thought Wyatt had already left and was about to go to the kitchen to check on breakfast when a small figure darted in front of her like a gust of wind.

"Yael?"

Alice looked surprised.

Yael tilted her head up and smiled at Alice, bouncing on her tiptoes. She seemed a little shy, but her sparkling eyes showed an eagerness to get closer.

Alice crouched down and asked, "Yael, when did you get here?"

It just goes to show that drinking makes you forget. Alice had completely forgotten that Wyatt had told her last night that Julian Dalton and his daughter would be staying at Shorecrest for a while.

"Yesterday!"

After speaking, Yael puffed out her cheeks. She wanted to get closer but didn’t dare, waiting for Alice to reach out her hand.

Alice understood what Yael wanted and opened her arms.

Yael immediately dove into Alice’s arms for a big hug.

Alice breathed in that sweet, milky scent unique to children. The little girl felt so soft and warm in her arms that she didn’t want to let go. "Did you come with your daddy yesterday?"

"Uh-huh, I came with Daddy~" Yael wrapped her arms around Alice’s neck, clearly loving the closeness.

Alice stood up, still holding Yael. "And where’s your daddy?"

Yael said, "Daddy’s outside with Uncle Sterling."

’So Wyatt hasn’t left yet.’ But instead of taking Yael outside to find them, Alice went to the kitchen.

Her stomach felt a little unsettled, and she just wanted some millet porridge. She was worried the kitchen might be making seafood porridge, so she had come down specifically to make a request.

When Wyatt Sterling and Julian Dalton came in, Alice was on the sofa, reading a picture book to Yael. The book, titled *The Little Bear and the Best Dad*, was one Julian had brought from Washington.

Wyatt started to walk over, but Julian held up a hand to stop him, then made a shushing gesture. Wyatt looked annoyed, but he complied, lightening his steps.

After Alice finished reading, Yael asked her a question. "Why is it only the little bear and his daddy? Where’s the little bear’s mommy?"

"Because..." Alice was at a loss for words.

Yael asked again, "Is it because the mommy doesn’t like the little bear?"

"No, no! The mommy loves the little bear very much, it’s just... she’s..." Under Yael’s expectant gaze, Alice racked her brain for an excuse. "It’s just that his mommy is too busy. That’s right, too busy. Mommies have to work very hard to earn money for their families."

A vacant look came into Yael’s eyes. "So mommies work really hard."

It almost broke Alice’s heart to see Yael like that. Just then, Julian walked up from behind them. "Yael, Alice isn’t lying to you."

Yael tilted her head up to look at Julian. "Daddy?"

Julian walked over, picked Yael up, and settled her on one arm. He used his free hand to gently boop her nose. "Your mommy is very busy. So busy she can’t get away, so busy she forgot to come home. But that’s okay. She’s right here in this city, and I’ll bring her back as soon as I can."

"Okay~"

Yael was so happy she started bouncing in Julian’s arms.

Alice smiled in relief off to the side, not even noticing when Wyatt had walked up next to her.

"I never realized you liked kids so much. Or that you were this patient."

Hearing Wyatt’s voice, Alice’s smile froze. She turned to look at him, and he turned to look at her at the same moment.

Their eyes met. Alice maintained a nonchalant expression. "Liking them doesn’t mean I want one of my own."

Wyatt watched her for a moment before looking away. "Hypocrite."

"..."

’How is liking kids but not wanting to have any of my own hypocritical? If anyone’s a hypocrite here, it’s him!’

She was about to argue, but the image of Wyatt’s angry face from the night before flashed through her mind. ’Forget it. Better not to provoke him.’

After breakfast, Alice went straight to the hospital.

Wyatt was probably still fuming; he barely acknowledged her at all.

When she got to the hospital, she immediately noticed something was off with Seth Sawyer. He was staring at her intently.

"Dr. Sawyer, staring at me first thing in the morning? Don’t tell me you’ve got a thing for me," Alice joked. They were close enough for that kind of direct teasing.

"I don’t think I’m qualified to marry into the Sterling family," Seth Sawyer shrugged.

Alice laughed. "Then why are you staring at me? Did I get even prettier today?"

"Not really, no."

"..."

Seth tapped his chin with a ballpoint pen. "Last night, where did your ’brother’ take you?"

"My brother...?" It took Alice a few seconds to realize who Seth was talking about. "Oh, you mean my brother. He picked me up to take me back to the Sterling residence, of course. Where else would we go?"

Seth said, "I was drunk last night, so I didn’t think much of it then. But this morning, I was replaying the details from last night in my head, and I realized..."

Alice was unfazed. As long as it didn’t involve Wyatt, she could handle anything. "Realized what?"

Seth said cryptically, "That I’ve discovered there’s at least one good person in the Sterling family."

"The way you say that makes it sound like you didn’t think the Sterlings had any good people to begin with."

"The Sterlings don’t have any good people, especially that Third Master Sterling..."

"Seth Sawyer!"

Alice used his full name and shot him a look. "Have some sense. This hospital is under the Sterling Group. The Sterlings are the ones who sign your paycheck."

Seth understood her warning to be careful with his words. He patted his mouth. "Right, this big mouth of mine. I’ll watch it next time."

The words had barely left his mouth when someone knocked three times on the open door.

Alice looked up. The last person she expected to see was Melody Lancaster.

As it was early summer, the weather had just started to warm up. Melody Lancaster wore a light, long-sleeved dress that cinched at the waist and hugged her hips, perfectly accentuating her curves. Combined with her radiant face, she was a vision of effortless beauty.

"I heard you were back, so I came especially to see you. Do you have a minute? We could find a place to sit and chat."

Melody Lancaster sauntered in.

Alice emerged from behind her desk, hands in her pockets. "If I had known you were coming today, Miss Lancaster, I would have cleared my schedule. As it is, I’m on duty and can’t step away."

"It won’t take much of your time." As she drew closer, Melody tucked her hair behind her ear. "It’s been a while, hasn’t it? I’ve actually missed you."

Alice offered a polite, perfunctory smile. "It has been a while."

From the side, Seth Sawyer chimed in, "Dr. York, you’re holding out on me."

Alice asked, puzzled, "What?"

Seth gestured with his eyes toward Melody. "Having such a beautiful friend and not even making an introduction."

Alice gave a knowing smile and adopted a more formal tone. "Miss Lancaster, this is Dr. Sawyer, from my department."

Melody Lancaster turned her gaze to Seth. The moment she looked at him, he puffed up like a peacock, pointing to his name badge. "Seth Sawyer."

Melody smiled charmingly. "Hello, Dr. Sawyer. It’s rare to see such a handsome doctor in this department."

Seth waved his hand dismissively. "Oh, you’re exaggerating. But I will say, there aren’t many doctors like me in this hospital. Miss Lancaster certainly has a good eye."

Melody seized the opening. "A doctor as handsome as yourself must also be very accommodating. Would it be too much trouble to ask you to cover for Alice for a little while? I’d just like to have a quick word with her outside."