Editor: Henyee Translations
So much ti had passed that Alice York only had a vague impression of the man. Without a photograph, she sotis couldn’t even recall what he looked like when he was alive.
Noah York was her biological father’s na.
But Alice York was puzzled. "Uncle, why would you suddenly bring up my biological father?"
Wyatt didn’t say why, but only asked her, "Have you ever blad him?"
"There’s nothing to bla." Alice’s face was impassive. "He passed away when I was just a few years old. My paternal grandparents wanted custody of , but my mother fought for and brought into the Sterling Family. I don’t have many mories of him."
Alice rarely confided in anyone.
But in front of Wyatt, she always found herself unconsciously revealing her vulnerable side. His heart, however, was made of stone—cold and cruel, he never showed any pity for her past.
"You still haven’t told , Uncle. Why did you suddenly bring up my father?" ’I have to get to the bottom of this.’
"Just a passing thought." Wyatt stood up, his attitude making it clear the conversation was over. He only added a reminder, "Find ti to go back to the residence on Friday."
Alice York also stood. "Is there any special occasion?"
"What, you don’t want to go back to the Sterlings unless there’s a reason?" Wyatt saw right through her. "Old Master Sterling has no intention of letting you off easy."
Alice pressed her lips together.
She knew that. When her mother left, she had repeatedly reminded her to go back and apologize to Old Master Sterling. Otherwise, her days at the hospital would not be easy.
"I understand," she replied obediently.
Her attitude seed docile enough, but in Wyatt’s eyes, it was all an act. Recalling the morning’s events, his face darkened. "And another thing. Get rid of those funny ideas of yours. This is your only warning."
But Alice didn’t understand. "What funny ideas?"
Wyatt’s lips twisted into a sneer. "Professor Locke is ’pretty nice’? How nice?"
"..."
’So that’s what this is about.’
She knew his temper. While she was with him, she couldn’t have any funny ideas—and even if she did, she couldn’t let him find out.
Today was the first ti she’d had such an idea, and he’d caught her red-handed.
She offered a smile that didn’t reach her eyes, wanting to test how much it bothered him. "Professor Locke is pretty nice... And it just so happens to match what Old Master Sterling said the other day—that a doctor and a professor are a well-suited pair."
Wyatt shot her a glance and sneered, "Indeed, a perfect match."
Alice maintained the impenetrable smile on her face.
It wasn’t until Wyatt left when she felt a wave of relief, though a dull ache pricked at her heart like a thousand tiny needles.
For the past three years, whenever Wyatt wanted to see her, it was always Mason who contacted her or ca to pick her up.
She was at his beck and call.
Aside from when she was tied up at work, she had to show up whenever he wanted to see her.
She was truly sick of living this life on pins and needles.
anwhile, in a private room at the restaurant.
Zoe had sent Alice ten WhatsAPP ssages, all of which t with silence, and she couldn’t help but worry. "Could her stepfather’s condition be really serious this ti...?"
Holden looked up. "Miss York still hasn’t replied?"
"Not yet." Zoe held her phone in one hand and propped her chin up with the other. Despite the large spread of dishes before her, she couldn’t taste a thing.
She had waited and waited at the restaurant, but Alice York never returned. Panicked, she had gone to the restroom to look for her, but there was no sign of Alice, which sent her into a frenzy.
Later, Zoe received a phone call. The person on the line said they were passing on a ssage from Alice York. It read Second Master Sterling had had an episode, and Alice had been summoned back to the Sterlings’.
Zoe knew a little about Alice’s stepfather’s condition. He had a ntal illness and would alternate between periods of lucidity and instability.
"You should still eat sothing. Don’t go hungry," Zion said, placing so food on Zoe’s plate.
Zoe thanked him but still didn’t pick up her chopsticks. Her eyes were glued to her phone screen, waiting for Alice’s reply.
Feeling helpless, Zion tried to change the subject. "Is Miss York a doctor?"
"Yes," Zoe answered, perking up a little. "My Alice has a professional master’s degree specializing in neurology. She’s brilliant and incredibly talented."
"Neurology?" The fact that she was a doctor wasn’t surprising to Zion. What truly surprised him was her specialty. "Why did Miss York study that?"
Zoe noticed Zion’s surprise and her face imdiately hardened. "You’re asking too many questions."
Zion looked flustered. "Sorry. I was just curious and asked one too many. I didn’t an anything by it."
Zoe pouted.
"It’s an excellent field. I’ve been to her university for an academic exchange before and heard of her. She’s outstanding," Holden added in an unhurried tone.
Zoe’s gaze on Holden turned strange and puzzled. "I thought today was the first ti you t Alice, Uncle. But it turns out you’d already t in the neighborhood, and now you’re saying you’d heard of her at school long ago..."
As she spoke, Zoe suddenly pointed at Holden. "Uncle, how many other secrets are you hiding from ?"
"Don’t be so impolite." Holden pushed up the glasses on his nose, a refined smile on his face. "There’s a lot you don’t know. I’ll tell you all about it later."
Zoe wanted to press for more details.
Just then, her phone buzzed with a notification.
Alice had sent a ssage, saying "m fine, don’t worry."
Seeing the ssage, Zoe finally let out a sigh of relief.
When Friday finally arrived, Alice returned to the Sterlings as scheduled, to apologize to Old Master Sterling.
After that incident, she had been targeted relentlessly at the hospital. The night she fainted had been mild in comparison. When she returned to work, the bullying only intensified.
The tornt of the past few days had left her looking haggard, so she had put on makeup today to hide her poor complexion.
As she saw the butler, Alice asked, "Is Old Master Sterling available now? I’d like to see him."
The butler sized Alice York up and down. "The Old Master is with guests in the front hall. He won’t have ti before noon. Try this afternoon."
Alice asked again, "What ti this afternoon?"
The butler was polite enough not to be snide. "Miss Alice, if you’re sincere, co find after two in the afternoon. I’ll do my best to get you so ti to apologize to the Old Master."
Alice was grateful. "Thank you."
"I’m of humble standing, so there’s not much I can do to help," the butler said before turning to leave.
With a heavy heart, Alice returned to her rooms. Before she could go inside, soone called out to her. "Miss Alice, the Second Mistress wishes to see you."
Alice frowned. "I understand."
’Mindy found out I was back so quickly. She’s really keeping a close watch. But I have no choice but to go. I can’t see Old Master Sterling until this afternoon.’
When she arrived at Mindy’s place, Alice York pushed the door open and went inside.
"You wanted to see ?" Only after she spoke did Alice York realize Mindy was nowhere in the room.
Puzzled, she was about to turn and leave when the door behind her was suddenly slamd shut!
Alice jumped, and when she saw who had closed the door, she recoiled in horror.
It was a reaction born of terror.
"Alice, don’t be afraid. It’s , your Uncle Silas," the man said, walking toward her.
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