"We’ve got to watch her like a hawk. The Golding family must have had generations of bad luck to end up with such a shameless whore. My eldest daughter is getting engaged in a couple of years, and if this whore drags her down, I won’t let her get away with it!"

The woman who had just spoken spat at Phoenix Golding, whose head was bowed, finally venting nearly twenty years of pent-up frustration.

A middle-aged man, her husband, tugged on her arm and gave her a warning look, silently telling her not to go too far. He had a rather favorable impression of Phoenix Golding, and even now, with the solid proof, he was still unwilling to believe she was that kind of person.

The woman kicked her husband hard. ’Still helping that vixen at a time like this! Tonight, he can eat pig slop for all I care. I’m not cooking for him.’

"Teacher Golding wasn’t in class. She only taught one period this afternoon, and we didn’t see her the rest of the time."

The precocious Amanda Chapman suddenly shouted. Although she was only eight, she knew a great deal. Connecting the dots, she had figured out why Phoenix Golding had disappeared during the day.

"That’s right! We didn’t see her! We have no idea where she went!"

Tang Xiaonan chimed in as well.

"She must have been off fooling around with a man, skipping her classes and everything! What kind of shitty teacher are you?!"

Phoebe Huxley violently yanked Phoenix Golding up by her hair, forcing her to lift her bowed head. Her once-lovely face was now swollen and bruised, covered in blood, with no trace of beauty left. The hickeys on her half-exposed shoulder were particularly glaring.

Phoenix Golding was completely dazed. It had all happened so suddenly that she had no time to think of how to respond. She had been KO’d by Phoebe Huxley, a woman she’d always despised, without even a chance to fight back.

Ulysses Spann cried and cried. He was only seven and had no idea what to do besides weep.

Linden Golding was in even worse shape. Goldie Thorne had utterly crushed him, beating him until his face was unrecognizable. He lay on the ground, groaning incessantly. The siblings had both been beaten to a pulp, a truly gruesome sight.

However, Phoenix Golding’s husband, Vernon Spann, had not shown up at all. Everyone assumed he was at work and didn’t know what was happening at home.

But the truth was—

Vernon Spann had returned early that morning. He just hadn’t made an appearance, hiding in a secluded spot to watch the drama unfold. When he saw Phoenix Golding being shamed, his eyes lit up, and he wished he could set off a string of firecrackers to celebrate.

He did have one regret, however. ’Why didn’t Phoebe Huxley strip that slut’s clothes off? Strip her naked and parade her through the village, make it so she’s too ashamed to ever show her face again. It would be really satisfying if she got so humiliated she jumped in the river!’

The elated Vernon Spann had no intention of revealing himself. In fact, he wished the Thorne family would make an even bigger scene. But then, the corner of his shirt was tugged. It was his daughter, Jacqueline. Her dark eyes gazed at him calmly. For some reason, Vernon Spann felt a pang of guilt and let out a dry laugh.

"Dad, we can’t let Mom’s reputation be ruined. You have to go out there."

Jacqueline’s voice was soft, but her tone was impossible to refuse, and her gaze grew sharp.

"It’s better if it’s ruined. I’ll divorce her, and you can live with me," Vernon Spann said, having already planned it all. He couldn’t wait to divorce Phoenix Golding.

He had actually wanted a divorce for a long time, but he never had a good excuse. Although he wasn’t a live-in son-in-law, his status was even lower than one. Anyone in the Golding family could order him around; none of them treated him with any respect. Even a three-year-old child would call him by his full name. He had endured this humiliation for eleven years.

He could have let all that slide. After all, his life on Millstone Peak had improved significantly since he got married. At the very least, he no longer had to go hungry or do the most grueling work. So, he could tolerate it.

But Phoenix Golding just kept pushing her luck, cheating on him time and time again. What man could possibly tolerate that?

And he, Vernon Spann, certainly couldn’t.

’Now that I have something on Phoenix Golding, I can finally get a legitimate divorce. I really should thank Phoebe Huxley for this!’

’With my abilities, I could find someone much better once I’m divorced.’