Chapter 548: The Troubled Howard Thorne
The eccentric elder looked a little embarrassed and glared irritably, snapping, "Did I say you could speak? Get out!"
Will left sullenly. As he passed Adrian Hawthorne, he added, "Remember to bring her over!"
The eccentric elder’s glare was sharper than a knife; he looked as if he wanted to poke a couple of holes in that idiot. ’When did I ever say I missed that chubby girl? I just feel sorry for the little thing, being cooped up in the house. It would be good to bring her out for some fresh air.’
Adrian Hawthorne said, suppressing a laugh, "I’ll try next time. The main problem is that her parents watch her so closely and don’t let her go out. That girl’s a prime target for kidnappers."
The eccentric elder rolled his eyes. "All you have to do is be more careful."
’Only a useless person can’t watch over one little girl.’
Adrian Hawthorne’s mouth twitched. He gave a noncommittal response, as he couldn’t make any promises. Felix Thorne and his wife guarded their daughter like the apple of their eye; they wouldn’t relent so easily.
After bidding the eccentric elder farewell, Adrian Hawthorne started his journey back. He knew his father had come by some time ago with that woman. It wasn’t the eccentric elder who had told him; he’d heard it from a few of the men. However, he hadn’t asked the eccentric elder about it, for fear of getting those men in trouble.
He was now certain that the woman’s relationship with his father was by no means innocent. The men had all treated her as Mrs. Hawthorne, and the woman herself had acted the part. A man as shrewd as his father couldn’t possibly have been unaware of her little scheme. Since he hadn’t stopped her, it meant his father tacitly approved.
Besides, his father was doing very well for himself now. Why hadn’t he come to find him and his mother?
Four years ago, his father had said he was going to reclaim the property that was rightfully his, which was why he had abandoned him and his mother. For four years, there hadn’t been a single word from him. Now, his father’s business was thriving, which meant he must have gotten back at least some of his property. Moreover, times were much more peaceful than before. His father could easily have contacted them. Could he have forgotten all about him and his mother?
The more Adrian Hawthorne thought about it, the heavier his heart grew. In truth, he didn’t really care whether he acknowledged his father or not. Having a father made little difference to him. He had survived those four years, and his life would only get better from now on.
But Rosalind Green couldn’t bear it.
She was a traditional woman who saw her husband as her entire world. Adrian Hawthorne worried about his mother, but he was even more worried that Rosalind Green might accept that other woman’s existence. That would be disgusting.
After all, his own maternal grandfather, that pathetic, impoverished scholar, had taken a concubine, and his grandmother had consented. His own mother was a victim of their toxic influence.
Adrian Hawthorne didn’t dwell on it. There was still no word from Aston Marsh. ’I’ll deal with it when I hear from him,’ he thought. For now, he just wanted to make money. Only with strength would he have enough leverage to negotiate with his father.
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Sporting bright red fingernails, Tang Xiaonan was playing Cat’s Cradle with Amanda Chapman. Phoebe Thorne had gone to the local clinic for a check-up. Her due date had passed, but there were no signs of labor, so she went to see what was going on.
"When is Howard coming back? Patrick is already finished with his exams," Amanda Chapman, whose nails were also bright red, muttered to herself as they played.
Patrick Thorne was already on break. His final exam results were surprisingly good—he had improved even more than Jim Thorne. Howard Thorne, however, still had to wait another two days.
"Big Brother is getting his results today," Tang Xiaonan said. "He’ll be back this afternoon."
Tang Xiaonan intentionally fumbled, messing up the string figure. She had done it on purpose; she really didn’t want to play this childish game anymore. Amanda Chapman, however, was full of energy and started over again, refusing to let Tang Xiaonan take a break.
After being forced to play a few more rounds, Phoebe Thorne and Raina returned, giving Tang Xiaonan the perfect excuse to stop. There was nothing seriously wrong with Phoebe Thorne; the doctor said the baby was developing normally and that it was also normal for a delivery to be delayed by as much as two weeks.
That afternoon, Howard Thorne returned as well. His grades were quite good, a big improvement from last semester. At this rate, he still had a hope of getting into college. However, Howard Thorne seemed to have something on his mind. He ran out again that afternoon and didn’t come back until that night, looking gloomy. He went out again the next day, acting all mysterious.