Chapter 759: Mentally Ill

Nan Thorne slid off Jim Thorne’s back and skipped into the yard. Mad Gramps was already at the door. He couldn’t help but crack a smile when he saw her, though it was fleeting. His expression quickly turned serious, and he gave Nan Thorne a look of disdain.

“What, they don’t feed you at home? You’re getting uglier.”

The chubby, roly-poly girl from last year had slimmed down considerably over the New Year. Her triple chin was now just a double. She’d grown a bit taller, but her face had lost its plumpness. Mad Gramps was not pleased. He was extremely dissatisfied with the Thorne family. ‘They really don’t know how to raise a child.’

The smile on Nan Thorne’s face instantly froze. She touched her cheeks. ‘I might not be a great beauty, but I’m not ugly, am I? This is the result of me carefully watching what I eat for almost a year!’

“Gramps, your eyes must be going bad. I look great! Uncle Will, I have gotten prettier, haven’t I?”

Nan Thorne rolled her eyes in annoyance, then looked at Will expectantly. ‘Mad Gramps has terrible taste. I’m not going to bother expecting any compliments from him.’

Will grinned, heaping on the praise. “You’re beautiful. Nan, you’re getting prettier and prettier.”

Nan Thorne snorted triumphantly at Mad Gramps. ‘Being chubby is cute when you’re a kid, but when you grow up, you’re just a fatty that everyone finds annoying. You have to start dieting young. It’s much harder to lose weight once you’ve stretched out your stomach.’

The mother-daughter pair came out as well. They saw the close bond between Mad Gramps and Nan Thorne. Though Mad Gramps maintained his stern expression, the fondness in his eyes was unmistakable. Envy filled the girl’s eyes. ‘I wish I could live a carefree life like Nan Thorne, too.’

Nan Thorne saw the mother and daughter, too. She paused for a moment, then smiled and called out, “Hello, Ma’am! Hello! I’m Nan Thorne.”

The girl lifted her head slightly, revealing a birthmark on her left cheek. Jim Thorne’s expression flickered in shock, but it was still a rude reaction. Nan Thorne was surprised as well, but she didn’t let it show, her smile only growing sweeter. She didn’t forget to kick Jim Thorne, who was standing behind her.

Jim Thorne rubbed his smarting leg, wiped the surprise from his face, and tried to act natural. He had been studying with Old Master Tate recently, learning not just academics but also social etiquette. He knew his reaction had been inappropriate, but it truly wasn’t intentional—he was just startled.

The girl smiled, not seeming to mind. “My name is June Lowe,” she said softly. “And this is my mother.”

June’s mother also offered a faint smile, but it was clear she wasn’t comfortable around so many people. There was a hint of impatience and agitation in her expression. June took her hand, trying to soothe her.

Mad Gramps quickly said, “June, take your mother inside to rest.”

“Okay.”

June Lowe gave an apologetic smile and led her mother into the house. Winston Lowell was extremely thorough; after buying the house, he had it cleaned and stocked it with new furniture and household supplies, making it ready to live in at a moment’s notice.

A surprised look crossed Clayton Xavier’s face. He could tell June’s mother likely had some sort of psychological issue, which was why being around too many people would overstimulate her, causing unease or agitation. ‘June is so thin, and she’s not very old. How can she possibly take care of her sick mother by herself?’

Assuming Mad Gramps was unaware of this, he mustered his courage and said, “Sir, I have something I need to discuss with you. It will only take a moment.”

Mad Gramps was a bit surprised. His impression of Clayton Xavier was that he was a man of few words who didn’t meddle in others’ affairs. ‘What could this boy want to say?’

He followed Clayton Xavier to one side. After hearing his concerns, he was even more surprised. “You know medicine?”

“A little. My grandmother is a doctor, and I’ve been learning from her since I was a child.” Clayton Xavier looked a bit embarrassed. ‘Compared to my grandmother, I’ve barely scratched the surface.’