My Wife is a Hidden Big Shot-Chapter 189 - 183: The Guthrie Family’s Eldest Miss

Chapter 189: Chapter 183: The Guthrie Family’s Eldest Miss

When Indie Lowell saw the message from Alvin Morgan announcing her expulsion from the Lowell family registry, she didn’t feel the slightest bit of sadness. Instead, she heaved a sigh of relief.

’Finally, I’m free of this nightmarish family. From now on, I’ll be wherever my son is.’

The Lowell Family’s decision sent shockwaves through the upper circles of Kingsford. The Great Families rarely expelled a direct-line daughter. Usually, such a drastic measure was reserved for capital offenses.

Eve Lowell had been pestered by her friends for days, so she hid in an empty classroom to watch a TV show.

Just as she was getting into it, she suddenly heard the voices of several girls outside the door.

"Joyce, you’re finally back! Did you hear about the huge drama with the Lowell Family? The lady who eloped was expelled from their family registry, right?"

"Why?"

"They say she got a secret divorce and infuriated the Lowell Family Head..."

"Sigh, this Lowell is pitiful enough. The Guthrie Family wouldn’t treat someone like that..."

"Joyce Guthrie—" a furious voice suddenly cut in.

A young woman, as serene as an ink-wash painting, looked up, seemingly surprised to find Eve Lowell there.

"Long time no see, Eve."

There were two girls Eve Lowell hated more than anyone in the world. One was Aurora Sinclair, and the other was this "Whitlock Lotus" of a young lady right in front of her, Joyce Guthrie.

Though only two years apart in age, Eve had been overshadowed by Joyce her entire life, constantly living in her shadow.

The Guthrie Family was a scholarly one, priding themselves on their literary heritage. They trained their children from a young age in the four arts of zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Consequently, Joyce Guthrie had been renowned as a talented young lady in Kingsford since she was a child, adored by the matriarchs of the great families.

If not for the appearance of the fraudulent "prodigy" Stella Sinclair, who somewhat diminished her renown, Joyce would have remained the sole paragon for the young ladies of Kingsford’s Great Families.

The Lowell Family, on the other hand, was one of the Ancient Martial Families. Both boys and girls trained in martial arts from a young age and weren’t taught much in the way of etiquette. As a result, at any high-society gathering, the children of the Guthrie and Warner families were always showered with praise, while the Lowells were largely sidelined by the matriarchs.

This made her despise the pretentious and artificial airs of the Guthrie women.

Especially now. Eve had just caught them gossiping about the Lowell Family, yet Joyce still put on a calm and collected act, as if she had done nothing wrong.

"Is the Lowell Family your business to discuss?" Eve glared at the girls standing beside Joyce Guthrie.

They immediately lowered their heads, not daring to speak.

Joyce Guthrie smiled. "Eve, we were just making a couple of jokes..."

Eve Lowell stared at her delicate, innocent face and suddenly found it even more detestable than Aurora Sinclair’s deadpan expression.

"Instead of gossiping about the Lowell Family, you should worry about your own. Oh, right, I forgot to mention. Your aunt managed to seriously offend Young Lord Morgan. Hahaha..."

The smile on Joyce Guthrie’s face faltered.

She had been abroad for over a year on an exchange program, representing the Arcadian University School of Arts. Having just returned yesterday, she was unaware of what had happened with the Guthrie Family recently.

Seeing Eve Lowell’s triumphant laughter and smug glance, Joyce’s heart tightened.

The girls beside her exchanged glances, none daring to utter another word.

Joyce Guthrie suppressed the uneasy feeling in her heart and said faintly, "Let’s go."

Jensen Guthrie, who was in his archaeology class, was surprised to receive a call from his cousin, whom he hadn’t seen in a long time.

A little surprised, he swiped to decline the call and texted her back that he was in class.

Joyce Guthrie looked at the class schedule in her hand, utterly confused.

She sent him another message asking for his location and learned that he had taken on a second major.

***

During a short break between classes in the archaeology department, a serene young woman suddenly walked into the classroom.

"Quick, look, a beautiful girl..."

"Where? Damn, she’s gorgeous!"

Aurora Sinclair looked up at the commotion and saw a tall, beautiful woman enter the room. Her features were as delicate as a painting, her makeup subtle. She resembled one of the ancient ladies her master used to paint, exuding an air of elegance, tranquility, and grace from within.

"Joyce..."

Joyce Guthrie turned her head, and the faint smile on her face blossomed like a flower, stunning everyone present.

The eyes of all the boys in the archaeology department lit up.

’She’s way too beautiful!’

’She’s on par with the belle of our class.’

’It’s just that our class favorite doesn’t smile much and is pretty expressionless, which makes her seem a bit aloof and hard to approach. But this girl’s smile is like a warm spring blossom, it just makes you feel good.’

"Brother, I brought you a gift." Joyce Guthrie walked over to Jensen Guthrie and placed a high-end gift box on his desk.

"How thoughtful of you," Jensen Guthrie replied with a smile. "When did you get back?"

"My flight landed last night."

Jensen Guthrie was sitting fairly close to Aurora Sinclair, so he made introductions: "Aurora, this is my cousin, Joyce Guthrie. And this is Aurora Sinclair."

Aurora Sinclair nodded. "Hello."

Joyce Guthrie sized her up curiously for a moment. ’My cousin doesn’t introduce girls to just anyone,’ she thought. ’Could he have a crush on her?’

’She is gorgeous, though. No wonder my cousin has fallen for her.’

"I’ll call you Aurora from now on, is that okay? Do you do traditional Chinese painting?"

Aurora Sinclair nodded.

Joyce Guthrie’s smile widened.

"Have you joined the Calligraphy Association?"

She nodded again.

"Then we can attend the Association’s classes together in the future."

Joyce Guthrie shot a teasing glance at her cousin, who looked a bit uncomfortable.

’No wonder he’s interested. My cousin has always had a soft spot for girls with excellent painting skills.’

"What classes?" Aurora asked.

"Huh? You don’t know?" Joyce Guthrie looked at her in confusion, then turned to Jensen Guthrie.

Jensen Guthrie paused before explaining, "She’s never been to the Association."

’Never been? Then how did she get into the Association?’

Joyce Guthrie gave Aurora Sinclair another surprised look.

Jensen looked at Aurora with a complicated expression. "My dad and Aunt Lana made an exception to admit her."

At these words, not only was Joyce Guthrie stunned, but the nearby archaeology students couldn’t remain calm either.

’People who get into the Calligraphy Association by special exception are all geniuses! I can’t believe the belle of our class is that incredible!’

Joyce Guthrie hadn’t expected Aurora Sinclair to be so highly regarded by both Zane Guthrie and Lana Guthrie.

In the Guthrie Family, Aunt Lana had the highest standards and was the most difficult to approach. If Aurora had earned her favor, her future would be boundless. She might even be recommended to Master Flora Guthrie.

A strange feeling suddenly surfaced in her heart.

After class, Joyce Guthrie asked her cousin with a smile, "Who is this Miss Sinclair a student of? Aunt Lana or your father?"

Jensen Guthrie shook his head and whispered, "Don’t spread this around, but she’s Master Flora Guthrie’s disciple."

"What...?"

Joyce Guthrie stopped in her tracks, her lovely brows furrowing slightly.

Since she was a child, her family had placed great hopes on her. Her father had even openly stated that he wanted her to inherit Master Flora Guthrie’s mantle. But after all these years, Master Flora Guthrie had never so much as given her a second glance.

To think that the girl from just now possessed the very status she had coveted for so long but could never attain.

Seeing the look on her face, Jensen Guthrie tried to comfort her softly, "Joyce, her talent for painting is far greater than yours or mine."

Joyce Guthrie quickly composed herself, putting on a smile and joking, "Do you think I’m that petty? I was just a little shocked, that’s all. I never thought Master Flora Guthrie would actually take a disciple. I’ll have to learn a thing or two from her in the future..."

Jensen Guthrie secretly breathed a sigh of relief. ’My cousin is as good-natured as ever.’

"Cousin, has she joined our Calligraphy Society?"

"No."

"Cousin, that’s not good enough! How could you not recruit such a great talent into our society?"

"She’s very busy. In addition to her archaeology courses, she also has classes for her second major."

"She’s double-majoring as a freshman?" Joyce Guthrie was surprised yet again.

At Arcadian University, students typically don’t declare a second major until their junior year. The first two years are packed with required courses for one’s primary major, so everyone is focused on earning those credits. It’s rare for someone to take on a second major right from the start.

"She was the top scholar in this year’s college entrance exams with a perfect score. Professor Greene had his eye on her before she even started school..."

After seeing her cousin off, the smile on Joyce Guthrie’s face gradually faded.

’It seems I’ll have to find out more about this Miss Sinclair who’s appeared out of nowhere.’

***

When classes let out for lunch, Aurora Sinclair headed to Chester Greene’s office as usual.

Just as she pushed open the door, she saw a familiar figure.

"Aurora, you’re here?" Joyce Guthrie said with a smile, getting to her feet.

Aurora Sinclair froze for a second, not expecting to see her here, and offered a polite greeting.

Only Benjamin Morgan was in the office; Alvin Morgan was nowhere to be seen.

"Aurora, the Young Lord is still running an experiment. You should eat first!" Benjamin Morgan looked as if he’d just seen his savior, and his tone relaxed considerably.

’I can’t believe this troublesome young lady from the Guthrie family is back, and she even brought a pile of gifts for the Young Lord.’

He could turn away women from the other Great Families of Kingsford on his master’s behalf, but this particular young lady was different. His master’s mother had taken her as a goddaughter years ago, so she couldn’t be easily offended.

"Aurora, you know my Morgan?"