Chapter 513: Breaking Down the Door
"Verna, move! I’ll do it!"
A tall, brawny man—one of her male cousins—pulled Verna Golding aside. The others joined him, and with a shove from each of them, the wooden door was easily knocked open. The gossiping villagers grew even more excited. It was clear they didn’t intend to talk things out nicely. This was going to be a good show!
Tang Xiaonan and Amanda Chapman, using their small stature to their advantage, squeezed through the gaps between the adults to get to the front. Seeing the menacing members of the Golding family, the two girls were in high spirits, hoping they would give Phoenix Golding a good thrashing.
"Aunt Verna, Grandpa Magnus... What are you..."
Jacqueline Spann ran out in a panic. Before she could finish speaking, Verna Golding shoved her aside. Jacqueline Spann fell to the ground. She knew this was serious; this group was here to cause trouble, and she wanted no part of it.
’She had already managed to contact her aunt, who had written her back. In the letter, her aunt praised her beautiful handwriting, pointed out a few spelling errors, and encouraged her to study hard so she could get into a university in Tristone.’
’The aunt in the letter was nothing like the bad-tempered woman her father had described. She was incredibly patient and had even tucked ten yuan inside for books and snacks, adding that a young lady shouldn’t be petty, lest people look down on her.’
’With Bernice’s support, Jacqueline Spann felt much more confident. Her plan was to slowly build a relationship with her aunt. Once she had a better understanding of her aunt’s personality, she would find a way to get her to adopt her. With a grand stage like Tristone, she could truly spread her wings. Adrian Hawthorne and Clayton Xavier would be no match for her. And as for that country bumpkin Tang Xiaonan, one day she would have no choice but to look up to her!’
’They wouldn’t even measure up to her little toe!’
Jacqueline Spann quietly hid, not wanting to get involved in Phoenix Golding’s messy affairs. However, she didn’t go far, staying inside the room. She was also curious to know what Phoenix Golding had done this time. What could make someone as tight-lipped as Verna Golding this furious?
"You damn whore, hand over the money! That twenty yuan Storm Xavier gave you this morning!" one of Verna Golding’s male cousins shouted viciously.
Phoenix Golding, who had been in a groggy sleep, was jolted awake. She stared in panic at the hostile group of people before her. They were technically her cousins too, but they were distant relatives who rarely even acknowledged each other.
She quickly calmed down. ’There’s no way I’m handing over that twenty yuan,’ she thought. ’I need it for my health. It’s not like I stole it. Storm Xavier gave it to me willingly. Why should I have to hand it over?’
"I don’t have any money! Don’t you falsely accuse me!"
Phoenix Golding refused to admit it, lying shamelessly on the bed without moving a muscle. She’d like to see what they could do to her. At this point, she had nothing left to lose anyway.
"Storm Xavier already admitted it, and you’re still trying to deny it? If you won’t give it to us, I’ll search for it myself!"
Verna Golding, however, wasted no more words on her. She immediately started turning the room upside down, yanking open every drawer and rifling through every chest. Clothes were strewn all over the floor, but she couldn’t find a single cent.
Magnus Golding and the others started searching the other rooms as well, turning everything over. They even checked the kitchen cupboards, but they still came up empty-handed. On the bed, Phoenix Golding instinctively clutched her pillow. She wanted to secretly move the money, but with so many eyes on her, she didn’t dare to move an inch. She could only hope these robbers wouldn’t think to search the bed.
"This is breaking and entering! It’s against the law! I’m going to report you to the police!"
Phoenix Golding cursed weakly. Her only hope was that her father and brothers would come and stand up for her, but she knew that was unlikely. Right now, her father and younger brother couldn’t avoid her fast enough.
"You’re all a bunch of robbers! Get out!"
Linden’s mother rushed over when she heard the commotion. Seeing the house had been completely ransacked, she began to curse furiously.