Chapter 669: You Can Only Choose One

Raina was feeling incredibly confident now. Her daughter was earning eight or nine dollars a day, and Preston Thorne had even said he was going to apply to open a factory. If the application was approved, Phoebe would become an official employee of the garment factory. She’d have a secure job as a worker for life. And that bastard Brian Chapman still thought he could win her back?

Hmph. In his dreams!

"Mom, I’m serious. I know I was wrong. I’m begging you, please give me another chance!"

Brian Chapman forced himself to endure the pain, kneeling on the ground and bowing his head. Before he left, Mr. Chapman had told him to use any means necessary—even if he got beaten half to death—to make Phoebe Thorne change her mind.

He no longer cared about things like dignity. All that mattered was that Phoebe Thorne came home with him.

Brian Chapman had realized that after the divorce, Phoebe Thorne was actually doing better than he was. She had a healthy glow and was dressed even more beautifully than before. The new coat she wore was clearly expensive. And his mother-in-law and Phoebe Huxley were wearing new clothes, too. It seemed the Thorne family had come into some money.

He had to remarry Phoebe Thorne. That way, the Thorne family could bring him along as they got rich.

"Don’t call me ’Mom.’ Every one of my sons is more capable than you. They’re a hundred times better than a worthless bum like you. Get lost!"

Raina spat in disgust. ’Look at this pathetic coward.’ His only redeeming quality before had been his secure job, and now even that was gone. There was no way she would let her daughter go back to that life of suffering.

"Mom, no matter what, Phoebe and I have three children together. For their sake, please let Phoebe come home with me. I promise I’ll do better..."

"Mom..."

Gentry Chapman started to cry. He didn’t know what to do. His father was on one side, his mother on the other. He wanted both of them. ’If only they didn’t have to be separated.’

Phoebe Thorne’s heart ached as well. If Brian Chapman hadn’t been so outrageous, she never would have left her eldest son behind to get a divorce. But remarrying him was absolutely out of the question. ’My sister-in-law was right: you can’t go back.’ She would never jump back into the fiery pit that was the Chapman family.

"Cousin, don’t go back home. Come live with us."

Tang Xiaonan waved Gentry Chapman over and gave him a piece of milk candy. ’Although the boy is timid, he’s also truly pitiful. Children are the ones hurt most by divorce.’ Amanda Chapman had no feelings for her father, so she was only happy about it. Allister was still little and carefree. Only Gentry, who couldn’t bear to part with either of his parents, was hurt the most.

Gentry glanced at Brian Chapman’s bruised and swollen face, feeling reluctant. ’I’ll miss my dad. And my grandma and grandpa, too.’

"If you go back, you’ll go hungry. But you won’t if you stay with your mom," Tang Xiaonan coaxed. ’Phoebe Thorne definitely can’t bear to part with her son. In that case, they should just keep all three children and let Brian Chapman live out his days as a bachelor.’

Amanda Chapman rushed over in a flurry. She had just gotten out of school when she heard people on the street saying her bastard of a father had shown up. She ran all the way home, and when she saw Brian Chapman howling in pain from the beating he’d received from her aunt, Amanda finally relaxed. ’Good! He deserved it.’

She grabbed the hesitating Gentry and asked coldly, "Are you going back to the Chapman family, or are you staying with Mom and me?"

Gentry, who had been afraid of his younger sister since they were children, stammered, "I... I want us to be a family..."

"Impossible. A broken mirror can never be whole again. You can only pick one!" Amanda cut her brother off, her eyes filled with disdain.

’This brother of hers is so dense and timid, always listening to their dad, grandpa, and grandma. But no matter how much of a disappointment he is, he’s still my own brother. I can’t just abandon him to his fate.’

"Then... can I still go back to see Dad and Grandpa and Grandma later?" Gentry asked in a small voice. He was met with a massive eye-roll. Amanda snapped, "You’ll be eating our food and living under our roof, and you’re still thinking about them? Why don’t you just go back to the Chapman family to suffer and starve!"