So, where did Jacqueline Spann get her formula?

After she went to see Frederick Thorne, his mental illness worsened. He ran away from home and eventually drowned. Was Jacqueline Spann involved in any of this? 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Tang Xiao’nan’s heart sank further. ’My death, Frederick Thorne’s death... in the end, they were both connected to Jacqueline Spann. How can I possibly believe she’s innocent?’

’Too many coincidences cease to be coincidences. Even if Jacqueline Spann didn’t get her hands dirty, a person like her is terrifying. It’s best to keep our distance. I should make sure the Thornes stay far away from the Spanns.’

The atmosphere at dinner was cheerful and harmonious. Byron Thorne was in a good mood and had an extra cup of liquor. His fair face was flushed, and he was pleasantly buzzed. It was the same for Felix Thorne and his two brothers; they were all getting tipsy. The four of them, father and sons, had polished off a one-liter bottle of spirits. No wonder they were all drunk.

Don’t let their appearances fool you; despite looking like big guys from the north, Felix Thorne and his brothers couldn’t hold their liquor. Felix Thorne could handle maybe three or four shots of spirits at most, which wasn’t even as much as Phoebe Huxley. During their wedding, eight or nine out of every ten celebratory toasts from the guests went right into Phoebe Huxley’s stomach, yet she didn’t seem drunk at all. No one knew what her limit was; no one had ever seen her drunk.

After dinner, Raina brewed some tea to help them sober up. Amanda Chapman began clearing the table on her own, without needing to be asked. She was very perceptive. When Phoebe Thorne tried to help, both Raina and Amanda Chapman stopped her.

"Take these home with you later. I got this folk remedy from Mystic Liu in Rosillia Village. Have Lana Steiner boil it and drink the water. A lot of people have had babies after drinking this remedy. It works wonders."

Raina took out several paper packets from a cabinet and instructed, "One packet is one dose. Take one packet every three days. Boil it and drink it before bed. Remember now, don’t mess it up."

Lana Steiner blushed, understanding her mother-in-law’s intentions. But inwardly, she felt a subconscious wave of nausea, and a bitter taste filled her mouth. She had drunk far too many folk remedies over the years.

All sorts of strange and bizarre medicines—tree bark, grass roots, insects, bones, you name it. Just looking at them was nauseating, but Lana Steiner drank them all. Even though she knew they probably wouldn’t work, she forced herself to drink them to please her parents-in-law and for her own peace of mind.

’This medicine from Mystic Liu... it’ll probably be the same as all the others, won’t it?’

Every time, her mother-in-law would bring back some so-called folk remedy, talking it up as if it were miraculous, but in the end, it never worked. Lana Steiner truly hoped it would be effective this time. She was willing to drink it, no matter how bitter.

"I understand. I’ll boil it and drink it when we get back." Lana Steiner accepted the packets of medicine, acting very obediently.

Being unable to have a child had turned the once cheerful and lively Lana Steiner quiet and melancholic. Frederick Thorne’s heart ached for his wife, but he couldn’t say anything in front of his parents. ’I’ll just throw this medicine away when we get home,’ he decided. ’Then I’ll go to the county hospital and get a fake medical report saying there’s a problem with me, too. We’re a perfectly imperfect match, Lana and I—a match made in heaven.’

’That way, Mom won’t be able to force her to drink those bizarre concoctions anymore. All these years of trying for a baby... Lana’s practically ruined her stomach drinking that stuff. She can’t drink any more of it.’

Frederick Thorne had completely given up hope of having children and had already figured out a way to get his wife off the hook. ’Work at the factory has been crazy lately, so I can’t find time to go into town. Once things calm down, I’ll go find my old classmate who works at the county hospital for help. If we can’t have kids, we can’t have kids. I’ve got three nephews, right? They’ll be there for me when I’m old. What’s there to worry about?’

Tang Xiao’nan’s heart sank. She studied Lana Steiner and noticed her complexion was very poor. Under the lights, her face was pale, completely drained of color. The room Phoebe Thorne was currently staying in was Frederick and Lana’s. On the desk, under a sheet of glass, were several photos: some of Frederick Thorne, some of Lana Steiner, and some of the two of them together. They were mostly taken when they were younger.