Chapter 564: Mutual Progress
"In a couple of days, I’ll have a matchmaker go to your house with a marriage proposal. Don’t you worry about that rogue. You’re one of the Thornes now, and no one will dare bully you."
As they were leaving, Phoebe Huxley pulled Kelley Xavier aside for a private word, showing her support. Before, without any official standing, she couldn’t step in. But now, if that shameless stepmother dared to bully her daughter-in-law again, she’d chop that bitch in two. And that rogue with the surname Coleman, hmph!
Kelley Xavier’s heart warmed. It was the first time she had ever felt the warm care of a female elder. Her own mother had passed away when she was eight, and for the past nine years, she hadn’t had a motherly figure to look after her. Her paternal grandmother didn’t like her, and her aunts were busy with their own children. Though Kelley Xavier was strong, she had moments of weakness and helplessness, just like now.
The Thorne family had given her the warmth and care she had always dreamed of. For the first time, her heart felt settled and truly at ease.
But she also felt a little guilty.
’My relationship with Howard Thorne is fake. If the Thorne family finds out, they’ll surely be so disappointed in me, won’t they?’
Kelley Xavier craved the warmth of the Thorne family, but she was terrified that after the truth came out, they would despise her. Kelley’s heart was in her throat again, tangled in a hundred knots.
’In the future, if I can make something of myself, I will definitely repay the Thorne family with everything I have.’
Seeing her silence, Phoebe Huxley thought she was worried about her studies and said, "Don’t worry about school, either. Our family will pay your tuition. Just put a little extra effort into tutoring Howard. It would be even better if you two could get into the same university..."
"COUGH, COUGH..."
Byron Thorne coughed heavily. Phoebe Huxley’s voice was loud, so even though she was having a "private word," everyone in the room heard her. Byron couldn’t help but say, "Kelley, don’t listen to your aunt. It’ll be great enough if Howard can just get into a vocational college."
’With my grandson’s shitty academic foundation, getting into a vocational college would mean our ancestral graves are smoking—a true miracle. To think he could get the Xavier girl, who ranks first every year, to go to university with him... that’s asking way too much of the poor kid.’
Howard Thorne blushed and scratched the back of his head. In truth, he wasn’t even confident about getting into a vocational college. But Kelley Xavier could definitely get into a top university. If he couldn’t even make it into a vocational college, it would be way too embarrassing.
His classmates would definitely say he was a toad trying to eat swan meat, throwing the same insults he used for that bastard Zane Coleman right back at him. He couldn’t afford to lose that much face.
’Even if Kelley and I are just acting, we have to keep it up for at least a year, right? I don’t want to be a laughingstock.’
’No way. When school starts, I have to study harder. I’ll study till I puke blood to get into a vocational college.’
Kelley Xavier glanced at Howard Thorne and said with a smile, "Howard Thorne actually has a lot of room for improvement. His foundation is just a bit weak. The liberal arts track would probably be difficult, but for the science track, you can raise your score in a short time by grinding practice problems. There’s still a year. As long as he does a few more practice worksheets every day and reviews his mistakes, improving his score isn’t hard. Forget vocational college, even getting into a four-year university is possible."
"Big Brother will definitely get in!" Tang Xiaonan shouted, wanting to cheer her big brother on.
Kelley Xavier’s words didn’t excite the Thorne family. After all, Howard’s foundation was too poor, and grades weren’t like noodles that you could stretch just by pulling a little harder. But as soon as Tang Xiaonan spoke, they got excited. Phoebe Huxley’s eyes shone brighter than lightbulbs as she happily scooped Tang Xiaonan up. "Did you dream that Big Brother got into a four-year university?"
"Big Brother did this many test papers, and he got in."
Tang Xiaonan stretched her arms out as wide as they could go and spoke vaguely. She didn’t dare make a guarantee. What if he didn’t get in? She’d be ruining her own reputation.