"What is wrong with you now? All day long, it’s ’whore’ this and ’whore’ that. Doesn’t she have a name? Wasn’t yesterday’s scene enough?" Felix Thorne was getting fired up too. He put Tang Xiao’nan down and faced off against Phoebe Huxley.

"If she’s not a whore for seducing my husband, then what is she? She’s got you completely bewitched! You’re giving her meat today, so what’s next? Are you going to move our whole house over there tomorrow? Felix Thorne, you black-hearted bastard! I scrimp and save at home, but you’re taking our things to feed your old flame. Have you no conscience? I’ll chop you to bits, you black-hearted fiend!"

The more Phoebe Huxley cursed, the more wronged she felt. She raised the knife, ready to bring it down. The motion startled Tang Xiao’nan, who shivered and rushed over to hug Phoebe Huxley’s arm tightly, nearly getting sliced by the sharp blade. Phoebe Huxley threatening to chop someone with a knife didn’t really scare Felix Thorne or Howard Thorne, but when Tang Xiao’nan rushed forward, it truly terrified them.

Tang Xiao’nan was terrified herself. The knife had just swung past her head, and she had felt its bone-chilling cold. She now understood the despair a pig must feel before being slaughtered.

She didn’t dare move a muscle. ’I’m afraid if I move, my head will just roll off. After that swing, I’m not even sure my head is still attached to my neck. I’ve heard that if a blade is sharp enough, even if it cuts your head clean off, it won’t fall right away. You can still talk and you don’t feel any pain because your brain can’t react that fast.’

If Tang Xiao’nan truly had the soul of a six-year-old, she wouldn’t have reacted so strongly. Children are fearless, afraid of nothing. But she had the timid heart of an adult. Her small body couldn’t withstand that momentary shock, and before she even had time to think, she fainted.

"Xiao’nan, don’t scare Mommy! Wake up! My sweet girl..."

Phoebe Huxley was the first to react. She threw down the knife and hugged Tang Xiao’nan tightly. Seeing her dazed expression, her unblinking eyes, and her deathly pale face—like a little wooden doll—she immediately burst into wails, her guts twisting with regret.

"What are you crying for?! I told you not to play with knives in front of the kids, but you just wouldn’t listen! If anything happens to Xiao’nan, I’ll chop *you* up!"

Felix Thorne scooped up his daughter and ran toward Byron Thorne’s place. His father would surely know what to do.

"If Xiao’nan isn’t okay, I... I don’t want to live anymore... Xiao’nan, please don’t scare Mommy. Mommy will never try to chop your dad again..."

Phoebe Huxley followed behind, crying and shouting. The three brothers followed closely as well, their expressions grim. ’They had already placed the blame for this squarely on Phoenix Golding’s shoulders. If it weren’t for that slut, their parents wouldn’t have fought with knives, and Xiao’nan wouldn’t be in this state. It was all that tramp’s fault. She’d better watch her back. They wouldn’t let that bitch get away with it!’

Byron Thorne had just gotten home and hadn’t even had a chance to warm his seat when he heard his eldest daughter-in-law’s wailing. The next moment, his main door was kicked open, and his eldest son rushed in, shouting urgently while holding his little granddaughter.

"Dad, take a look at Xiao’nan!"

"What’s wrong with Xiao’nan? She was perfectly fine just a moment ago."

Byron Thorne was shocked. His granddaughter, who had been so full of life just a little while ago, was now completely listless, as if she’d lost her soul. ’Could she have run into a ghost?’

"Aurelia came at me with a knife, and Xiao’nan got scared," Felix Thorne said, glaring at the weeping Phoebe Huxley. ’That damn woman only knows how to wave a knife around.’

"Nonsense! What are you two doing, waving knives around in front of a child? Don’t you know that children’s souls aren’t fully settled and they can’t take a fright? Have you lived for over forty years for nothing? Step aside, let me take a look at Xiao’nan!"

Byron Thorne gave his son and daughter-in-law a harsh scolding. Phoebe Huxley choked out, "I’ll never use a knife in front of Xiao’nan again."

"You shouldn’t be using it in front of anyone else, either! What kind of a married woman goes around threatening to chop people up at the drop of a hat!" Byron Thorne scolded.