Chapter 226: Chapter 226: Facilitating the Marriage Alliance Between the Li and He Families
The silence lasted for a few seconds before Finn Hawthorne let out a piercing shriek. "What the hell are you doing!!"
The sound was jarring. Gemma Garland looked thoroughly displeased. "Are you looking for trouble?"
"Mom, do you know that Wyatt Sterling..." Finn Hawthorne stopped mid-sentence, the words on the tip of his tongue.
"What about Wyatt Sterling?"
After much hesitation, Finn Hawthorne finally said it. "Wyatt Sterling has a woman, and he seems to really like her. Isn’t it unfair to my sister for you to be setting her up with him?"
Gemma Garland’s curiosity was piqued. "Oh? Wyatt Sterling has a woman he likes?"
"Yes!" Finn Hawthorne nodded emphatically. "I saw them with my own eyes. They’re very close."
Gemma Garland turned to him. "It’s perfectly normal for a man to have a woman or two before marriage. In fact, with Wyatt Sterling’s status and age, it’d be abnormal if he didn’t. But once he’s married, he must be completely devoted."
"Marriage?"
Finn Hawthorne was completely baffled.
Gemma Garland went back to selecting another piece of jewelry. "The Sterlings and the Hawthorne Family are forming a marriage alliance."
Finn Hawthorne darted to Gemma Garland’s side. "Wyatt Sterling is going to marry Tess Thompson?"
"It’s Evelyn Hawthorne. The jewel of the Hawthorne Family. Your sister," Gemma Garland corrected him pointedly.
’Isn’t that the same thing?!’
’Wyatt Sterling and Tess Thompson equals Wyatt Sterling and Evelyn Hawthorne.’
Finn Hawthorne suddenly found it hard to believe this was real. The Sterlings and the Hawthorne Family were forming an alliance. If Wyatt Sterling was really going to marry Tess Thompson, then what would happen to Alice York?
’Wait—no!’
’Alice York is with his brother now!’
’Could it be...’
Without another word, Finn Hawthorne turned and stormed out. Gemma Garland called after him, "Where are you going?"
"I have something important to do."
Finn Hawthorne stormed off, looking every bit like a man on an important mission.
「At the styling studio.」
Alice York had already selected her gown and decided on her hair and makeup. There was still plenty of time before the evening banquet, so they scheduled her styling session for four o’clock, which was perfect timing.
"Old Mrs. Sterling."
Felix Hawthorne had just arrived. Seeing Rosalind Sawyer, he greeted her politely.
Rosalind Sawyer sized Felix Hawthorne up. "Young Master Hawthorne, who might you be looking for?"
Felix Hawthorne pushed up the rimless glasses on the bridge of his nose. "I’m here for Alice York."
"She’s changing out of her gown. You’ll have to wait a moment." Rosalind Sawyer walked past Felix Hawthorne. "Would you care for some tea, Young Master Hawthorne?"
"Yes, thank you."
Felix Hawthorne turned and sat down.
Rosalind Sawyer took a beautiful bone china cup from a tray and poured some black tea. "We only have black tea prepared. I hope that’s alright, Young Master Hawthorne."
"Black tea is perfectly fine."
Felix Hawthorne picked up the porcelain cup. It was 18th-century red-enameled porcelain, popular in Europe, with a distinct sense of history about it.
"Isn’t tonight Miss Hawthorne’s banquet? You seem quite at leisure, Young Master Hawthorne." After saying her piece, Rosalind Sawyer took a slow, deliberate sip of her tea.
Felix Hawthorne looked up. "Seeing Alice York and hosting my sister’s banquet are not mutually exclusive."
Just as he finished speaking, Alice York emerged, having changed out of her gown.
"Mr. Hawthorne, you’re here," Alice York said as she walked over.
Felix Hawthorne set down his cup and stood, his eyes landing on Alice York. He showed a hint of regret. "A shame I was a step too late. I missed seeing you in the gown. I’m sure you looked stunning."
Alice York replied, "I’ll be wearing it to the banquet."
Felix Hawthorne smiled and offered his arm. Before Alice York took it, she glanced at Rosalind Sawyer, who looked away, feigning ignorance of their closeness.
Alice York took his arm and said to Rosalind Sawyer, "Mr. Hawthorne and I will take our leave now."
"Do as you please." Rosalind Sawyer lowered her head to sip her tea.
Felix Hawthorne said, "Old Mrs. Sterling, farewell."
He then led Alice York out of the building. Just as they were about to get into the car, the phone in Alice’s pocket rang. A glance at the caller ID showed it was Finn Hawthorne.
Alice York was about to answer when, in a flash, Felix Hawthorne took the phone from her. "This kid can be a handful," he said. "I’ll handle him. You get in the car."
Alice York figured that was for the best and got into the car.
Felix Hawthorne closed the car door and answered the call. Before he could even speak, a torrent of words came rushing from Finn Hawthorne’s end—
"Do you know about Wyatt Sterling forming a marriage alliance with our Hawthorne Family?"
"With my sister, Evelyn Hawthorne!"
"Did you know about this? Did Wyatt Sterling tell you? How are things between you and him now? Did you two really break up?"
"Hello? Alice York, why aren’t you talking? Are you listening?"
When there was still no reply from Alice York, Finn Hawthorne began to worry. "Who’s with you? Where are you? I’m coming to find you right now."
"Find me?"
Felix Hawthorne’s voice was cold.
Hearing his own brother’s voice, Finn Hawthorne, on the other end of the line, was about to explode.
"Why are you the one answering? Where’s Alice York?"
Felix Hawthorne replied, "In the car."
Finn Hawthorne pressed, "Why did you answer? This is obviously Alice York’s number."
"I answered it. You got a problem with that?"
’It’s a good thing I’m the one who took this call. Otherwise, with everything Finn just blurted out...’
"Bro, I need to talk to Alice York right now. Can you please give her back the phone? I have to tell her something very important," Finn Hawthorne pleaded.
"Don’t."
"What?"
"I’m telling you not to say it."
For that last sentence, Felix Hawthorne’s tone was stern, carrying an edge of warning.
Finn Hawthorne realized something and immediately voiced his suspicion. "You’re with Alice York to push our sister and Wyatt Sterling together, aren’t you?"
The other end of the line went silent.
Sometimes, silence is an admission.
Finn Hawthorne was certain he’d guessed right. "So you don’t actually have feelings for Alice York. You’re just using her as a distraction to facilitate the marriage between the Hawthorne Family and the Sterlings. Don’t you think what you’re doing to Alice is cruel?"
"Are you finished?"
Felix Hawthorne asked calmly.
"Bro..." His heart ached for Alice York, and Finn Hawthorne desperately wanted to intervene and change something.
Felix Hawthorne sighed softly. "Why don’t you look at it this way? Wyatt Sterling agreed to the alliance, which proves Alice York isn’t that important to him. It might seem like we’re keeping Alice in the dark, but we’re actually saving her from a world of pain."
This time, it was Finn’s end of the line that fell silent.
Knowing his younger brother had heard him, Felix Hawthorne hung up, opened the car door, and got in.
"What did Finn Hawthorne want?" Alice York asked the moment Felix Hawthorne sat down.
"He wanted to see you." Felix Hawthorne handed the phone back to Alice York. "But I refused on your behalf. He won’t be calling again."
"Thank you," Alice York said, taking the phone.
A gentle smile touched Felix Hawthorne’s lips. "The banquet tonight will be quite lively. Are you nervous?"
"A little, to be honest." Alice York smoothed her hair and gazed out the window. "But I know everything will be better after tonight."
Felix Hawthorne gazed at Alice York’s profile and said softly, "Yes. Everything will be better."
「5:00 PM」
Luxury cars from all over began pulling up to the Hawthorne Residence. Bodyguards and servants stood in neat rows, prepared to welcome the guests.
The meticulously prepared banquet venue was covered in yellow roses, which, rumor had it, Miss Hawthorne had personally selected. The varieties were called "Golden Branches and Jade Leaves" and "Flame"—auspicious names indeed.
Gemma Garland was nursing a glass of champagne when the butler approached and whispered in her ear, "Mrs. Lancaster has arrived."
Gemma Garland dabbed her lips with a handkerchief, handed her champagne to the butler, and started toward the entrance. "My dear sister is running a bit late."
