"You’re already ssing around with her, so of course you don’t see her as a stranger!"
"..."
Finn had been so furious when he saw the news report that he’d nearly had a heart attack. He hadn’t even dared to admit that, deep down, he saw Alice York as a sister.
But his brother? Oh, he just went ahead and started ssing around with her.
The crude term made Felix Hawthorne’s expression darken. He pushed Finn, who was blocking his way, aside. "I can’t continue this conversation with you."
"Are you going on a date with Alice York?" Finn followed behind Felix Hawthorne, clinging to him like a piece of taffy he couldn’t shake off. "Don’t you know your scandalous affair is the talk of all of Arden? Where does that leave Iris?"
Chloe Linden had already opened the car door and was waiting.
As Felix Hawthorne walked over to get in, Finn suddenly shoved the door shut. "You haven’t answered !"
Chloe Linden’s mouth twitched, her eyes full of admiration. ’It’s not every day you get to see the Third Young Master act up in front of the First Young Master!’
"Drag him away."
The mont Felix Hawthorne finished speaking, Chase Jennings appeared silently behind Finn Hawthorne. "Third Young Master, my apologies."
"Chase Jennings, you fucking dare—!"
Before Finn Hawthorne could finish his threat, Chase Jennings grabbed him by the shoulder and began to drag him away as if he were a prisoner.
"..."
Finn Hawthorne’s face was livid. Even as he was being dragged away, he didn’t forget to scream at Felix Hawthorne, "Felix Hawthorne, if you dare break Alice York’s heart, I’m not done with you!"
The car had already sped away.
At the sa ti, Chase Jennings released Finn Hawthorne. "My apologies for my actions just now, Third Young Master."
Finn Hawthorne grabbed Chase Jennings’s collar. "Tell the truth. When did my brother and Alice York get together?"
"I don’t know," Chase Jennings said, shaking his head.
Finn tightened his grip, choking Chase Jennings until his face flushed red. "Just tell secretly. I won’t sell you out."
Chase Jennings forced out the words, "I don’t believe you."
Finn Hawthorne: "..."
’I should just strangle this son of a bitch right here and now.’
’Chase Jennings is my brother’s most loyal subordinate. Prying the truth out of him is next to impossible. I should’ve known that.’
Finn Hawthorne let go, his chest heaving with pent-up anger.
"Finn Hawthorne."
Soone called his na.
The voice sounded a little familiar, maybe Tess Thompson’s, but he wasn’t sure... Finn Hawthorne turned around and saw that it was indeed Tess Thompson, walking toward him with a basket of flowers.
"You look like you’ve been angry all morning. Who upset you?" Tess Thompson asked, arranging the flowers in her basket.
"No one upset . I’m just angry at myself."
After saying that, Finn Hawthorne turned his back on Tess Thompson.
Ever since the day she’d called him a dog, he’d been avoiding her at ho. It wasn’t that he was afraid of her, but he didn’t want to start another fight and hurt their parents’ feelings.
’She’s my own sister, after all. I’ll just make a concession and put up with it.’
Tess Thompson walked up to Finn Hawthorne and offered him a flower. "Look."
Finn Hawthorne glanced at it. "You’re back in the family now. What, can’t forget your flower-selling days?"
"I sold flowers for several years. I’ve been back with the Hawthorne Family for less than ten days." Tess Thompson kept her hand extended, waiting for him to take the flower.
Finn Hawthorne decided to humor her and took the flower. He lowered his head to sll it, but it had no scent.
Tess Thompson said, "These are the flowers for tonight’s banquet. I picked them out myself. The one you’re holding, and this one..."
As she spoke, Tess Thompson took another flower from the basket. "The one in your hand is called golden branches and jade leaves, and the one in mine is called Fla."
"A fitting na," he said, handing the flower back to her.
’Golden branches and jade leaves, Fla... they fit the the of tonight’s banquet perfectly.’
"It’s for you," Tess Thompson said with a smile, not taking it back. "Mom said the gown has been delivered. I’m going to try it on now. Do you want to co see?"
’That tone of voice...’
Finn Hawthorne turned to look at Tess Thompson. "So you do know how to speak nicely."
The smile on Tess Thompson’s face cracked.
"Alright, I shouldn’t have said that. Let’s go. We can go see your gown. After all, tonight is a big mont for you."
Tess Thompson’s expression only improved after he said that.
It wasn’t just the gown that had been delivered, but the designer himself—a very famous international designer who exclusively created pieces for Hollywood stars and couldn’t be hired with money alone.
"Co see the necklace I picked out for you." Seeing Tess Thompson enter, Gemma Garland put down a box and waved her over. The designer beside her stopped talking.
Noticing Finn Hawthorne behind Tess Thompson, Gemma Garland looked a little surprised. "Well now, what wind blew our little young master in?"
With his hands in his pockets, Finn Hawthorne replied, "Why are you being so passive-aggressive with ?"
Gemma Garland laughed. "I’ll give you credit for being thoughtful, knowing how important tonight is for your sister and coming to watch her try on the gown."
Going from being mocked to being praised made Finn Hawthorne’s heart flutter. "Don’t flatter . I won’t say a word. I’m just here as an observer."
Gemma Garland couldn’t be bothered with him and pulled Tess Thompson, who had walked over to her side. "Co and see. What do you think of this jewelry set?"
But Tess Thompson suggested, "How about I try on the gown first?"
"Alright." Gemma Garland turned to the side and said a few words to the designer in French. The designer nodded and walked toward Tess Thompson.
Tess Thompson shook her head helplessly. "I don’t speak French."
"I know. I’ll be right here with you, so don’t worry," Gemma Garland said gently.
After she had tried on the entire outfit, Gemma Garland was very pleased. The gown was not mature or elegant; the overall design was more of a "little princess" style, knee-length, creating a light and ethereal look.
"I think it looks quite nice. Do you like it?" Gemma Garland asked.
There were several gowns, all custom-made. They had been rushed on a tight schedule, with fifty or sixty people working on each one simultaneously.
Tess Thompson looked at herself in the mirror. "This gown makes look like a teenage girl. Mr. Sterling is so mature and composed. Standing next to him like this, I feel like we wouldn’t look right together."
Gemma Garland raised an eyebrow. "That’s a point I overlooked."
Tess Thompson pointed to another deep purple, floor-length dress. "I want to try that one."
Gemma Garland glanced at it, and the perceptive designer imdiately took it out to show her.
"In any case, they were all custom-made for you. Go ahead and try it on. Your preference is what’s most important," Gemma Garland said.
"Okay."
Tess Thompson happily took the deep purple gown into the dressing room.
During the wait, Finn Hawthorne sauntered over, leaning against Gemma Garland with his hip cocked. "This Mr. Sterling you were just talking about, who is he?"
Gemma Garland was busy carefully selecting jewelry to match the deep purple gown and had no ti to pay attention to Finn Hawthorne.
"Mom?"
No answer.
"Mom?"
Still no answer.
"Ms. Garland?"
"If you have sothing to say, just say it."
"..."
Finn Hawthorne leaned in a little closer. "Do you guys have other plans for tonight that you’re hiding from ?"
Gemma Garland shrugged her arm, elbowing Finn Hawthorne away. "We’re announcing to everyone that your sister has returned. Am I hiding that from you?"
"No, I’m not talking about that. I an sothing else. I clearly heard Tess... I an, my sister, say sothing about not looking right standing next to Mr. Sterling. Which Mr. Sterling is supposed to be standing with my sister?"
"Who do you think? Who else is there from the Sterlings?" Gemma Garland’s tone was flat.
It dawned on Finn Hawthorne. "Wyatt Sterling?"
Gemma Garland’s voice was even flatter than before. "Mhm."
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