Wyatt Sterling stood quietly by the window, his gaze fixed on the small gazebo below. He could see their every move with perfect clarity.
Alice York holding Owen Sterling’s hand...
The two of them gazing deeply into each other’s eyes...
Pouring their hearts out to one another...
"Wyatt, what are you looking at? You’re just standing there, stock-still." Old Master Sterling approached, leaning on his cane.
The weather had been erratic lately, warm one mont and cold the next, and Old Master Sterling’s gout had flared up. He’d needed the cane to walk for the past few days.
Wyatt Sterling turned around and asked in a flat voice, "Have you settled on Owen Sterling’s marriage?"
"Owen is still young. I’m more worried about your marriage than his." Now that the topic was broached, Old Master Sterling had more to say. "Speaking of which, what’s going on with you and that Liang girl? Do you actually plan to marry her or not?"
Wyatt Sterling walked over to the record player. He fiddled with the vinyl, replying nonchalantly, "Haven’t decided yet."
"I can see that."
Old Master Sterling muttered, "You keep her by your side all the ti, but I haven’t seen you show her much real affection."
A smirk touched Wyatt Sterling’s lips. "Just because I haven’t decided doesn’t an I won’t marry her."
He lowered the needle, and the record began to spin. An old song from the seventies started to croon from the player.
The soothing music relaxed Old Master Sterling, and he settled back into his chair. "You’re already thirty-two this year. In a few more years, you’ll be pushing forty. The years will just fly by. Your childhood friends are all married with kids old enough to run errands. You should start feeling the pressure. Get married, have a child. I can still enjoy them while I’ve got the energy."
Old Master Sterling didn’t compare him to his two older brothers because the three of them had different mothers and were born years apart. There was no point in comparing them. So, comparing Wyatt Sterling to his peers made more sense.
Wyatt Sterling changed the record. "Instead of hoping for , you should hope for Owen Sterling. Wouldn’t a great-grandchild be even cuter?"
Old Master Sterling rested both hands on his cane. "I’m trying to have a serious conversation, and you’re just ssing with ."
As he finished speaking, the record player stopped.
Old Master Sterling made a small sound of inquiry. "Hey, why’d it stop playing?"
Wyatt Sterling turned to look at him and said, "Since you want to get married so badly, I’ll settle it as soon as possible."
Old Master Sterling said, "You say ’as soon as possible,’ but that’s not a firm commitnt."
Wyatt Sterling chuckled. "How about by the end of the year?"
...
Alice York was in a complete daze.
She didn’t register what else Owen Sterling was saying. Her mind was stuck on one thing—’It was Wyatt Sterling who wanted to send to the Churchill Family.’
’No wonder he’d said those words—"She’s worthy?"’
’I’m not worthy. And to think I actually believed Mason Cheney, thinking my return was thanks to his ambitious ddling in the plan. The truth is, this was all Wyatt’s sche from start to finish.’
Just then, the butler arrived. "Miss York, the Old Master wishes to see you."
She stood up and stepped away from her seat.
Seeing that Owen Sterling was about to go with her, she shook her head at him. "You don’t have to co with . I can handle it."
Owen Sterling said, "Then I’ll wait for you outside."
"Okay."
While she had been talking with Owen Sterling, Alice York had been keeping an eye out for Wyatt Sterling. She hadn’t seen him, so she figured he must still be with the Old Master.
She reached the door.
The door was open. The butler led Alice York straight in. "Old Master, Miss York is here."
Old Master Sterling grunted in acknowledgnt without even glancing at Alice York. He waved his hand dismissively and continued speaking to Wyatt Sterling. "Once you’re married, no matter how late you co ho, you’ll have soone waiting up for you. Life will be lively and bustling. Isn’t that wonderful?"
A faint smile played on Wyatt Sterling’s lips. "Hearing you say that, I’m starting to look forward to it myself."
"It’s rare for you to actually listen." A smile appeared on Old Master Sterling’s face; he seed quite pleased.
Alice York had remained silent ever since she entered, waiting for Old Master Sterling and Wyatt Sterling to finish their conversation before it was her turn to speak.
’From what Old Master Sterling just said, is he arranging a marriage for Wyatt Sterling? Is he getting married?’
"You’re here."
Old Master Sterling’s gaze fell upon her.
Alice York t his scrutinizing gaze and said, "Grandfather."
Then she turned to Wyatt Sterling and said, "Third Uncle."
Old Master Sterling extended his cane and tapped it on the carpet in front of him. Alice York understood the gesture and walked over to stand on the spot he had indicated.
"You deserve so credit for securing the deal with the Churchill Family." Old Master Sterling’s inspecting gaze grew sharp and intense.
Alice York nodded. "It’s my duty to do what I can for the Sterlings."
Old Master Sterling was reasonably satisfied with Alice York’s answer. "What are your thoughts on being sent to the Churchill Family this ti? Do you resent it?"
’If she said she didn’t resent it, it would be too fake. The Old Master wouldn’t believe her.’
’If she said she did, the Old Master would be displeased.’
She thought for two seconds before replying, "At the ti, I was just scared. I cried day and night and didn’t think about anything else."
"What’s there to cry about? You were raised by us Sterlings, after all. Is that all the backbone you have?" Though Old Master Sterling’s words were a scolding, his face held a smile.
Alice York bit her lip, maintaining a wronged expression.
At that mont, Old Master Sterling stood up and walked toward her. "I thought I’d soon be drinking to your wedding with Young Master Churchill. Who would have thought that Young Master Churchill would be so picky and not take a liking to you."
Alice York held her breath.
"Did you do sothing to make him dislike you?" Old Master Sterling’s tone was full of interrogation.
Alice York shook her head calmly. "Young Mr. Churchill didn’t like my personality. He found boring, but when I tried to please him, he thought I was being fake. He was very perfunctory and impatient on our dates."
She was telling the truth.
’Kyle Churchill found her boring and thought her attempts to please him were fake. He was always impatient on their dates. But that was all because he didn’t like won at all!’
"Our Alice is so beautiful, and he still didn’t appreciate her. It just ans he has no taste." Old Master Sterling said comfortingly. "Don’t worry. In the future, Grandfather will find you an even better match."
Alice York kept her head down and mumbled a sound of agreent.
"Alright, you probably haven’t been sleeping well lately. Go back and get so rest."
Old Master Sterling said no more, gesturing for her to leave.
"Then I’ll be going." As Alice York turned to leave, she glanced at Wyatt Sterling out of the corner of her eye.
While she had been speaking with Old Master Sterling, he had been changing the songs one after another, as if he wasn’t satisfied with any of them.
After leaving the room, she decided to go see Mindy Vaughn.
’If she didn’t go see her after coming back, Mindy would surely scold her once she found out.’
But just as she rounded a corner, Mason Cheney blocked her path. "Miss York, the Third Master has instructed to take you to his study to wait for him."
Alice York refused. "I have other things to do."
She was about to go around Mason Cheney’s outstretched arm, but he stretched it out further, clearly not intending to let her pass.
"Mason Cheney!" She had a temper too.
Mason Cheney’s expression didn’t change. "Miss York, the Third Master said that if you don’t go, he will co find you himself."
"..."
’The sa old threat.’
But this ti, Alice York didn’t want to give in again. She shot back at Mason Cheney, "Then let him co find . I don’t care anyway."
With that, she pushed Mason Cheney’s blocking arm aside.
Mason Cheney replied, "You’re going to see the Second Madam now, aren’t you, Miss York? When the Third Master cos out, I will inform him of this. You should also be prepared, Miss York. The Third Master will definitely co to the Second Madam’s residence to find you."
"..."
Alice York hated this feeling of powerlessness that ca with being threatened.
She took a deep breath and turned around as she spoke. "Can’t you people co up with sothing new besides threats?"
After she spoke, she froze.
The person standing before her was no longer Mason Cheney, but Wyatt Sterling.
He walked toward her with a cold expression. "Nothing new, no. But I do have so new positions. Care to try them now?"
"..."
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