"Dad, please think carefully about a divorce."

Jacqueline Spann didn’t think Vernon Spann should have a complete falling out with Phoenix Golding right now. Even if they did get a divorce, she wouldn’t go live with Vernon, despite liking her father more.

But she had to be realistic. Sticking with Phoenix Golding was the only way to live a better life. The Golding family could shelter her, whereas Vernon Spann was an outsider. If he got divorced, he couldn’t even support himself, let alone her.

Besides, she didn’t want to end up like Adrian Hawthorne, who was relentlessly bullied in the village. Even the children could curse at him. Adrian Hawthorne couldn’t talk back when he was insulted or fight back when he was hit, all because he was an outsider with no support on Millstone Peak.

If Vernon Spann got a divorce, he would become a second Adrian Hawthorne. She wasn’t that foolish.

"Dad, you’re still on Millstone Peak, and I have to prepare for my college entrance exams. We can’t let people find out I have an unfaithful mother. Dad, haven’t you always wanted me to get into college?"

Jacqueline Spann pleaded with him patiently. Right now, Vernon Spann was the only one who could save Phoenix Golding’s reputation.

Although she was only ten, she was aware of many things. She knew Phoenix Golding was fooling around with men, and she also knew her father, Vernon Spann, wasn’t innocent himself. But she just pretended she didn’t know.

’Some things were better left unknown.’ 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

This was the main reason Jacqueline Spann was so determined to get into college. She had to leave Millstone Peak and get away from this terrible family. ’No matter what it takes, I have to get out!’

Phoenix Golding’s parents rushed over. Seeing their daughter’s wretched state, the old couple was so furious they could have spat blood. Mrs. Golding tried to save her daughter, forcefully prying at Phoebe Huxley’s hands. As Mrs. Golding was her elder, Phoebe couldn’t bring herself to retaliate. She let the older woman hit her, but she refused to loosen her grip.

"Don’t hit my mom, you bad person!"

Tang Xiaonan ran over and grabbed Mrs. Golding. She had grown quite fond of Phoebe Huxley and couldn’t bear to see her get hurt. She latched onto one of Mrs. Golding’s arms, holding on with all her might.

"Let go of me, you little brat! You’re just like your mother, a complete thug! If you don’t let go, I’ll beat you to death!"

Mrs. Golding shook her arm a few times, but Tang Xiaonan kept hanging on. Enraged, she raised her hand to slap the girl, but Phoebe Huxley blocked the blow. She now had one hand grabbing Phoenix Golding’s hair and the other holding Mrs. Golding at bay.

"Worry about your own slutty daughter first! She spends all day throwing herself at men, even fooling around with them during class! See this? This is a man’s bite mark! You’re the one who raised this slut Phoenix Golding. Like mother, like daughter!"

"I didn’t... Daddy, Mom, I didn’t..."

Phoenix Golding whimpered her defense. She had come to her senses and knew she could never, ever admit to this. Her reputation couldn’t be ruined, so—

"It was Vernon... This morning, he and I..."

Phoenix Golding lowered her head in shame, but her eyes were filled with hatred for Phoebe Huxley and the Thorne family. Sooner or later, she would settle this score. ’They’ll all pay for this,’ she vowed. ’Just you wait.’

"Bullshit! Do you take me for a fool? Any idiot can tell this is a fresh bite, not something from this morning! Still denying it? I’ll kill you, you stinking whore!"

Phoebe Huxley kicked the back of Phoenix Golding’s knee. Phoenix Golding crumpled to her knees in pain, but with Phoebe Huxley still yanking her hair, a searing pain shot across her scalp. Phoenix Golding shrieked miserably. Mrs. Golding, both furious and heartbroken, forcefully swung her arm. Tang Xiaonan was flung away, landing hard on her bottom on the ground.

Her tailbone made a sharp CRACK. The pain was so intense that Tang Xiaonan almost passed out. She reached down and felt a sharp stone pressing right into her tailbone. No wonder it hurt so badly it felt like she was dying.

"It hurts... ah... it hurts so bad... Daddy..."

Tang Xiaonan let out an unrestrained wail, tears gushing from her eyes like an open faucet. Felix Thorne could no longer stand by. He rushed to scoop up Tang Xiaonan and check where she was injured.