Chapter 671: The Conflicted Child

Here at her grandmother’s, even though she had chores, she had plenty to eat, was well-clothed, and could even go to school. Her aunt, uncle, and cousins were all kind to her, especially her female cousin, who would always secretly save her best snacks for her. Back with the Chapman family, she never got to eat such fancy treats.

Amanda Chapman was young, but she was very perceptive. She was determined not to go back to the Chapman family. Whether her mother was rich or poor, she would stay with her.

Brian Chapman’s face darkened, his eyes flashing with anger. He hadn’t expected his daughter to feel no attachment to the warmth of their home. ’The Thorne family must have corrupted her. And Phoebe Thorne, too—they must have put her up to this. Why else would she want a divorce right after coming back from a six-month stay here?’

Although he hated the Thorne family with a passion, Brian Chapman didn’t dare show it. He was afraid they’d beat him to death.

"Gentry, you want to live with Mom and Dad, don’t you?"

Brian Chapman had more confidence in his eldest son. Gentry Chapman was his last trump card. As long as that connection wasn’t severed, Phoebe Thorne would surely return meekly to the Chapman family, and the money she earned would have to be dutifully handed over.

Gentry Chapman shrank back and glanced at his sister. Of course, he wanted their family to live together, but he knew his sister didn’t.

Amanda Chapman shot him a cold glare. Gentry Chapman flinched and stammered, "I... I’ll listen to my sister."

Phoebe Thorne was deeply relieved. All three of her children were on her side. She felt even more confident about the future.

’Times are good now. As long as you’re willing to work hard, you can make money. Mr. Tate said things will only get better from here on out.’ Phoebe Thorne wasn’t worried about being able to support her children in the slightest. She was only thirty-three—still young!

"Gentry, say that again!"

Brian Chapman raised his voice, his face flushed with shame and anger. He truly hadn’t expected his eldest son to ’defect’ as well. He was filled with indignation, feeling as though the whole world had betrayed him—and it was all Phoebe Thorne’s fault for bewitching them.

Gentry Chapman backed away in fear. Amanda Chapman shot their father a disdainful glare, but still pulled her brother behind her, staring Brian Chapman down without a trace of fear.

She wasn’t afraid of her father anymore.

Phoebe Thorne struck him several times with the ruler. "Why are you yelling at Gentry? With you, he can’t even get a full meal! It’s freezing, and he’s only wearing a single layer of pants. Are you trying to freeze Gentry to death? And you still have the nerve to ask him to go back with you?"

"How was I supposed to know where you put the warm clothes!" Brian Chapman whined, feeling wronged. He’d never handled household chores before; how was he supposed to suddenly know where to find winter clothes?

"Are you blind, or is your brain full of maggots? There are only a few chests and cabinets in total. If you’d actually bothered to look, you would’ve found them! You’re just lazy and irresponsible. A useless bum like you has no business being married. Go live with your mom and dad for the rest of your life!"

Phoebe Thorne furiously kicked him a few more times. ’How could someone be so incompetent yet so self-righteous?’ she wondered. ’How did I put up with him for more than a decade?’

Phoebe Huxley joined in with a few kicks of her own. Watching from the sidelines, Rosalind Green’s blood was pounding and her palms were itching. She desperately wanted to join in. After listening to Phoebe Thorne talk about that bastard Brian Chapman these past few days, Rosalind felt like she could chop him to pieces with a knife herself.

’Compared to my husband, Ethan Hawthorne, Brian Chapman is a grade-A loser,’ Rosalind thought. ’Pathetically spineless and completely oblivious to it, yet he still has the gall to keep a mistress. Even though I was indoctrinated since childhood with my father’s belief that ’a woman must never serve two masters,’ I still think Phoebe Thorne did the right thing by leaving him.’

Besides, working with Phoebe Huxley and Juliana Rhodes these past few days and getting a daily dose of Phoebe Huxley’s wild and progressive ideas, the traditional values that had been deeply ingrained in Rosalind Green since childhood were beginning to subtly shift.

"Get lost!"

Phoebe Huxley gave him a few more kicks. Brian Chapman lay sprawled on the ground like a dead dog, completely still. Gentry Chapman could only cry. His heart ached for his father, but he didn’t dare try to intervene, afraid of making his mother angry.

’This is so hard!’

’Why do Mom and Dad have to act like enemies?’