Chapter 218: Chapter 218: She Becomes the Other Woman
But under the circumstances, Alice York didn’t want an outsider bothering her grandparents, so she gritted her teeth and refused him. "I’m truly sorry, Mr. Hawthorne."
The line went silent for a few seconds.
After a long moment, Alice York heard a sigh through the phone. Felix Hawthorne said, "I’ll be leaving, then."
’Leaving?’
’Could he be here already?’
"Wait a moment, Mr. Hawthorne," Alice York asked quickly. "Have you already found my place?"
Felix Hawthorne replied, "Yes."
Alice York rushed to open the door. Felix Hawthorne hadn’t been lying—he was actually standing right outside.
"We meet again, Alice." Felix Hawthorne lowered his phone, his eyes crinkling with a smile from behind his glasses.
Alice York’s brain stalled for a few seconds. A moment later, she grew wary. "How did you find this place, Mr. Hawthorne?"
The smile in Felix Hawthorne’s eyes faded. "Am I that unwelcome?"
"It’s not that you’re unwelcome, it’s just... inconvenient." Alice York didn’t even invite him inside. Instead, she said, "Wait for me for three minutes. Just three minutes."
With that, she closed the door, leaving Felix Hawthorne outside.
Felix Hawthorne didn’t leave, waiting patiently. Alice came back out in less than three minutes. She closed the door behind her and said, "I told my grandparents. We can go eat out now."
Felix Hawthorne’s gaze lowered slightly. "Alice, you’re far too guarded with me."
’Isn’t it normal to be wary of you?’ she thought.
But Alice York had no explanation to offer, so she could only apologize again. Felix Hawthorne’s brow remained furrowed. Guessing he didn’t want to hear her empty platitudes, Alice decided to just keep quiet.
Since his arrival was so sudden, Alice York was unprepared. She quickly picked a Chinese restaurant she’d eaten at before that was decent.
Before ordering, she asked if Felix Hawthorne had any dietary restrictions. He said no, adding, "I’ll eat whatever you order. I’m not a picky eater."
’That’s great.’
After ordering, Alice York made a special request to the waiter. "Please, no peanuts in any of the dishes. No peanut sauce either."
The waiter nodded. "Understood."
Felix Hawthorne, sitting across from her, suddenly looked up. Noticing his gaze, Alice explained, "I’m not allergic to peanuts. I just don’t like the taste."
Felix Hawthorne calmly removed his glasses and gently wiped the lenses with a soft tissue. Then he asked, "Have you disliked them since you were a child?"
Alice York nodded and took a sip of the warm water beside her. "My first time trying them was as crushed peanuts. Ever since then, I’ve realized I hate the taste."
"What a coincidence."
A smile touched Felix Hawthorne’s lips.
Alice York paused as she set down her water glass and looked at him. "You don’t like peanuts either, Mr. Hawthorne?"
Felix Hawthorne answered unhurriedly, "I have a friend. He, his younger brother, and his mother all dislike the taste of peanuts."
"If the whole family dislikes them, it’s likely genetic." As a doctor herself, Alice York understood such things.
Felix Hawthorne thought for a moment and nodded in agreement. He then turned the question back to her. "And you? Is there anyone in your life who also dislikes peanuts?"
"Not that I know of." Alice York shook her head. "It’s just me in my family. I just wonder..."
Felix Hawthorne raised an eyebrow. "Wonder what?"
’I wonder if my biological father dislikes the taste of peanuts, just like me.’
’But I’d rather believe it has nothing to do with genetics and is purely a matter of personal taste.’
"It’s nothing." Not wanting to elaborate, Alice York just shook her head.
Even though Alice York had sincerely intended to treat him, Felix Hawthorne ended up paying for the meal.
As they were leaving the restaurant, Alice York noticed a camera pointed at her. She started to go after the person, but Felix Hawthorne stopped her.
"They’ve been following me since I landed at Silvanus Airport." Felix Hawthorne had known all along, which was why he’d been so unperturbed.
Alice York wasn’t slow on the uptake. She immediately understood what he meant. "My grandfather sent them to take pictures."
Felix Hawthorne sneered. "And you still call him ’Grandfather.’"
It might have been her imagination, but Alice York thought she could hear a deep-seated hatred for Old Master Sterling in Felix Hawthorne’s voice.
’She suspected Old Master Sterling must have done something truly awful for Felix Hawthorne to be going to such great lengths to scheme against him.’
"Alice, come a little closer," Felix Hawthorne suddenly said.
Felix Hawthorne said, "If we’re going to put on a show, we have to make it convincing. We need to make that old bastard believe I came to Silvanus to have a secret rendezvous with you."
"But I’m a little worried Old Master Sterling will release the photos. If he does, won’t your fiancée misunderstand?" Before moving closer, Alice felt she had to get this straight.
"Fiancée?" Felix Hawthorne reacted as if he’d heard something utterly bizarre.
A look of confusion crossed Alice York’s face. "Don’t you have a fiancée?"
’It’s public knowledge, too.’
Felix Hawthorne seemed to recall something. He smirked. "She’s just a shield for public appearances. I wouldn’t call her a fiancée."
"What?" Alice York was stunned.
Felix Hawthorne raised his hand and gave the top of Alice’s head a gentle, affectionate pat. "Don’t worry about it. Those outsiders aren’t important."
’Outsiders...’
’He said it as if we were family.’
In the end, of course, Alice York left the restaurant on Felix Hawthorne’s arm, letting them get a few more pictures. The moment she was inside the car, she immediately released him.
Before leaving home, Alice York had already told her grandparents she was going to Arden.
She didn’t bring any luggage, and went directly to the airport with Felix Hawthorne.
They arrived in Arden at three in the afternoon. Alice York suggested going to the Sawyer family’s home, and Felix Hawthorne agreed, driving her there himself.
"Alice?"
It was Rhea Sterling. She was the first to see Alice York get out of the car, followed by Felix Hawthorne.
Rhea Sterling had been staying with the Sawyer family in Arden for a while now. Unwilling to show weakness or back down, she was waiting for Kenneth Shaw to come looking for her. But many days had passed, and he still hadn’t shown up in Arden.
She’d been in a foul mood day after day. She was just about to head out for a drink when she happened to run into Alice. She walked over and said, "I was starting to think you weren’t coming to Arden."
Alice York made up an excuse. "Grandfather told me to come."
Rhea Sterling said, "Oh," then noticed Felix Hawthorne behind her. "And this must be the Eldest Young Master Hawthorne?"
Felix Hawthorne pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. His voice was pleasant and gentle. "Hello."
Rhea Sterling, coming from a prestigious family, always maintained a poised and confident public image, never showing any timidity. "Hello. I’m Alice’s cousin, Rhea Sterling."
Felix Hawthorne said, "I know."
Rhea Sterling was surprised for a moment, but then it dawned on her. The Hawthorne family must be fully aware of exactly who from the Sterlings had come to Arden.
"Alice, I’m going to head back now. Call me if you need anything." Before he left, Felix Hawthorne’s look toward Alice was full of warmth.
Alice knew it was just an act, but she still felt a bit uncomfortable.
She gave a stiff nod and watched Felix Hawthorne leave. The moment she turned back, she was met with Rhea Sterling’s suspicious gaze. "The Eldest Young Master Hawthorne actually called you *Alice*?"
Alice hummed in acknowledgment but didn’t explain as she started to head inside.
Rhea Sterling grabbed her arm. "Alice, be straight with me. You’re not actually involved with the Eldest Young Master Hawthorne, are you?"
Alice still didn’t explain.
Rhea’s voice turned harsh. "He has a fiancée! Everyone in Arden knows that! Even if you want to leave the Sterlings, you can’t go and become the other woman!"
