Chapter 512: Asking for Money
The village chief’s wife and Patricia Jacobs (Shane Thorne’s wife) also nodded in agreement. As members of the Thorne family, it wasn’t convenient for them to intervene, but the accountant’s wife could do so openly.
"How could we intervene without a good reason? Verna never complains about her troubles. She came back without mentioning how she was wronged by the Xavier family, so we couldn’t just butt in. But if she’s really here to ask for help, we’ll definitely stand up for her. That bastard Storm Xavier is a real piece of shit!" the accountant’s wife cursed bitterly.
She’d never seen such a shameless man. Even a dog was better than him.
"And that bitch Phoenix Golding is just as bad. I bet this has something to do with her," Phoebe Huxley said with disdain.
"That bitch doesn’t even leave her house. What kind of trouble could she possibly stir up? It’s probably about that child, Ulysses Spann. After all, he’s of Xavier blood. Maybe Old Mrs. Xavier wants to take him back and raise him, but Verna refused?" Fiona Rhodes guessed.
"That must be it. And Verna’s right to refuse. I wouldn’t be happy about it either. Who would want to raise a bastard for that shameless pair? Besides, Verna has such a wonderful son of her own. She’ll be able to relax and enjoy life in just a few years," Sylvia Swann said, indignant on Verna’s behalf.
After finishing her homework, Tang Xiaonan overheard this juicy piece of gossip. She was also curious about why Verna Golding had returned. ’Could it really be about Ulysses Spann?’
But she felt that Old Mrs. Xavier wouldn’t be so foolish as to hurt her daughter-in-law and grandson’s feelings by bringing Ulysses Spann home. ’There must be another reason, right?’
Her question was answered soon enough. Tang Xiaonan hung around Phoebe Huxley’s place for a bit before heading home with Amanda Chapman. On the way, they saw several people hurrying past, their faces alight with excitement. They were clearly heading to watch a spectacle.
"Magnus Golding got his brothers and went to the Goldings’ to raise hell! It’s the first time he’s ever stood up for Verna!"
"It’s about damn time. So Magnus Golding does have a conscience after all."
"What’s it about this time? That little bastard?"
"Doesn’t seem to be. I heard from Magnus Golding’s wife it’s about money. That bastard Storm Xavier stole money from their house and gave it to that bitch Phoenix Golding to spend. It was money Verna had painstakingly saved from digging for medicinal herbs for her son’s education."
"Pah... The shameless nerve!"
The group chattered loudly as they ran, laying out the whole story in just a few sentences. Tang Xiaonan felt a wave of disgust. ’Can a scumbag that repulsive really exist in this world?’
’So this is the shameless couple’s "true love"—a romance built by trampling all over Verna Golding’s hard work and dignity. They even took Clayton Xavier’s tuition money. No wonder Verna flew into a rage.’
’Verna Golding could endure any injustice against herself, but she couldn’t tolerate any harm coming to her son. Last time, just a basket of eggs was enough to make her erupt like a lioness. This time, Storm Xavier had gone too far—he’d even dared to steal money. And then there was Phoenix Golding. She knew full well that Storm Xavier didn’t earn a cent and that this was Verna’s blood and sweat, yet she took it with a clear conscience.’
’A scumbag and a slut, a match made in hell! I hope they both die a horrible death!’
"Xiaonan, wait right here!"
Amanda Chapman dashed home, dropped off the pig feed, and hurried back, grabbing Tang Xiaonan’s hand to go watch the spectacle.
Having gotten the news, Phoebe Huxley and the others stopped trying to make money for the day. Raina took the lead, running the fastest with Phoebe Huxley right behind her. When it came to watching a spectacle involving Phoenix Golding, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law duo were always the most enthusiastic.
A crowd had once again gathered at Phoenix Golding’s front door. Verna Golding and her father, Magnus Golding, stood at the forefront, flanked by several of Magnus’s brothers and Verna’s paternal cousins. The group of about ten people blocked the entrance completely.
But the door remained shut tight. Magnus Golding yelled for a long time, but no one answered. Verna Golding’s lips were pressed into a thin line, her eyes blazing. Without a word, she stepped forward and started ramming the door. She had to get that twenty yuan back, no matter what it took.