Chapter 219: Chapter 219: Liking Her More and More
"In my entire life, the people I despise most are those who knowingly become the other woman. Alice, I don’t want you to become the kind of person I despise."
Realizing her tone had been a bit harsh, Rhea immediately switched to a more persuasive one.
But to Alice, this new tone sounded no different from the last. She turned her head and said calmly, "Your disgust has no effect on me."
Rhea’s hand, gripping Alice’s arm, tightened. "Does that mean you’re really involved with Felix Hawthorne?"
Alice said, "Yara, your nails are sharp. You’re hurting me."
Rhea belatedly let go and took a few steps back. Her eyes were now filled with disappointment in Alice. "You shouldn’t have become like this, Alice. You really shouldn’t have."
She shook her head as she spoke, as if heartbroken.
But Alice wanted to laugh. It wasn’t that she didn’t appreciate Rhea’s concern, but— "You’ve actually known all along why Grandfather brought me to Arden. Now that I’ve listened to him and done what he asked, you’re standing on your moral high ground, accusing me of not staying true to myself. But if I hadn’t listened to Grandfather, and he ended up blaming me, would you have been the one to bear the consequences for me?"
Rhea opened her mouth. "I..."
"You what?" A smile spread across Alice’s lips, but it was a faint curve. "Tell me, could you really handle Grandfather’s wrath?"
Rhea said, "I could persuade Grandfather."
"Persuade him? Have you forgotten we don’t share the same last name? What you say to Grandfather and what I say to him don’t carry the same weight."
Those words left Rhea completely speechless, and her eyes even began to redden.
Alice started walking, brushing past Rhea. "If you’re unhappy about it, then convince yourself to let go of that savior complex and respect the fate of others."
"Alice!"
Rhea shouted.
But this time, Alice didn’t answer. She still had to see Old Master Sterling.
Knowing Alice was coming to Arden today, Simon Sterling had, for once, sat down in the meditation chair to wait for someone ahead of time. Rosalind Sawyer sat beside him, carefully applying hand cream. As she rubbed it in, she said, "This is a first for you."
Simon Sterling leisurely flipped through the photos in his hand. "What’s a first?"
Rosalind Sawyer sniffed her palms, her expression relaxing. "Waiting for a young lady."
Everyone knew Simon Sterling’s temper and his rules; no matter how urgent the matter, it was always the juniors who waited for him.
"It doesn’t hurt to wait a little." Simon Sterling was all smiles. "Look at these photos. Each one is better than the last. This girl has some real skill. She always manages to surprise me."
Rosalind Sawyer held out her hand, and Simon Sterling placed the photos in it.
Rosalind Sawyer flipped through them one by one. They were all candid photos of Alice and Felix Hawthorne’s secret rendezvous in Silvanus.
In the photos, Alice was holding Felix Hawthorne’s arm. They walked together, their posture intimate. One shot, in particular, had captured the gentle way Felix looked at Alice when he glanced at her from the side.
Simon Sterling picked up a teacup from the high side table and skimmed the leaves from the surface. "So? Not bad, right? A romantic encounter I custom-tailored for Felix Hawthorne. It’s very much to his liking."
After speaking, Simon Sterling took a sip of tea, his expression refreshed and pleased.
"I can’t help but feel..." Rosalind Sawyer said, staring at one of the photos, somewhat lost in thought.
Simon Sterling spat the tea leaves in his mouth back into the cup and asked, "Feel what?"
Rosalind Sawyer held the photo out at arm’s length. "I never noticed it before, but looking at this picture, I realize Alice and this Felix Hawthorne look quite similar around the eyes."
After saying this, Rosalind Sawyer suddenly laughed. "Could this be what they call a fated couple’s resemblance?"
"She might have the face for it, but she doesn’t have the fortune."
Simon Sterling set his teacup down on the high side table with a crisp CLINK. "She should take a look at what kind of family the Hawthornes are. She’d never get past Gemma Garland alone. At the end of the day, she’s not of Sterling blood—she’s not presentable. It’ll be enough if Felix Hawthorne gets to enjoy her youth for a few years."
The words had barely left his mouth when a servant, leading Alice, knocked on the door. "Master, Miss Alice is here."
Simon Sterling tapped the armrest of the meditation chair. "Let her in."
The servant stepped aside to let Alice pass. Alice braced herself and stepped over the threshold into the side parlor.
She had expected to find only Old Master Sterling, but Rosalind Sawyer was there as well. Alice then noticed the photos in Rosalind’s hands. She didn’t even have to guess—they had to be the candid shots of her and Felix Hawthorne in Silvanus.
"Grandfather."
"Grandmother."
After greeting them both, Alice sat down in a nearby armchair.
Rosalind Sawyer raised a delicate eyebrow and discreetly glanced at Simon Sterling beside her. He showed no trace of anger on his face.
’Now that she’s gotten the job done, the old man’s tolerance has gone up.’
"You did well this time," Simon Sterling said, not stingy with his praise.
Alice gave a slight nod. "As long as you’re satisfied, Grandfather."
"Of course I’m satisfied. Very satisfied, in fact," Simon Sterling said with a smile. "I originally thought you were going to defy me this time. It seems I underestimated you. You won over Felix Hawthorne so quietly and gave me such a huge surprise."
Alice said, "Felix Hawthorne isn’t a shallow man. I catered to his interests and gave him some gifts I knew he would like. That’s how I was able to get closer to him."
Simon Sterling nodded. "Keep it up. He’s sure to like you more and more."
The corners of Alice’s lips curved up.
"Right, the banquet is tomorrow night. Have you mentioned attending it? What did Felix Hawthorne say?" Simply spreading the photos wasn’t enough; he wanted Alice to appear at the banquet with Felix Hawthorne.
That would truly solidify all the "rumors and speculation."
"I did mention it, but..." Alice watched the Old Master’s reaction. As soon as she said "but," the smile on his face clearly faded.
Simon Sterling asked in a low voice, "But what?"
Alice replied, "It’s just that Felix Hawthorne has his own concerns. After all, he has a well-known fiancée. If he brought me, he’s afraid the optics wouldn’t be very good."
Simon Sterling’s expression darkened. "Figure out a way to convince him yourself. You must be at that banquet. I need everyone to know that you’ve gotten in with the Hawthorne Family."
Alice showed no sign of difficulty and agreed. "Okay, I’ll try again."
SMACK.
The sound drew Alice’s gaze. She looked over and saw Rosalind Sawyer forcefully throw the stack of photos onto the high side table.
"What’s with the temper?" Simon Sterling glanced at the stack of photos out of the corner of his eye.
Rosalind Sawyer toyed with her freshly manicured nails. "What temper? I just suddenly feel that this child, Alice, has a bitter fate, and I feel a little sorry for her."
Alice’s temple throbbed. Her gaze toward Rosalind Sawyer became one of confusion.
"The Sterlings have fed her well and taken good care of her. What’s so bitter about her fate?" With that, Simon Sterling stood up. "I’m going to find my brother-in-law for a game of chess."
Once Old Master Sterling was gone, Alice also stood up to leave.
Just then, Rosalind Sawyer called out to Alice, asking her to stay and chat a little longer. Not wanting to stay long, Alice got straight to the point. "What else did you want to talk about, Grandmother?"
