Chapter 578 The Smith Family's Indifference
"I know," James nodded, not surprised.
Zaiden continued, "Mr. Usher Smith is back, too. This time, I heard he's fallen in love with the daughter of the Percy family and might marry into the Percy family. If that happens, he could very well inherit the family head position."
"The Percy family?" James's face finally showed a change upon hearing this.
"The Percy family behind Mason?" James asked.
Zaiden nodded, "Yeah."
"Is that so?" James smiled, a bit meaningfully, "That's quite interesting."
James was incredibly smart; from Zaiden's words, he gleaned a lot of information. James and the Percy family had a deep-seated enmity, irreconcilable. If Usher were to marry into the Percy family, James would be completely abandoned, especially given the current status of the Smith family.
Zaiden knew James was extremely intelligent, so he didn't say more.
Next, James chatted with him, asking about the recent happenings in the Smith family, mainly inquiring about how his mother Erin was doing.
His only concern in the Smith family was his mother Erin.
Saxon was highly capable and wouldn't have any issues, so James wasn't worried about him. But Erin was gentle, kind, and very fragile, easily bullied.
It seemed that when the time was right, he would have to take Erin away.
Soon, James followed Zaiden and the others back to the Smith Manor, entering the large estate.
In the estate, he saw many Smith family members, including his elders, peers, and juniors.
These so-called family members all chose to ignore him, their gazes briefly passing over him before quickly shifting elsewhere, a mix of indifference and some fear.
They weren't afraid of him personally but of getting involved with him and offending certain impressive figures.
"Mr. Smith, it's good to have you here!." At this moment, a little girl with braids, looking very delicate and about four or five years old, holding a big lollipop, ran up to James, smiling adorably at him.
This little girl was the daughter of one of James's cousins. She had a great personality, was very sensible, and loved playing with his mother Erin. James had played with her a few times when he returned recently, so she remembered him.
She was the first Smith family member to dare speak to him since he returned, and she was a five-year-old girl. It was quite ironic.
James's face lit up with a bright smile. He bent down and gently rubbed the little girl's face, "Yeah, I'm back. Are you happy?"
The little girl said in her sweet childlike voice, "Happy! I want a hug!"
As she spoke, she opened her arms, waiting for James to pick her up.
Just as James was about to pick her up, a woman quickly walked out from the front, hurriedly ran to James, picked up the little girl, and said to James with a forced smile, "James, I'm sorry. She's still young and doesn't understand. If she made you angry, I apologize on her behalf. James, I have some things to do at home, so I won't keep you company."
She said everything in one breath, not giving James a chance to speak, and quickly left with the little girl, as if James were a plague carrier.
As she walked away, she scolded the little girl, "I just took my eyes off you for a moment, and you ran out! Didn't I tell you not to greet Mr. Smith? Didn't you hear me? From now on, you're not allowed to talk to Mr. Smith. He'll eat you, understand?"
She didn't speak very loudly, but it was still clear to James's ears.
The little girl pouted immediately upon hearing her mother's words, her eyes turning red. She looked back at James reluctantly but didn't dare call out to him again.
With this, James felt quite uncomfortable.
He had become the person everyone in the Smith family hated.
However, James had a good mindset. He had anticipated such a scene long ago, so he wasn't too surprised. But being in the midst of it, the coldness from his family still made him feel uncomfortable.
"James!" As James walked into the house, he heard a voice filled with surprise and a bit of weariness. It was his mother, Erin, who was walking quickly towards him, her face full of joy.
"Yeah, Mom, I'm back," James smiled brightly.
Erin walked up to James in a few steps, holding his hands and asking about his well-being, pinching here and there, saying he had lost weight, and that it was good he was back, just good he was back.
James also noticed that Erin had indeed lost weight, especially her face, which had become much thinner. It was clear she hadn't been happy recently.
He said, "Mom, let me take you to Serenity State. The climate there is better, and the food is lighter and milder, okay?"
Erin was stunned for a moment, her eyes flashing with complex emotions. She was kind but not unintelligent; she understood what James meant.
She hesitated for a moment, then smiled, "It's up to you."
James smiled happily. Being able to take Erin away would solve one of his worries.
Next, his father Saxon appeared. He said to James, "There are many eyes on you this time. Be careful."
Saxon was always so concise, which warmed James's heart. He nodded, "Well, I know."
After a pause, Saxon added, "Alistair is back. He's in the study. Go see him. He's aged a bit more recently."
James paused for a moment, then nodded, "Okay."
"And..." Saxon called him back, "Usher is back. too. He's even harder to deal with than Wylie. Be careful."
James already knew this.
He hadn't seen Usher in many years. In his memory, Usher, his cousin, had a gentle personality, unlike Wylie's arrogance and sharpness.
Previously, James had a good relationship with Usher.
But many years had passed, and things had changed, especially in the face of interests. Many things had changed, and the brotherly feelings of the past had also started to change.
James felt a bit sad about this. He was never a cold person. Even though he was born into a big family like the Smith family, he maintained his warmth.
However, things had already happened, and he wouldn't be overly sentimental. Whatever would be, would be.
Soon, he arrived at Alistair's study, knocked on the door, and heard Alistair's voice from inside telling him to come in. He began to push the door open.
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