Chapter 634: His Heart Was Stolen

Goldie Thorne had recently made a few trips to Tristone, where he’d gotten a taste of the big city’s excitement and glamour. He’d also finally had the coffee he’d always dreamed of drinking. He thought it was disgusting, more bitter than herbal medicine, but he was content just to have experienced it.

Having picked up the airs of a city slicker in Tristone, Goldie Thorne’s whole demeanor had clearly improved. He was starting to look like a man of culture, except for that slick, shiny, center-parted hair. It was such an eyesore that Tang Xiaonan desperately wanted to mess up the awful style.

"Doesn’t your uncle look handsome today?"

Goldie Thorne picked up Tang Xiaonan, grinning smugly. He was quite pleased with his appearance, convinced you couldn’t find anyone in all of Clearspring Township more fashionable than him.

Tang Xiaonan pursed her lips, reached out a chubby little paw, and mischievously scrubbed at Goldie Thorne’s head. She utterly ruined his center part, which finally made him look presentable. The only problem was that her hand was now sticky with osmanthus-scented hair pomade.

Flicking her hand in disgust, Tang Xiaonan tried to go wash it, but Goldie Thorne wouldn’t let her down. He was absolutely fuming. He’d spent the whole morning on that hairstyle, and the little brat had just destroyed it.

"I’m always so good to you, and for what? You ungrateful little thing!"

Fuming, Goldie Thorne pinched Tang Xiaonan’s cheeks a few times, gritting his teeth. Tang Xiaonan just giggled, unafraid. ’Grandma will be here to save me any second,’ she thought.

And just as she expected, Raina’s feather duster came swinging. "So what if she touched your hair? Is it made of gold or silver? You call yourself an uncle!"

"I spent all morning on it—ow!"

Another lash from the feather duster struck him. With a sigh, Goldie Thorne put down the incessantly giggling Tang Xiaonan. He shot her a glare, baring his teeth, before going off to fix his hair. He’d only made a few passes with the comb when Raina called for him to come out and meet their guests—Beatrice and the matchmaker had arrived.

Goldie Thorne hastily ran the comb through his hair a few more times and rushed out. The moment he saw Beatrice, all dressed up, his eyes widened and he froze.

This girl was even more beautiful than her photo, and she had an air about her that could rival any girl from Tristone. Her large, limpid eyes seemed to speak, hooking him and sending his heart thumping. With that one look, Goldie Thorne was completely sold. His vows to only marry a city girl, his disdain for country girls... all of it was forgotten, tossed to the far corners of the earth.

’He wanted to marry Beatrice. He didn’t want anyone else.’

Beatrice was truly beautiful today. She wore a moon-white, long-sleeved blouse with puffed sleeves, a long floral skirt, and cream-colored leather shoes. Her hair was in two pigtails hanging down her front, and her wispy, curved bangs made her eyes seem even more vibrant. When she smiled demurely, Goldie Thorne felt like his very soul had been snatched away. All he could do was grin like a fool.

Raina, however, was already prejudiced against the girl and was thoroughly unimpressed. ’Dressed so provocatively,’ she thought, ’and she even penciled in her eyebrows. She’s definitely not the decent type.’ Still, she had to let her granddaughter see her first.

Phoebe Huxley picked up Tang Xiaonan, but before she could ask a thing, the little girl frowned deeply and said unhappily, "That’s my young aunt. I don’t like her. She hits my uncle."

As Tang Xiaonan sulked in Phoebe Huxley’s arms, both Raina’s and Phoebe’s expressions darkened. ’That little vixen actually hits people!’

"Mom, we absolutely cannot agree to this match," Phoebe Huxley said urgently.

Raina’s face was grim. She shot a cold glare at Beatrice, who was smiling shyly at Goldie Thorne. "Don’t you worry," she said, her voice like ice. "I will never let her through the doors of this family."

’Not over my dead body. Even if my third son remains a bachelor his entire life, I will never allow a vixen like that to enter my family.’