Chapter 519: Mother Is the Most Important
"Clayton should come visit his mother’s family more often. A fine young man like him is a credit to our Millstone Peak," Preston Thorne said with a hearty laugh, his eyes filled with admiration as he looked at Clayton Xavier. The more he looked, the more pleased he was. It was just a shame his granddaughters were either too old or too young, with none suitable for Clayton.
However, Preston Thorne’s gaze fell on Tang Xiao’nan, who was standing behind Phoebe Huxley. ’Fair and plump, what a pretty girl,’ he thought. ’There’s an eight-year age gap, but it’s not a big deal for the man to be eight years older. It’s only a problem when the woman is. I should find some time to mention it to my third brother. Social background doesn’t matter much these days, and that Clayton kid is a real catch.’
Tang Xiao’nan felt Preston Thorne’s intense gaze on her, like he was looking at a precious treasure. She couldn’t help but touch her nose, then her face, and even glanced down at herself, but she hadn’t done anything improper. ’What’s with Fourth Grand-uncle?’
Phoenix Golding, lying on the ground, groaned a few times and regained consciousness. But she couldn’t move, and no one paid her any mind except for Linden’s mother. Two streams of tears rolled from the corners of Phoenix Golding’s eyes. For the first time, she felt a pang of regret.
’I should have been more careful. If I hadn’t been found out, I’d still be a respectable teacher, and that ugly hag Verna Golding wouldn’t have dared to humiliate me like this, not in a million years.’
"Mom... tell... Cousin... go to the mine..."
Phoenix Golding struggled to get the words out before fainting again. She couldn’t stay in Millstone Peak any longer; she’d be tormented to death sooner or later. ’Once I get to the coal mine, with my abilities, I’ll definitely thrive. Then I’ll return home in glory!’
Linden’s mother couldn’t lift Phoenix Golding by herself and nearly threw out her back. Furious, she hollered toward the house, "Jacqueline, are you dead? Think you’re all grown up now, do you? Get your butt out here and help!"
The villagers, who had already started to disperse and had reached the courtyard, were drawn back by the force of Linden’s mother’s shout. Only then did they remember Jacqueline Spann, who hadn’t shown her face through the entire ordeal.
After Linden’s mother bellowed a few more times, Jacqueline Spann had no choice but to come out. Inwardly, she hated the old woman with a passion, but her expression was pitiful. She had rubbed her eyes until they were red, as if she had been crying. She stood there cowering, like a young servant girl from an old landlord’s family, while Linden’s mother glared at her, fiercer than any landlord’s wife.
"Don’t think you can just fly the coop because your mother’s in trouble now. I’m still here, so you’d better behave yourself!"
Linden’s mother pinched her hard a few times, making Jacqueline Spann cry out in pain. The sight was even more miserable, and the onlookers couldn’t help but sigh, feeling genuine sympathy for her.
"What a pitiful child..."
"Phoenix Golding’s salary is gone, and the work points that half-dead Vernon Spann earns aren’t even enough to feed himself. Their life is going to be tough!"
Everyone sighed and lamented for a while. Although they felt immense sympathy for Jacqueline Spann, that was as far as it went. In those days, no family had it easy, and there was no spare sympathy to give to others.
Hearing Jacqueline Spann’s pained cries, Clayton Xavier paused for a moment. But he quickly started walking again, continuing to support Verna Golding as they moved forward.
Verna Golding let out a soft sigh. In the end, her love for her son won out over her loathing for Jacqueline Spann. As long as her son was happy, she truly didn’t care.
"The affairs of adults have nothing to do with you kids. You don’t have to..."
Before Verna Golding could finish, Clayton Xavier cut her off, his tone resolute. "Mom, I know what I’m doing."
’He and Jacqueline Spann could only be strangers. No matter how innocent Jacqueline might seem, with a mother like Phoenix Golding, she could not be considered blameless.’
’He couldn’t stab his mother in the heart again.’
’That would be a grave betrayal.’
Verna Golding smiled, gratified. She tightened her grip on her son’s hand, her steps becoming larger and her back straighter.
’With such a wonderful son, she had nothing to fear.’