Chapter 10

"Thank you, Sean," Xyla said sweetly. "Oh, Xyla, I've also prepared a gift for you to celebrate your admission into the vocational school." Jacob then had Sean bring over a fountain pen made overseas from his study. Xyla carefully opened the box. Inside was a silver fountain pen with a sleek, polished appearance that shone with a metallic gleam. It felt comfortable in her hand, firm yet not slippery. "Thank you, Mr. Horton. I-I will study hard." Xyla imitated Wendy's respectful manner when she entered, bowing deeply. Her excitement was evident as she held the pen in one hand and the suitcase in the other. It was as if she was afraid they might be taken away. Suddenly, as if she remembered something, she turned to Jacob and asked, "What about Wendy?" At once, the joyful atmosphere became tense. "Don't worry, Wendy. I'll also prepare a gift for you when you graduate high school." Jacob smiled gently with eyes full of encouragement. He wasn't expecting her to go to university. He just hoped she could finish high school. Smiling, Wendy nodded. "Thank you, Mr. Horton." Everything was just like in the viral web serial. Though she didn't come to the Horton residence as Jacob's daughter-in-law this time, the gifts given to Xyla for school were the same. In the serial, the original Wendy, who didn't receive any gifts, made a scene. That only made Sean more annoyed with her and left the Horton family deeply disappointed. "Grandma, Dad, I need to go now," Sean said before casting a glance at Wendy. He wondered if she would continue to be this gentle and elegant after he left. Moira and Jacob nodded, and Martha brought in the dishes. Just as Sean was about to leave, the door opened from the outside. A young man in his 20s, carrying a bag with two watermelons, walked in as if he were very familiar with the place. When he saw Sean at the door, he looked surprised. "Sean, you're back. How did the blind date go? Is my future cousin-in-law pretty?" As he spoke, he turned and saw the blushing Xyla standing in front of the couch. His gaze lingered for a moment before shifting to Wendy behind her. The disappointment in his eyes quickly transformed into admiration. His face reddened slightly, and he naturally assumed Wendy was Sean's date. "Sean, your fiancée is so pretty. She's even more beautiful than the campus belle from my university." This was Sean's cousin, Simon Murphy, who had just turned 20 this year. Seeing such a beautiful "cousin-in-law", he fumbled with the bag in his hand. "Simon, this is Wendy Stowell and her younger sister, Xyla Stowell. They're like Sean's sisters and will be staying with us while they attend school. Wendy is here for high school in Bellmire City, and Xyla has been accepted into a vocational school." Jacob made it clear that the two were just sister figures to Sean. He continued with the introductions, saying, "This is Sean's cousin, Simon Murphy. He'll be starting his second year at Southgate University. "Wendy, if you need help with your studies, Simon can help you. Luxor High, the school you're transferring to, is Simon's alma mater. His mom is the grade-level dean there." "Hi, Simon. I'm Wendy. My sister, Xyla, is Mr. Horton's date," Wendy clarified softly. The viral web serial had mentioned Simon. He felt sympathetic toward Xyla and often defended her due to the original Wendy's antics. Realizing he had mistaken Sean's date, Simon felt a wave of embarrassment wash over him, and his blush deepened. "Hi, Simon. I'm Xyla. Are you actually a university student? That's amazing! I really need to learn from you," Xyla said with a sweet smile, her eyes full of admiration. Yet, her grip on the pen box tightened as she felt frustrated. She was determined to send Wendy back to their hometown eventually. As long as Wendy was here, she would always be overlooked. "No, I was only able to get into university because my mom pushed me hard. You're amazing too, getting into a vocational school." Simon seemed flustered by the compliment, but his eyes wandered to Wendy again without him knowing. He found it strange. Wendy was clearly prettier. Why wasn't she the one matched with Sean? "Why are you here so late?" As Sean observed his actions, his gaze turned sharp. "My mom asked me to bring some watermelons," Simon replied. Both he and Sean lived in the same military base, with his father serving as a deputy division chief of staff. "Leave the watermelons here. Let's go." Sean grabbed the bag from Simon and set it down before leading him out. "What?" Simon had just arrived and hadn't even had a sip of water yet. "I haven't even greeted Grandma and Uncle Jacob. Why are you rushing me?" "Simon, focus on your studies during the summer break and participate in some social practice activities. Don't come around here too often," Sean sternly warned him. Sean recalled Wendy's words about wanting to find a young, attractive partner within three months. She seemed disinterested in him because of his age and the fact that he had a child. In contrast, Simon was exactly the type she was looking for. "Why? Uncle Jacob just asked me to help Wendy with her homework," Simon said, confused. "Aunt Alexandra is the grade-level dean there, so Ms. Wendy can ask her for help if she needs it. If she comes to you, ignore her. You may be a university student now, but you must still maintain appropriate boundaries between men and women. "Ms. Wendy is still young and might not understand, but you should know better." Sean didn't elaborate too much on his point. Simon nodded, seeing some sense in Sean's words. Previously, when Jacob and Linda were away at work, only Moira and Sadie were at home. Now, with two new girls in the house, he understood he needed to keep a respectful distance. But he suddenly remembered that the name he had heard his mom, Alexandra Horton, mention before was Wendy. Jacob had always praised his future daughter-in-law for being adorable and chubby as a child, insisting she would grow up to be a beauty. Xyla didn't seem to fit that description at all. "Sean, didn't Uncle Jacob say your date's name was Wendy? Why is it Xyla now?" Simon asked in confusion. Sean halted and stated firmly, "They're both just my sister figures. They're only staying at the Horton residence temporarily for school." Simon quickly caught on and joked, "Is it because you're too strict that Wendy isn't interested in you? "She's so beautiful and speaks so softly. She must have many admirers. She's just like the campus belle at my university, always popular in school. You're always wearing that stern face…" Sean's expression suddenly darkened. Frowning, he fixed a sharp gaze on Simon. "Simon! Remember what I just said. You're not allowed to come here while I'm not home. "Keep a distance from both of the ladies, especially Ms. Wendy. If I catch you getting too close to her, you'll be doing 100 hanging leg raises." His cold warning carried an undeniable authority.