Chapter 612: Still Have to Go Home

Tang Xiaonan grew anxious again. ’I can’t let Goldie make a scene!’ Before the divorce, they had to keep Brian Chapman’s affair a secret, at least for now. Their only option was to threaten the Chapman family covertly.

"You better settle down. Your Sixth Uncle said we absolutely must not blow this up. We have to catch them in the act, secretly. It’d be best if we can get photos to use as evidence in court later. For now, we need to keep the Chapman family from getting suspicious." Byron Thorne glared at his youngest son. ’All he knows how to do is stir up trouble. He inherited that explosive temper entirely from the old woman.’

Tang Xiaonan breathed a sigh of relief. With an advisor like Shane Thorne on their side, nothing could go wrong.

’But why didn’t Shane Thorne step up to help the Thorne family in the book?’

After a moment’s thought, Tang Xiaonan understood. Shane Thorne hadn’t actually appeared much in the book, and the author never described him in great detail. Besides, due to his own past, Shane Thorne kept a very low profile in the village. Even if he was close to Byron Thorne, he wouldn’t have put himself forward. The most he would have done was offer some advice from the background.

Back then, the Thorne family had been arrogant and domineering in Millstone Peak. They acted without considering the consequences and had a vicious streak. Shane Thorne, likely to protect his own skin, probably distanced himself from the family over time, so naturally, he wouldn’t have been there to devise plans for them.

But now, the Thorne family’s reputation in the village was getting better and better. Howard and his two brothers were improving their grades, and they now had a chance of getting into a university. Goldie was no longer an idle good-for-nothing, and Lana Steiner was even pregnant. The entire family was on an upward trajectory, full of vitality.

People are naturally drawn to success and will instinctively choose to associate with positive, thriving individuals. That’s human nature. A shrewd man like Shane Thorne would certainly be even more inclined to do what was advantageous. Their relationship had already been excellent, and now, with their interests intertwined, their bond was much deeper than before.

Tang Xiaonan sighed in relief, her confidence growing. The Thorne family was bound to have a better and better future. Everyone’s fate was going to change.

With Shane Thorne as their advisor, the family’s agitation subsided. The first step was to put the Chapman family at ease. That meant Phoebe and her son had to go back to the Chapman house. Now that she’d had the baby and completed her postpartum confinement, she couldn’t keep staying with her own family. They couldn’t give the Chapmans any excuse to complain.

If Brian Chapman didn’t come to pick her up, she should go back on her own. If he didn’t give her his wages, she should go to his workplace and ask his superiors for them. She should go while holding her son, and she should cry as pitifully as possible. She was not to say a single bad word about Brian Chapman—just cry.

This was all part of Shane Thorne’s plan. Everyone had to see how miserable Phoebe was, so that everyone would sympathize with her.

"Goldie, you can’t slack off on your end either. Have those shady friends of yours tail Brian Chapman and get photos. It’d be even better if you can get pictures of them kissing."

That evening, Shane Thorne came to the Thorne house for dinner and laid out his plan. He taught Phoebe how to play the victim and instructed Goldie on how to catch the cheaters. He had the air of a true master, and Tang Xiaonan was deeply impressed.

"Sixth Uncle, those are my good buddies, not some shady friends," Goldie protested, unhappy.

Byron Thorne rolled his eyes, annoyed. "If they’re not shady friends, what are they? When have you ever made any decent friends, you little punk? Enough nonsense. Just do as your Sixth Uncle says and get pictures of that bastard and the little widow kissing. Get a lot of them."

"Forget kissing, I can get pictures of them doing the deed. Just you wait for my good news," Goldie said, full of confidence.

「Two days later.」

Phoebe had everything ready. Felix and Goldie escorted her and her two children back to Wraven. Amanda Chapman was heartbroken to leave, hugging Tang Xiaonan until her eyes were swollen from crying.

Tang Xiaonan cried too, but not because she was sad to see them go. She was worried Amanda Chapman would be abused once she returned home.

"Amanda can’t go home... Daddy, don’t let Amanda go back! Grandma Chapman will hit her..."

Tang Xiaonan pleaded pitifully. ’Once she goes back, Amanda won’t be able to go to school anymore. And when she’s older, that vicious old hag will sell her off.’