"Mom, I’m going to sleep at Uncle Goldie’s!"

Jim Thorne crept furtively toward the door, his schoolbag on his back. He planned to have breakfast at his grandpa’s place in the morning, then head straight to school without coming home. He’d slept at his uncle Goldie’s last night, too; he figured he’d hide out for a few days until the coast was clear.

"No bed for you at home?"

Felix Thorne was simmering with rage and had nowhere to vent it. The moment he saw Jim, his temper flared. If it hadn’t been for this little brat, how would Phoebe Huxley and his own mother have ever found out about him giving away the meat?

Jim shivered and shrank back, answering in a small voice, "Uncle... is helping me with my homework."

"Your Uncle Goldie has never passed a single exam, and he’s supposed to be tutoring you? If you don’t get something, ask your older brothers. Now you stay put at home. You’re not going anywhere!"

Felix Thorne strode over and smacked Jim across the back of the head. He could see right through the little brat’s sneaky intentions. ’He’s just scared I’ll make him pay for it later. Hah!’

The blow sent Jim spinning, his head ringing and his thoughts scrambled. Tang Xiaonan jumped in fright; it was the first time she had ever seen Felix Thorne this angry. He truly lived up to his reputation as a fearsome terror. The sheer intensity of his aura was overwhelming, even from ten feet away.

Tang Xiaonan looked sympathetically at her third brother, who was still dazed. ’Poor kid,’ she thought. ’His brain wasn’t that sharp to begin with. Now it’s really done for.’

’This won’t do,’ she thought. ’I have to break Felix of this bad habit. He’s always smacking the back of people’s heads, and he hits ridiculously hard. Phoebe Huxley is the same way. That couple really is two of a kind; their methods for disciplining a hellion are uncannily similar.’

Catching his daughter’s flinch from the corner of his eye, Felix Thorne immediately drew back his hand. His dark expression instantly softened into that of a doting father as he picked up Tang Xiaonan and patted her gently on the back.

"Daddy, don’t hit heads! Hit butts!"

Of course, Tang Xiaonan wasn’t really afraid. She had just been startled at first. When Felix Thorne’s face was stern, he looked just like a big black bear. She absolutely believed the rumors that he could scare the neighbor’s kids into tears.

Legend had it that Felix Thorne commanded immense respect on Millstone Peak—everyone feared him, especially the local hellions. If a child was acting up, all you had to do was say, "The butcher is coming!" and the child would fall silent immediately. It worked like a charm every time.

It might have been a bit of an exaggeration, but there was truth to it. Felix Thorne carried a dangerous aura, and Tang Xiaonan had felt it when he’d exploded with anger just now. It was bone-chilling. But she wasn’t scared in the slightest, because Felix Thorne was the very best daddy in the entire world to her.

"Alright. From now on, I’ll spank butts. I’ll spank your third brother’s butt until it blooms."

Felix Thorne went along with his daughter’s suggestion, not forgetting to shoot Jim a vicious glare.

"Jim didn’t do anything bad. Don’t spank him," Tang Xiaonan pleaded on her brother’s behalf. ’Yesterday’s mess was Felix’s fault to begin with. He was the one pining for an old flame, and he just flew into a rage out of humiliation when his son exposed him.’

’But Felix had his pride as a man; he couldn’t be humiliated in front of so many people. His anger was understandable. Even so, Tang Xiaonan hated that Felix was punishing Jim over a woman like Phoenix Golding.’

"That’s right, what did Jim do wrong? If you’re so angry, take it out on me! I’m the one who beat that bitch. I’m the one who stripped her clothes off! Your heart aches for her, is that it? Go on! Try laying a hand on me!"

Phoebe Huxley advanced with a butcher’s knife in hand, planting herself in front of Jim. She glared murderously at Felix Thorne. ’Beating my son over that bitch? He must have a fucking death wish.’

Tang Xiaonan was so scared she could barely breathe, her throat suddenly dry and tight. ’Holy crap, a knife! She’s actually pulled a knife! Is someone going to die?’

’Am I going to get caught in the crossfire?’

’I worked so hard to get back to being a kid again. I haven’t lived nearly long enough!’