Chapter 8

Jacob felt helpless as well. He knew that with the rural areas' traditional and conservative mindset, Wendy would have no way out if she didn't transfer to Bellmire City for school. He also understood that Wendy's real reason for coming to Bellmire City wasn't just for her studies but was here to find someone to marry since she couldn't return home. He had thought about having Sean marry her. But Linda, usually gentle and composed, was so furious she returned to her parents' house, leaving Jacob to deal with the mess he had created on his own. Wendy was drenched in the rain. Her hair was clinging to her forehead. As she followed Sean into the Horton residence with her backpack, she immediately sensed the heavy and oppressive atmosphere. She forced a slight smile, mentally preparing herself. On the other hand, Xyla seemed much more excited than Wendy. Looking at the bright and spacious living room, she was like a country girl entering a grand mansion for the first time, not knowing what to do with her hands and feet. Her eyes were filled with awe, and she instinctively moved closer to Sean. The clean white walls were decorated with beautiful posters and several picture frames. The people in the photos wore military uniforms and had stern looks. This showed that the family had a long military heritage. On the reddish-brown cabinet by the wall were a console TV and a double cassette recorder, both covered with a white lace cloth. A standing fan with blue blades oscillated back and forth in front of the wooden couch with a rattan seat cover. When it turned to Xyla, it sent a refreshing breeze her way. She could hardly believe how luxurious Sean's home was. The thought of herself living in this two-story house if she married Sean made her eyes sparkle with excitement. "Grandma, Dad, I'm back. This is Ms. Wendy and Xyla." Sean put down Xyla's backpack and introduced them to the two people sitting on the couch. He then looked around the living room but didn't see Linda or his niece. "Did Mom take Sadie to bed?" "Welcome back. The school sent your mom on a business trip to another state for a few days, and she took Sadie with her." Jacob made up an excuse as he looked at the two sisters. Even without Sean's introduction, he immediately recognized Wendy among them. 17 years ago, when he was on a mission near Riverbend Village, he was bitten by a poisonous snake in the woods. It was Melvin who had carried him back and treated him with herbal medicine, saving his life. At that time, Wendy was not even a year old. That chubby baby with bright eyes would giggle at him. She was truly adorable. She would even feed him water from a mug and call him "mister" in her sweet baby voice. She was so endearing that he had wanted to ask Melvin if he could raise her as his own. After returning to the army, he had always wanted a daughter, but though one was born, she unfortunately passed away at a young age. When Sean graduated from military school, he was assigned to Northallow but was transferred back to Bellmire City this year to serve as the captain. Jacob immediately thought about repaying the Stowell family's kindness by arranging a match between Sean and Wendy. If they got along, great. If not, he could still bring Wendy to Bellmire City, arrange a job for her, and help her settle down. He would ensure that the Horton family could look after her. However, the letters Sean sent went unanswered. Jacob only found out when the Stowells wrote back, explaining the situation. "Nice to meet you, Mrs. Horton Senior and Mr. Horton. Thank you for letting me stay here while I study in Bellmire City." Wendy stepped forward calmly and greeted them with a polite bow despite Jacob's sharp and authoritative gaze. Her fluent Bellmire dialect, paired with her gentle tone, made Moira, who had been sitting with her head down, adjust her glasses to look Wendy up and down. "Are you Xyla?" Xyla quickly spoke up, "Mrs. Horton Senior, Mr. Horton, I'm Xyla. Thank you for letting me stay here while I attend a vocational school in Bellmire City." But as a country girl unfamiliar with the outside world, her voice was timid. She stuttered nervously as she tried to mimic Wendy's words. Despite her attempts to speak the Bellmire dialect, her strong rural roots still came through. Both Moira and Jacob exchanged glances of surprise. This was clearly different from what Sean had told them over the phone. "Mr. Horton, thank you for always looking out for us over the years. Three years ago, during the severe drought in our village, if it hadn't been for the ten pounds of grain you sent, Xyla and I might have had to drop out of school. "We're also really grateful for the chance to study in Bellmire City. I brought you some tea leaves that my mom, my two brothers, and I picked early this morning. It's just a small token of our appreciation. I hope you enjoy it." Wendy set down her backpack and took out two tins, placing them neatly on the coffee table. She maintained a composed and gracious smile the entire time. This contrasted sharply with Xyla's nervous, fidgety demeanor as she anxiously clutched at her clothes. Originally, Melvin and Victoria had prepared bags of homegrown corn, peanuts, and potatoes. But these items were too heavy and, more importantly, not suitable for the prestigious Horton family. If there were no impressive gifts to present, the focus would be on conveying heartfelt intentions. They chose tea leaves, which were not only easy to carry but also sounded nice to mention, especially since they were picked early in the morning. "Thank you. But if it weren't for your dad, I wouldn't be here today." Jacob looked at Wendy with a hint of appreciation and curiosity. He then turned to Sean, silently asking whether this Wendy was the same person he had described on the phone. Sean raised an eyebrow upon hearing Wendy's fluent Bellmire dialect. Throughout the journey, she had spoken in her local dialect. He had never heard her use the Bellmire dialect before. Her confident and polite demeanor didn't match the image of a girl from a poor rural area. She seemed more like someone from an educated, middle-class family. He looked at Wendy with a hint of curiosity in his gaze. Yet, he firmly believed that a person's true nature would not change. "Take a seat. Martha, bring two clean, warm towels for them." Moira gestured for them to sit down with a stern expression. Xyla tensed up. Seeing how Wendy, whom she had always considered inferior, behaved so gracefully and politely, she feared making a mistake. She mimicked Wendy's actions, approaching the chair and sitting down straight. "Thank you, Martha." Wendy accepted the towel from Martha Tabor, the Horton family's housekeeper, and expressed her gratitude with sincerity in her eyes. "Don't mention it." Martha's face lit up at Wendy's gentle and soft voice, leaving her with a favorable impression. "Thank you, Martha," Xyla also said, but her voice remained timid and soft, giving off a modest impression. Martha thought that the Stowell sisters seemed quite nice. The only difference was that one was timid, lacking her sister's confident presence. After bringing them each a cup of water, Martha headed to the kitchen to start cooking.