Chapter 664: Fired

The days passed one by one. The sweet scent of osmanthus faded, and the green on the mountains dwindled. In the blink of an eye, it was December. Tang Xiaonan had already switched to a thick, padded cotton jacket—a bright red one handmade by Phoebe Huxley. With her hair in two little pigtails tied with red silk ribbons, she looked even more festive than the cherubs in New Year’s paintings.

Phoebe Thorne bought a brand-new sewing machine, which Goldie Thorne had brought back for her from Tristone. With the sewing machine, Phoebe Thorne was unstoppable. She joined forces with Phoebe Huxley and the others. They had stopped making summer clothes and were now focused on winter attire, using styles popular in the south. After the clothes were finished, they needed to be ironed—a task that Raina and the other older ladies had taken over.

The small workshop already had the makings of a garment factory, but they were still too short-staffed. Preston Thorne was already considering applying to formally establish a factory. He planned to discuss it with the higher-ups to see if they would offer support. If the factory could be established, the entire village could start living well.

While the Thorne family’s fortunes were flourishing, the Chapman family was truly in the midst of a bleak winter. Brian Chapman had been fired from his job. Although the reason for his dismissal was not made public, everyone at his workplace knew it was due to issues with his personal conduct. The photographs had nearly sent his director into a fatal rage.

The director had summoned Brian Chapman and thrown the photos in his face. Brian, who had been about to protest, saw the uncensored pictures of himself and the young widow. His face drained of color, his heart turned to ash, and he knew it was irreversible.

Without a job, he had a whole family to feed, and his parents needed medicine. With no savings, he could only rely on help from his four sisters. But as time went on, his four brothers-in-law started to complain. Once they cut off their support, the Chapman family truly couldn’t even afford congee.

The young widow, who had always been so sweet and attentive to Brian Chapman, had also shown her true colors. Brian tried to borrow some emergency money from his mistress, but she wouldn’t even let him in the door. She was as cold as ice, and her words were sharper than daggers. It was only then that Brian Chapman understood that all the sweet nothings the young widow had whispered were just an act. She was only after his money and the protection he offered.

Now that he was jobless, she had turned on him in an instant.

It was at this moment that Brian Chapman finally thought of how good Phoebe Thorne had been to him. In the past, he only had to hand over his salary, keeping a little for his own spending money. Phoebe Thorne would manage the household flawlessly, and they could even afford to eat meat often. He never had to worry about a single thing when he came home; he lived a carefree life.

But now, the house was completely bare. There wasn’t a single grain of rice in the jar or a drop of oil in the jug. He couldn’t find a single scrap of food. The house was filled with his parents’ sighs, and his eldest son lay motionless under the covers. The home was so desolate it was devoid of any human warmth.

"Brian, did you get any food?" Mrs. Chapman came out, trembling. She was starving, so weak she could barely walk.

"No."

Brian Chapman lowered his head in shame. ’I’m so useless.’

Mrs. Chapman’s vision went black. She swayed a few times, only keeping herself from collapsing by grabbing the wall. She said resentfully, "It must have been Phoebe Thorne’s doing. She just can’t stand to see us doing well."

Brian Chapman’s expression also filled with fury. He was certain no one but Phoebe Thorne would have reported him. There was a saying about a hundred days of grace for every day spent as husband and wife, but Phoebe Thorne was just too heartless. Even if she disregarded their past relationship, how could she not care whether her own son lived or died?

Mrs. Chapman was dizzy with hunger. Even during the most difficult times in the past, she had never been this starved. She swallowed a mouthful of plain water and said weakly, "Brian, you... you have to go get something to eat. Anything, as long as it’s edible. I’m starving."

Brian Chapman felt an even deeper sense of shame. He helped Mrs. Chapman lie down on the bed. Mr. Chapman’s face was ashen, and he coughed from time to time. Since he had stopped taking his medicine, his condition had worsened significantly. Mr. Chapman could already feel that his days were numbered.

’But how could he rest easy?’