Chapter 206: Chapter 206: Third Uncle is Jealous
Even as slow on the uptake as Finn Hawthorne was, he now realized something was wrong. "Did something happen to Alice York?"
"What could possibly happen to her!"
"But..."
"I’ve just found out what the Sterlings are after. I don’t want you getting too close to her, lest you get caught up in their schemes." Felix Hawthorne adjusted his tone, speaking calmly and deliberately. "Also, I’m about to go out of town for a bit. I expect to be back in two days. While I’m gone, you watch over the house. If anything comes up, you can ask Jade for help."
"Where are you going, Bro? What on earth happened?"
Finn Hawthorne pressed anxiously, but the call had already ended.
"Chloe Linden."
Chloe Linden, who had been waiting at a distance, heard her name and immediately walked onto the rooftop terrace.
Felix Hawthorne put his phone away. "Book me a flight to Rhovan."
Chloe Linden immediately took out her phone. "Do I need to go with you?"
Felix Hawthorne turned to leave. "You go back and keep an eye on Finn. Remind him to spend more time with Vera, and don’t let him get near Alice York. If he doesn’t listen, call me."
Chloe Linden nodded. "Yes, sir."
「Half an hour later...」
Felix Hawthorne and Alice York ran into each other in the airport lounge.
Or rather, Felix Hawthorne spotted Alice York. At the same time, he received a text message:
[Eldest Young Master, Alice York also bought a ticket to Rhovan. Should we stop her?]
Out of the corner of his eye, Felix Hawthorne glimpsed the man sitting next to Alice. ’That Wyatt Sterling really is everywhere.’ He replied that there was no need to stop her, then waved over an attendant.
"Mr. Hawthorne, how may I help you?"
The attendant stood to one side.
Felix Hawthorne asked, "Do you have any electrolyte drinks?"
"We do," the attendant nodded, asking with concern, "Is your throat bothering you, Mr. Hawthorne?"
"It’s not for me." Felix Hawthorne’s gaze shifted to a spot in the distance. "The young lady in the light blue dress. Send a glass of electrolyte drink to her, and also ask if she needs anything else."
"Of course."
The attendant immediately went to do as requested.
"Wait a moment." Felix Hawthorne’s brow suddenly furrowed.
The attendant, who had just taken a step, immediately pulled back. "Yes, Mr. Hawthorne?"
Felix Hawthorne said, "If she asks where I’m going, tell her I’m on a business trip to the Capital. Also, arrange for me to board early."
The attendant nodded. "Understood."
「A few minutes later.」
The attendant delivered a glass of electrolyte drink to Alice York. "Miss, this electrolyte drink is from Mr. Hawthorne."
Alice looked up in surprise, her voice still hoarse. "Mr. Hawthorne ordered this for me?"
The attendant smiled. "Yes, the Mr. Hawthorne behind you."
Since entering the lounge, Alice had remained in the same position and hadn’t noticed anyone else coming in. Hearing the attendant mention "Mr. Hawthorne," her first thought was naturally of someone from the Hawthorne family. ’Since he sent an electrolyte drink, it could be Finn.’
When she turned to look, her eyes widened in surprise. The one who’d sent the drink was Felix Hawthorne!
’What’s he doing in the lounge?’
’Is he here to stop me?’
’Or does he know my itinerary and is also going to Rhovan?’
A flurry of questions flooded her mind. Alice glanced at Wyatt Sterling, but he looked completely unconcerned, clearly not bothered by Felix Hawthorne’s appearance.
Alice had no choice but to ask the attendant, "Is Mr. Hawthorne heading to Rhovan?"
The attendant shook their head. "Mr. Hawthorne’s flight is booked for the Capital."
’So we’re not on the same flight.’ Alice breathed a sigh of relief.
She had been afraid he was traveling with her to keep an eye on her.
She didn’t rush to drink the electrolyte drink in front of her. Instead, she stood up. "I’ll go over and thank Mr. Hawthorne."
But just as she got to her feet, Felix Hawthorne stood up as well.
As they rose, their eyes met. Alice thought he was about to walk over, but Felix simply raised a hand in a brief greeting and then turned and left.
Alice turned her head to ask the attendant, "Is Mr. Hawthorne boarding his flight?"
The attendant nodded. "Yes, the flight to the Capital has begun boarding."
"Then I’ll thank him in person next time I see him." Since Felix Hawthorne had already left, Alice had no choice but to sit back down.
After the attendant left, she picked up the glass of electrolyte drink. When your throat was sore, an electrolyte solution was the best ’soothing agent’—more effective than warm water.
"In a public place like this, Eldest Young Master Hawthorne must be putting on a show for others." Alice looked at Wyatt Sterling, who was sitting across from her. "What do you think, Third Uncle?"
She was a little nervous, afraid the man would get angry, which was why she’d said Felix was just putting on a show.
Wyatt Sterling placed his phone face down, but on the still-lit screen was a text message he had sent to Perry Pierce: [Check the flight times from Arden to the Capital for today.]
"Perhaps," he replied in a flat tone.
Alice still felt that Wyatt was displeased. Assuming he was bothered by the drink, she silently pushed it to the side.
Wyatt Sterling looked at her. "Why aren’t you drinking it?"
Alice lied. "It has an aloe vera flavor. I don’t like it."
Wyatt reached out and pushed the drink she had moved aside back in front of her. "It’s good for your throat. If you don’t like the taste, just bear with it."
Alice gripped the glass. "You’re not mad, Third Uncle?"
He asked, "What would I be mad about?"
Alice mumbled, "I thought you’d mind that it was from the Eldest Young Master Hawthorne."
The corners of his eyes crinkled with amusement. "In your eyes, am I so jealous that I can’t get my priorities straight?"
"..."
Her phone on the table buzzed. Alice picked it up and saw a WeChat message from Owen Sterling: [Boarding?]
Alice typed a reply: [Soon, just a few more minutes.]
For this trip to Rhovan, Owen Sterling hadn’t been able to take her, but Wyatt Sterling could. However, Wyatt’s condition was that Owen had to stay behind and was not allowed to accompany them.
Afraid of wasting time, Owen had actually agreed to Wyatt’s condition, letting Alice go with him first.
Alice felt guilty for taking advantage of Owen’s help, but she had no choice. Right now, her grandparents were the priority, so she could only leave with Wyatt first.
Owen sent another message: [Let me know the second you get to Rhovan.]
Alice replied with an "Okay."
"Are you messaging Owen Sterling?" Wyatt Sterling asked.
Alice half-suspected Wyatt had X-ray vision. She put her phone away. "Big Brother was asking if we’ve boarded yet. He wanted me to let him know when we arrive in Rhovan."
Wyatt saw through her. "Feeling guilty?"
Alice didn’t answer.
Wyatt slowly stood up. "This is the price you pay for going to him instead of me. If my people had been handling it, your grandparents wouldn’t still be missing. Let’s go. Time to board."
Alice wanted to argue, but she held her tongue.
’He was the one who didn’t answer his phone. I was so helpless back then that I had no choice but to ask Big Brother for help.’
’But today, just because he agreed to take me to Rhovan, I’ll let him save face.’
「...」
「The Hawthorne Residence.」
Finn Hawthorne drove back. He got out of the car, tossed the keys to the butler, and walked inside dejectedly. "Is my mother home?"
The butler followed behind Finn. "The madam is at home with Miss Vera."
Finn recalled his brother’s instructions before he left on his business trip. He stopped and asked, "Where are they?"
The butler pointed toward the sky garden on the upper floor of the rear building.
"Got it."
Finn turned and headed for the scenic elevator to go up to the sky garden.
The moment he stepped out of the elevator, he heard the sound of sobbing.
