After His Sweetheart Moved In, He Came Home Every Night-Chapter 199: Older Brother Is Angry

"How could someone of my standing be worthy of making a deal with Eldest Young Master Hawthorne?"

Alice York was well aware of the gap in their social standing.

The hand Felix Hawthorne was using to hold the shovel stilled. He turned to look at Alice York. "Someone of your standing?"

Alice answered truthfully, "I’m just the adopted daughter of a powerful family, someone who can’t be presented in high society. My own value as a bargaining chip is too low to even be considered."

"Don’t sell yourself short."

Felix Hawthorne tossed the shovel aside, dusted off his hands, and walked toward Alice York.

A servant quickly brought over a basin of water. As Felix Hawthorne washed his hands, he said, "And stop putting yourself down in front of other people. If you don’t even respect yourself, everyone will think you’re a pushover. They’ll all try to walk all over you."

Alice York froze, an flicker of surprise stirring in her heart.

She couldn’t believe that Felix Hawthorne, who had clearly disliked her from the moment they met, would say something so profound to her.

And it wasn’t an insult.

After drying his hands, Felix Hawthorne tossed the towel back into the basin and turned to face Alice York. "What I said—did you get all that?"

Their eyes met, and Alice York nodded.

A faint smile played on Felix Hawthorne’s lips. "Now, then. Let’s talk about the deal I want to make with you."

Alice pressed her lips together.

’Looks like this Eldest Young Master Hawthorne is serious.’

’But what kind of deal could she possibly make with him?’

’She had no chips to bargain with.’

’A deal with her would be a losing proposition.’

She lowered her head, her mind racing with speculation while she waited for Felix Hawthorne to speak. But a long moment passed in silence.

’Strange.’

Alice York lifted her head to look at him, her gaze meeting his. A flash of surprise crossed her eyes. ’Has he been staring at me like that this whole time?’

"You..."

"Mr. Haw—"

They both spoke at the same time.

And they both fell silent at the same time.

After a moment of silence, Felix Hawthorne spoke slowly, "You first."

Alice’s expression didn’t change. "Didn’t you just say you wanted to discuss a deal with me, Eldest Young Master Hawthorne? Why are you staring at me?"

"We will." Felix Hawthorne smiled. "I just noticed that your nose is quite distinctive. I couldn’t help but stare for a moment."

Hearing this, Alice York touched the tip of her nose.

’My nose is distinctive?’

’In what way?’

’...Could it be? Is Eldest Young Master Hawthorne interested in me? Is he flirting with me? Thinking about his complete change in attitude... it’s... not impossible!’

’And this deal he’s talking about... the bargaining chip might just be me.’

Once these speculations filled her mind, Alice’s composure vanished. She backed away a few steps, nearly tripping over the pebbles at her feet.

Felix Hawthorne extended a hand. "Careful."

Alice dodged his hand. "I’m fine, you don’t... you don’t have to help me."

Her resistance and defensiveness registered in Felix Hawthorne’s eyes. His expression darkened, and he suddenly asked, "This isn’t the first time that old man has sent you on a mission like this, is it?"

Alice York neither nodded nor shook her head, unsure for a moment how to answer.

"Never mind. You don’t have to answer. I get it."

Felix Hawthorne’s expression softened slightly, but it was nothing like his earlier warmth. His voice was now laced with a cold edge. "Old Man Sterling wants the Hawthorne Family’s support, so he sent you as a show of good faith."

Alice York said, "Grandfather’s intention is that I can belong to anyone in the Hawthorne Family."

As soon as the words were out...

Alice York could clearly feel the atmosphere shift.

She looked at Felix Hawthorne. His expression hadn’t changed, but his eyes seemed to be steeped in a biting chill.

He said, "You still call a depraved old monster like that Grandfather?"

"..."

He added, "Even calling him an old bastard is doing him a favor."

"..."

Alice York was speechless. His sudden fury gave her the strange illusion that it wasn’t her being passed around like a ’gift,’ but the Eldest Young Master Hawthorne himself.

"Alright." Felix Hawthorne composed himself. "Let’s continue our discussion. Since that old bastard wants the Hawthorne family’s support so badly, we’ll grant his wish. Starting tomorrow, you will stay by my side. Let him think you’ve already won me over."

When Alice York heard she was supposed to stay by his side, she was about to shake her head and state her principles.

But at his last sentence, her eyes widened. "Let him think?"

Felix Hawthorne’s tone was gentle. "It’s a performance for him."

’A performance for Old Master Sterling... that means it’s all an act!’

But this made Alice York even more confused about Felix Hawthorne’s intentions. "If this is a deal, everything you’ve said seems to only benefit me, Eldest Young Master Hawthorne. You don’t get anything out of it."

"I’m a businessman. Why would I ever make a deal where I lose?" Felix Hawthorne gave her a slight smile.

It clicked for Alice. "You don’t actually want to work with Grand... with the Old Master?"

Felix Hawthorne adjusted his glasses. "The Hawthorne Family looks down on the meager resources he controls. But when something is delivered to your door, you don’t turn it away for nothing."

When he finished, he looked at Alice York and asked, "What do you think of this deal?"

"It’s a good deal, but I..."

Felix Hawthorne voiced her concerns for her. "You’re afraid I’ll plot against you, afraid you’ll get entangled in the end, because you don’t believe I would propose this deal for no reason when I have so little to gain, is that it?"

Alice York was silent.

He had hit the nail on the head regarding every single one of her worries.

"I’d like to think about it." She wasn’t trying to push her luck; saying she needed to think was also a way to test how much leeway he would give her.

Felix Hawthorne sighed. "You could look at it another way. This is Arden. My territory. If I wanted a woman, I wouldn’t need to resort to schemes. Do you understand what I’m saying?"

Of course she understood.

’This was Arden. If he had set his sights on her, he could get his hands on her easily. He wouldn’t go through the trouble of scheming like this.’

"Do you still need to think about it?"

Felix Hawthorne waited for her response.

After weighing her options, Alice York finally agreed. "Alright, I’ll make this deal with you. I just have a few conditions, if that’s..."

"Name them." Felix Hawthorne was refreshingly direct. "Name whatever you want."

"..."

After their earlier conversation, Alice York could now maintain her composure in the face of Felix Hawthorne’s gentle attitude.

She pressed her lips together and boldly stated her condition. "You have to respect me. No excessive physical contact if I’m not willing."

Felix Hawthorne smiled. "Of course."

Alice continued, "I can freely enter and leave the Hawthorne residence."

’That one might be asking too much.’

’It’s okay if he says no.’

"You can." Felix Hawthorne asked, "Anything else?"

’He agreed that easily?’

Alice York was dumbfounded.

"Is that all?" A gentle smile spread across Felix Hawthorne’s face.

Alice thought for a moment, then shook her head. "That’s all for now."

Making too many demands would be pushing her luck. She was already content that Felix Hawthorne had agreed to her requests.

’Not having to use every trick in the book to play the part of a courtesan and seduce someone... this shortcut was already a great outcome for her.’

"Since you’re done stating your conditions, I’ll add one of my own," Felix Hawthorne stated clearly. "This deal is a secret between us. You can’t tell anyone."