Finn Hawthorne had originally planned to keep this matter a secret, telling no one, to avoid causing trouble for Alice York.
Yet he couldn’t control himself. Whenever he saw Alice York, he had an overwhelming desire to be near her.
She seed to have so kind of magic about her, constantly drawing him in.
Now that his older brother had suddenly asked, Finn Hawthorne wrestled with himself for a mont before finally confessing the truth: "At first, I thought Alice York was my sister."
As he spoke, a barely perceptible crack appeared on Felix Hawthorne’s calm face.
’So that was it. The subtle connection he’d mistaken when his eyes t Alice York’s... his younger brother had already made the sa error once before...’
"Why did you think she was Vera?" Felix Hawthorne schooled his features, the crack from a mont ago having already vanished.
Finn Hawthorne recalled the secret he’d overheard outside the old couple’s house that day. He told his brother everything, including the details the old couple had ntioned: the clothes and hair clip Alice York was wearing when she was found.
"I was almost certain then that Alice York was my real sister. When you called and told to wait for the results, I thought you already knew it was her..."
As he spoke, Finn Hawthorne’s voice grew agitated.
Felix Hawthorne, in contrast, was as calm as ever, as if he were listening to so trivial matter.
Finn Hawthorne wasn’t surprised. After all, the real Evelyn Hawthorne had already been found, so it was normal for his brother not to react to his words.
Still, he couldn’t quite let it go. "Bro, the first ti you t Alice York, didn’t you feel a sense of connection with her?"
Felix Hawthorne raised an eyebrow. "A connection?"
Finn Hawthorne nodded emphatically. "Yes, a connection."
Felix Hawthorne looked completely unconcerned, his expression cool. "No, I didn’t."
"...Okay, fine."
Although he had expected that answer, Finn Hawthorne was still visibly dejected.
Felix Hawthorne fell silent for a mont before speaking slowly. "As I recall, the first ti you t her, you had a nasty run-in and have hated her ever since. You orchestrated that kidnapping in Rhovan yourself. Have you forgotten?"
At these words, Finn Hawthorne’s face turned deathly pale.
Felix Hawthorne didn’t stop there, instead reminding him, one point after another, "You tied her up and abandoned her there, nearly serving her up to those two villains. If Wyatt Sterling hadn’t arrived in ti that day, Alice York would have been brutalized to death."
"Bro, stop! Don’t say any more!"
Those words were like shards of glass, twisting in Finn Hawthorne’s heart.
Felix Hawthorne could clearly see how much pain Finn was in. "You nearly got her killed. It’s only natural for her to be afraid and to reject your advances. But rember, you are the third young master of the Hawthorne family. Stop doing such brainless, deaning things."
The Finn Hawthorne of the past would never have fawned over soone who gave him the cold shoulder.
But the Finn Hawthorne of today, ever since returning from Rhovan, was like a different person. Although he was mostly this way only around Alice York, it still wasn’t normal.
"I understand." Finn Hawthorne got his emotions under control. "I’ll keep my distance from her from now on."
Felix Hawthorne said coolly, "Go on back for now."
Finn Hawthorne said nothing, just nodded and turned to leave, his retreating figure looking utterly soulless.
Once his brother was in the car, Felix Hawthorne looked away and called out, "Chase Jennings."
A man in a black suit quickly approached.
Felix Hawthorne ordered in a low voice, "Investigate Alice York’s past."
Chase Jennings asked, "Was there a problem with the last background check?"
Felix Hawthorne: "Do it again."
"Yes, sir."
Chase Jennings didn’t dare ask any more questions and turned to carry out the order.
"I’m talking about Alice York’s real past," Felix added. "Start with that old couple in Rhovan. I want every single detail."
Chase Jennings turned back. "Yes, sir."
’A few days ago, when the third young master got into trouble, the eldest young master had ordered him to run a background check on Alice York. The report had been detailed and her record was clean. The woman posed no threat to the Hawthorne family.’
’When his boss had just told him to investigate again, Chase Jennings had assud he’d made a mistake—that he hadn’t been thorough enough, or that he’d gotten sothing wrong or missed a crucial detail.’
’But when he turned back and saw the rare, complex expression on his boss’s face, he realized that Alice York’s true identity might be extrely important.’
「anwhile.」
As soon as she got in the car, Alice York noticed that sothing was off with Wyatt Sterling’s mood. It wasn’t that he seed lost in thought; he was just purely and simply in a bad mood.
She replied to a ssage from Mindy Vaughn, then put her phone away. Leaning closer to him, she ventured, "You and that Mr. Hawthorne seem to be on good terms, Third Uncle. Have you known each other long?"
Wyatt Sterling: "What on earth gave you the idea that we’re on good terms?"
Taken aback by his sharp tone, Alice York dropped the pretense and asked directly, "You’ve been scowling ever since we left, Third Uncle. Did things not go well with Mr. Hawthorne?"
Wyatt Sterling narrowed his eyes, giving her a sidelong glance.
Alice York pressed her lips together. "I just want to know why you’re so angry."
The car began to slow for a red light up ahead.
It was starting to feel stuffy in the car. Alice York reached to lower the window for a bit of air, but her hand had just touched the button when she heard Wyatt Sterling ask, "What mission did the Old Master give you when he brought you to Arden this ti?"
Alice York’s hand froze mid-air. She turned to look at him.
Wyatt Sterling: "Why didn’t you tell ?"
The corner of Alice York’s mouth twitched. "I couldn’t get through to you on the phone. I couldn’t reach you."
Wyatt Sterling: "Then why didn’t you say anything once you were in Arden?"
A surge of frustration rose in Alice York’s chest. "I thought you already knew."
"You thought I knew?" Wyatt Sterling’s face was glacial. "And what if I didn’t? Were you just planning to say nothing and go complete whatever mission the Old Master gave you?"
Furious, Alice York clenched her fists.
A sharp pain shot through her hand, and she rembered her palm was still injured. The sudden clenching had hurt like hell.
She grit her teeth against the pain, not even letting her brow furrow. "Do you always have to be so biting, Third Uncle?"
Wyatt Sterling let out a soft laugh, but when he spoke again, his voice was laced with an icy chill. "So, who have you chosen? Felix Hawthorne or Finn Hawthorne? Oh, that’s right, you haven’t t the other two yet. They’re just as good as these two brothers. You should compare them all, pick the one you’re most satisfied with."
"You..."
Alice York’s eyes widened in disbelief.
If she hadn’t heard it with her own ears, she never would have believed such deeply hurtful words could actually co from Wyatt Sterling.
At that mont, Nathan Sterling, sitting in the front seat, had already clenched his small hands into fists.
He turned around and saw that Alice York’s eyes were brimming with tears.
By the ti they returned to the Sawyer residence, twilight had fallen.
After getting out of the car, Alice York watched Wyatt Sterling drive away. He hadn’t said where he was going or whether he’d be returning to the Sawyer residence that night. He left without saying another word to her.
The evening breeze from the bay was both cool and sobering.
"He’s gone."
Nathan Sterling’s voice ca from behind her.
Alice York stared in that direction for a long ti, not looking away until her eyes ached. When she finally turned around, Nathan Sterling was standing right in front of her, watching her with a look of complete confusion.
Alice York didn’t want to say anything. She just lowered her head and walked toward the house.
She hadn’t gone far when she felt a gentle tug on her glove. Stopping, she looked down at Nathan Sterling, who was holding it. "Is there sothing you want to say?"
’The boy had heard her whole argunt with Wyatt Sterling in the car.’
’He probably wants to laugh at now,’ Alice thought.
But the ridicule she expected never ca. Instead, she heard Nathan Sterling say, "He’s not good to you at all."
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