Chapter 204: Chapter 204: Alice, I’m Sorry
Felix Hawthorne gave an order, "Pear, have some sent over. Alice wants to eat them."
Chloe Linden nodded and turned to carry out the order.
Meanwhile, Wyatt Sterling took out his phone, quickly sent a text to Mason Cheney, then turned the screen off and placed it face down, as if nothing had happened.
"Alice, and this is...?" Owen Sterling took the initiative to ask.
Felix Hawthorne introduced himself. "Felix Hawthorne, of the Hawthorne Family."
Upon hearing this, Owen Sterling extended his hand. "So, you’re Eldest Young Master Hawthorne. I’ve heard so much about you."
In truth, it wasn’t that Owen Sterling hadn’t recognized Felix Hawthorne. Felix was hardly a recluse, and he was a regular feature in financial news. Owen had asked deliberately as a polite formality to make a proper introduction.
Felix Hawthorne was known for being refined and elegant, rarely putting on arrogant airs in public. He stood up and offered his hand, shaking Owen Sterling’s briefly. "You must be Old Master Sterling’s eldest grandson, Owen Sterling?"
Owen Sterling nodded. "I am."
Felix Hawthorne gave a faint smile. "I hear you joined the senior management at Sterling Group as soon as you returned to the country. Your family’s Old Master must place a great deal of trust in you."
In the past, Owen Sterling would have probably responded with modest pleasantries.
But now, he was eager to make his mark at Sterling Group, so there was no need for humility. "My grandfather trusts in my abilities, so I will naturally deliver results that will satisfy him. I won’t let him down."
"Young and promising. That’s the kind of confidence you should have." Felix Hawthorne raised a hand and patted Owen Sterling’s shoulder. "I have a good feeling about you."
Their conversation reached Wyatt Sterling’s ears, but he showed no reaction. Not even a ripple of emotion disturbed his expression.
But to Alice, he simply looked cold and distant.
She didn’t work at Sterling Group, so she was unaware of much of the company’s internal affairs. Furthermore, Wyatt Sterling had always been the one in power, so she had only learned today that Old Master Sterling was specially grooming Owen Sterling.
’What is the Old Master trying to do?’
’Hasn’t he been planning for Wyatt to formally take over the Group and become the head of the Sterling family?’
’Did something change?’
"Miss Alice, here are the pears I just bought. They’re already washed. Please, have some."
Just then, Mason Cheney walked in, carrying a plate of freshly washed pears that looked vibrant and fresh.
Felix Hawthorne shot Wyatt Sterling a look laced with subtlety.
’This guy...’
"Assistant Cheney, why... why did you go buy them?" Alice asked, her voice hoarse.
She was very surprised. A moment ago, Eldest Young Master Hawthorne had told his subordinate to buy them, but now Mason Cheney had brought them instead.
"Oh, it’s like this. I happened to overhear by the door, and I also happened to know where to buy them nearby, so I went and got them first." Mason Cheney remembered Third Master telling him not to mention his name, so he made up an excuse.
Alice’s intuition told her that there was no way Mason Cheney had acted on his own. Wyatt Sterling must have ordered him to do it.
She glanced at Wyatt Sterling, and just as she did, he looked over. Their eyes met.
She took a bite of the pear, then nodded at him to show that it was delicious. Wyatt Sterling’s face remained expressionless.
"..."
At that moment, Chloe Linden also returned, carrying a bag of pears, just a step behind Mason Cheney. "Eldest Young Master, I’ve brought the pears."
Felix Hawthorne’s face darkened. "As a native of Arden, shouldn’t you reflect on why you couldn’t find a place selling pears immediately?"
Chloe Linden immediately bowed her head. "It was my mistake."
"Get out," Felix Hawthorne ordered.
Just as he spoke the words, he felt a light tap on his wrist. Felix Hawthorne looked down to see Alice patting him.
She smiled at him and said in her hoarse voice, "Eldest Young Master Hawthorne, don’t be angry. Don’t blame her."
Felix Hawthorne might be refined and elegant, but to his subordinates, his image had always been that of a decisive and uncompromising leader. He never made exceptions for anyone, but when Alice spoke, there was one.
"Chloe Linden."
Felix Hawthorne called out.
Chloe Linden stopped at the door. She had heard what Alice said, but she didn’t think a few words from this person would make any difference. As his subordinates, they knew the Eldest Young Master’s methods better than anyone.
However, to Chloe Linden’s surprise, the Eldest Young Master actually retracted his reprimand. "It wasn’t entirely your mistake. Wash the pears and bring them here."
Chloe Linden was utterly shocked.
Her face was a mask of disbelief.
Felix Hawthorne’s tone hardened slightly. "What are you waiting for?"
"Yes, sir."
Chloe Linden scurried away to wash the pears, terrified.
Owen Sterling silently took all of this in. He didn’t know what was going on between Alice and this Eldest Young Master Hawthorne, but since Wyatt Sterling was here and hadn’t shown any reaction, it probably wasn’t as complicated as he thought.
After her IV drip was finished, Alice wanted to find a chance to speak with Owen Sterling.
Her grandparents had been moved to another location, and she was constantly worried about them, unable to rest easy.
Finally, an opportunity arose. Wyatt Sterling and Felix Hawthorne left the hospital room one after the other. Since they left at the same time, they were probably going to discuss something.
Seizing the moment, Alice quickly asked Owen Sterling about her grandparents. Owen Sterling gestured for her to speak less. "I know what you want to ask. Just listen while I talk. I’ll tell you everything."
Alice nodded obediently.
Owen Sterling then told Alice everything, down to the last detail, about the arrangements he had made for her grandparents after moving them to Rhovan, including how many people he had left to protect them.
Four people. That was enough.
"I went to that place overnight, and I personally handled their pickup and resettlement. The men I assigned are people I trust. There shouldn’t be any problem keeping them safe for a while."
Alice was deeply grateful. "Thank you, Owen."
"Don’t thank me. Your business is my business. I’ll spare no effort to handle it for you, so you’ll have nothing to worry about."
With such words, how could Alice not feel at ease?
Just then, Owen Sterling’s hand reached out and rested on her shoulder. He leaned closer and asked, "Do you want to come back with me? Or maybe take a trip to Rhovan to see your grandparents with your own eyes?"
Alice froze for a moment.
Owen Sterling said, "Your situation here isn’t great. You’re caught between a rock and a hard place. I don’t feel right leaving you here."
On the night she asked for help, Owen Sterling had learned of Alice’s difficult circumstances in Arden. He had dropped everything to rush here this time, specifically to take her away.
Whether it was sending her abroad or settling her somewhere else, as long as she was free from the Sterlings’ control, it would be for the best.
Alice put down the pear and said in a hoarse voice, "My current situation has improved somewhat."
"Improved?" Owen Sterling understood at once. "So you don’t plan on leaving with me?"
If she hadn’t made that deal with Felix Hawthorne, Alice probably would have left with Owen Sterling without a moment’s hesitation.
But now that the deal was made, her situation was completely different from before.
So—
Alice was just about to shake her head when she saw Owen Sterling take out his phone, the screen flashing with an incoming call.
His expression darkened, and he seemed to have a bad feeling. Alice noticed the change in his face and quickly asked, "Owen, who’s calling?"
"It’s from Rhovan."
Owen Sterling didn’t hide it, answering the call right in front of Alice. The person on the other end said something, and Owen Sterling’s expression grew darker and darker, the veins on the hand holding his phone beginning to bulge.
The call ended.
Owen Sterling’s jaw was tight as he said in a low voice, "I’m sorry, Alice."
