Chapter 504: Forgotten
"What does your sister plan to do?" Tang Xiaonan asked, looking confused.
’A moment ago, I vaguely recalled something, something that must have been about Mark Xavier and his sister. That would explain why Kelley Xavier’s name had sounded so familiar the first time I heard it. The book must have mentioned Kelley, and it was tied to a major event, but I just can’t remember what it was.’
Mark Xavier shook his head sorrowfully. "I don’t know... My sister doesn’t know either... This is the first time I’ve ever seen her cry. She never used to cry, not even when Dad hit her. She always said tears were the most useless things in the world..."
His sister, who had always been so strong, was crying. Mark Xavier fell into complete despair. He knew there was no way to salvage the situation. His sister wouldn’t be able to go to university and would have to marry a stranger. She definitely wouldn’t be happy.
He was also furious at his own powerlessness. His sister had always been the one to protect him, but now that she was in trouble, he couldn’t do a single thing to help.
Amanda Chapman fumed, "Your Xavier family is just like mine! It doesn’t matter how great a girl is, she’s considered worthless. But a son, no matter how stupid, is treated like a treasure. If only your sister had been born a boy."
Mark Xavier’s expression shifted slightly. He murmured, "Are sons really that valuable?"
"Of course they are! Look at you—your stepmom was abusing you and starving you, and your uncle went and gave your dad a beating for it, right? If you were a girl, there’s no way your uncle would have stepped in for you!"
Mark Xavier’s expression grew even stranger. Tang Xiaonan felt a prickle of unease and tried to comfort him, "Let’s just keep thinking. There has to be a way. Don’t be rash."
"It’s too late. Once they’re engaged, it’ll be too late. I have a solution. Thank you!"
Mark Xavier’s voice was hollow. He even gave Amanda Chapman a faint smile before turning and walking away. Everything about him felt wrong. Amanda shouted after him, "What’s your solution?"
But Mark Xavier didn’t even look back, just slowly walked farther away. Amanda Chapman kicked a stone in frustration and grumbled, "So he doesn’t trust us. Hmph!"
Tang Xiaonan’s sense of unease, however, grew stronger. She tried to grasp that hazy memory, but the harder she tried to recall it, the more it faded. She could only dimly remember that it had something to do with Kelley Xavier, but the specific details were gone.
But she was certain of one thing: it was definitely not something good.
’To have my memory fail me at a critical moment like this!’ Tang Xiaonan slapped her forehead in frustration. ’From now on, I’m never speed-reading a book again.’
She ate her meal distractedly, her mind still weighed down with worry. Amanda Chapman, however, was completely untroubled. In her carefree nature, she was more like a true sibling to Jim Thorne.
"There are morning glories over there! I’m going to pick some seeds for Grandpa to use in his medicine."
Amanda Chapman spotted a patch of pale blue morning glories ahead, blooming profusely. She eagerly went over to pick the seeds, which were dark and looked like rat droppings. Byron Thorne often gathered them to use in his medicinal formulas.
Tang Xiaonan joined her in picking, putting the seeds into her pocket. This patch of flowers grew wild on the roadside, yet they flourished even better than cultivated ones. The two girls managed to gather a bulging pocketful.
"Grandpa will be so pleased."
Amanda Chapman squeezed her pocket gleefully. Tang Xiaonan smiled and pulled her along toward the school. The sun was really beating down by now. Just as they were approaching the school gate, however, they ran into Clayton Xavier.
Clayton Xavier was helping the rarely seen Old Mrs. Xavier walk slowly toward them. The old woman’s complexion was even worse than before, and she let out a few coughs from time to time.
"Hello, Grandma Xavier!"
Tang Xiaonan and Amanda Chapman stopped to greet her. The old woman’s gaunt, pale face cracked into a smile that held no warmth. ’The first time I saw this old lady, I knew she wasn’t some benevolent grandmother,’ Tang Xiaonan thought. ’A woman capable of holding the entire Xavier family enterprise together—how could she possibly have the heart of a saint?’