Chapter 729: Suspecting a Mental Illness Again

Rosalind Green had expected it to be hard to persuade her son, but as soon as she said she wanted to see Ethan Hawthorne, Adrian Hawthorne agreed.

"I’m going to Tristone the day after tomorrow. Come with me."

Rosalind Green had not been herself lately, always lost in thought. Adrian Hawthorne guessed she must have overheard his conversation with Goldie Thorne the other day. But to his surprise, she wasn’t heartbroken. Instead, she was remarkably calm. While her behavior was highly unusual, it did put Adrian Hawthorne’s mind at ease somewhat.

"Alright."

Rosalind Green smiled, a sudden sense of anticipation washing over her. ’It’s been over four years since I’ve been back to Tristone. I wonder what it’s like now. And my parents, my brother... are they doing alright?’

"I’d like to bring some gifts for your grandfather and uncle. Is that okay?" Rosalind Green asked.

"It’s up to you." Of course, Adrian Hawthorne had no objections.

Rosalind Green smiled, and her face seemed to brighten. The more Adrian Hawthorne watched her, the more confused he became. ’Could she be so devastated that her mind is breaking down?’

"Are... are you alright?" Adrian Hawthorne couldn’t help but ask.

Rosalind Green paused for a moment, then smiled. "I’m fine. Your Auntie Aurelia made a lot of sense. I’m going to pack."

With that, she went into her room with a light spring in her step to prepare the gifts. A tracksuit and a few lengths of fabric would suffice; in those days, that was considered a generous present.

Adrian Hawthorne watched his mother’s retreating back, a light spring still in her step, and grew even more bewildered. ’What on earth did Phoebe Huxley say to her?’

’Is she going to divorce him or not?’

He still suspected there was something wrong with Rosalind Green’s mental state. This was all too strange. ’She’s even humming a song?’

The sound of Rosalind Green humming a tune drifted from her room. It was an aria from her favorite Yue opera, *The Pearl Pagoda*. Back when she was in Tristone, Rosalind Green would go see any famous Yue opera star who came to perform at the theater. She’d even learned to hum a few lines herself, and her favorite was always the aria from *The Pearl Pagoda*.

’When we get back from Tristone, I’ll have to take Mom to the hospital for a check-up. I can’t let this drag on.’

Ethan Hawthorne’s mood worsened. He had sent someone to contact Goldie Thorne to express his desire for a meeting, but that guy had the audacity to put on airs. ’If I didn’t need to ask about my wife and son, I wouldn’t have deigned to request a meeting myself!’

What soured his mood even further was that Goldie Thorne had managed to get his hands on a batch of corduroy and khaki fabrics with novel patterns. He was still in the middle of coordinating with Master Feng, but Goldie Thorne was already selling them. In business, seizing the initiative was crucial. By the time his shipment arrived, Goldie Thorne would have already pocketed the lion’s share of the profits.

"Boss, is there a problem with the supply source from Capria? Why are we always one step behind?" someone finally pointed out.

It had started two months ago. They were always a step behind on sales, putting them on the defensive. To make matters worse, their competitor’s prices were a couple of cents cheaper. People loved a bargain, so of course, everyone flocked to Goldie Thorne. The time before the New Year was supposed to be the peak sales season—those two months could bring in more profit than the rest of the year combined.

But the end of last year had been bleak. If things kept on like this, they’d be out of business.

"I’ll head over there and ask around."

Ethan Hawthorne’s face darkened; he had a pretty good idea what was happening. ’It has to be a problem on Master Feng’s end. I’ve worked with him for two or three years, and he still stabs me in the back like this. The man has no integrity at all.’

Returning home, Bernice and Jacqueline Spann were sunbathing in the yard. Seeing Ethan Hawthorne’s dark expression, Bernice came forward with an appeasing smile. "What would you like for dinner tonight?"

"Come to the study. I have something to ask you."

Ethan Hawthorne’s tone was harsh. Bernice’s heart skipped a beat as she followed him upstairs to the study on the second floor.