However, David Bolton didn’t say anything to Clark, but simply nodded and continued to leave the residence.

Watching David Bolton’s thin figure hastily depart, then glancing around at the anxious-looking male and female servants standing in a distant circle around the courtyard, Clark let out a faint sigh. She looked up at the blazing sun and the clouds in the sky, suddenly feeling a wave of dizziness.

Chapter 003: Born into a Prestigious Family, an Unruly Prodigal (3)

“Mother.”

While Clark was still feeling anxious and unsettled, a gentle, low voice reached her ears. She looked down and saw her only biological son, Henry Bolton, standing tall before her, bowing in greeting.

“Xuan’er.” Clark’s gaze immediately softened, but she was also a little surprised: “Why is this child suddenly so polite today? In the past, he never showed so many manners when seeing me.”

Compared to Samuel Bolton and David Bolton, Henry Bolton could only be considered an unfilial, disappointing, and wayward son. Not a trace of the fine character of William Bolton, the renowned minister and virtuous statesman, had been inherited by him; instead, he had somehow picked up all sorts of bad habits.

But no matter how disappointing, he was still her own flesh and blood, the one she would rely on in her later years. Others might not care for Henry Bolton—but how could Clark not?

“Xuan’er. Your elder brother has gotten into some trouble, but it’s nothing serious. Don’t worry, just go back to your room and rest. Mother will come see you in a while.” Clark’s eyes were full of affection as she gently reached out to take Henry Bolton’s hand, softly stroking it.

“Xuan’er, you’ve always been frail since childhood. Listen to your mother, go back and take a nap to regain your strength. In a bit, I’ll have the kitchen make you some bird’s nest and lotus seed soup.”

After all, inside Henry Bolton’s youthful body was the soul of a mature transmigrator, and his mental age was not much different from Clark’s. Being caressed like a child being coaxed to sleep by a woman made him feel understandably awkward.

But the motherly love and affection from Clark was completely genuine, without a trace of pretense. Henry Bolton felt a mix of emotion and a long-lost sense of being moved.

“Mother.” Henry Bolton called again, taking the opportunity to gently withdraw his hand from Clark’s grasp, a faint blush of embarrassment appearing on his delicate face.

Clark looked at him lovingly, then turned to the two maids behind Henry Bolton and said in a serious tone, “Ruyan, Ruyu, aren’t you going to escort the Third Young Master back to his room to rest?”

Although Clark doted on and spoiled this son to the extreme, she knew that in the current family crisis, letting Henry Bolton stay in the front courtyard would only cause more trouble and worry for everyone. It was better to send him back to his room to avoid any further incidents.

After all, William Bolton’s two younger brothers, Matthew Bolton and Stephen Bolton, were about to come over for a discussion, and both of these elders of the The Bolton Family greatly disapproved of Henry Bolton, the wayward nephew who brought shame to the whole clan.

“Yes, Madam.” Ruyan and Ruyu quickly responded respectfully. Ruyan stepped forward timidly, tugged at Henry Bolton’s sleeve, and whispered, “Third Young Master, this servant will accompany you back to your room…”

Henry Bolton shook his head and replied softly but firmly, “No, Mother, I’m not going back. My elder brother’s crime is serious this time, disaster is imminent, and the whole family will be implicated. I can’t just stay idle in the rear courtyard.”

“Mother, this time… what exactly happened to my brother? How did he end up with such a heavy charge and anger the Emperor?” Henry Bolton immediately probed.

“Mother doesn’t know either. It happened so suddenly, disaster struck out of nowhere… truly a calamity…”

Clark looked helplessly at Henry Bolton, frowning as she sighed, “Xuan’er, this isn’t something you can get involved in… With your mother, your two uncles, and your second brother handling things, it’ll be fine. Just go back to your room—be good, listen.”

Henry Bolton couldn’t help but feel bitter inside.

He understood that, despite the arrogance and carefree life of the person he now inhabited, he actually had no real status or say in the The Bolton Family. Even this mother before him, though she doted on and indulged him, knew her son was incapable of doing anything proper.

With this in mind, Henry Bolton no longer insisted. Even if he did, he probably wouldn’t be allowed into the The Bolton Family’s council hall to discuss strategies for dealing with the crisis alongside the elders.

But Henry Bolton couldn’t just ignore this matter.

Because the sudden arrival of this crisis had instantly drawn him, the transmigrator, much closer to the entire The Bolton Family clan. The sense of belonging to the family, which would have taken months or even years to develop, was now rapidly taking root.

Helplessly, their fortunes were now tied together—if the The Bolton Family fell, he would be finished as well. His future and fate were at stake; he couldn’t afford to slack off.

“Mother, then I’ll just go out for a walk.” Henry Bolton forced a smile, no longer insisting.

He bowed to Clark again, then turned to leave, beckoning to a young male servant standing not far away, “Brian Bolton, prepare the carriage, I’m going out to visit a friend.”

Just now, Clark had thought Henry Bolton had changed a little, but now it seemed that was just an illusion. Even at a time like this, he still didn’t understand the situation and wanted to go out—