Free Web NovelChapter 429: Chapter 429: Rampant Phoenix Golding
Jacqueline Spann sighed, hoisting the heavy bundle of firewood onto her back and heading home. The moment she stepped through the door, Phoenix Golding tore into her, berating her for coming home late and delaying dinner.
Phoenix Golding’s injuries had mostly healed, and she was already back to teaching at school. However, having suffered such a major humiliation, her temper had grown even more volatile. She took her anger out on Jacqueline at the slightest provocation, sometimes even resorting to violence.
"I went to gather firewood right after school. I didn’t waste a single minute."
Jacqueline dodged Phoenix Golding’s assault, protecting her head with her hands. Her mother pinched her hard several times, filling her with both pain and hatred. The more Jacqueline begged for mercy, the harder Phoenix hit her, her eyes glaring as if at a mortal enemy.
"You’ve got an answer for everything now, don’t you? Think you’re all grown up? You can finish this semester, but after that, you’re done with school. You’ll stay home and work!"
Phoenix Golding pinched her hard a few more times. Seeing Jacqueline curled up in a ball of pain, she finally felt a sliver of satisfaction. ’This ungrateful wretch deserves a beating. She’s just as black-hearted as Vernon Spann, deliberately setting me up to report the Thorne family. And what did it get me? Humiliation in front of the entire village and a body covered in whip scars.’ Her fair, smooth skin was her greatest pride; even her lover couldn’t get enough of it. Her beautiful skin had almost been ruined.
’Luckily, my skin heals well, and Storm Xavier gave me some excellent scar-removing medicine. That’s the only reason it wasn’t ruined. Otherwise, if I lost Old Jacobs’s patronage, how would I ever get that transfer to the town’s elementary school?’
But Phoenix Golding was still consumed by hatred. She hated the Thorne family, and she hated Preston Thorne. For now, however, she had no way to get her revenge. And that bitch, Lana Steiner, had gotten away scot-free. That was what Phoenix hated most of all—she had been looking forward to a good show!
Seething with impotent rage, Phoenix Golding vented all her frustration on Jacqueline, beating her daily to let off steam.
"Mom, I’ll do all the work, just please don’t make me drop out of school! You promised you’d let me finish elementary school," Jacqueline pleaded through her tears.
"School? What for? I worked my fingers to the bone to send you to school, only to raise an ungrateful wretch like you! You’re just as thankless as your father, a black-hearted, worthless thing! Now you’ll stay home and do your chores like you’re told!"
Phoenix Golding remained unmoved, her eyes filled with disgust. ’Marrying Vernon Spann was the biggest mistake of my life. An even bigger mistake was giving birth to this worthless money pit, Jacqueline. I’m not wasting another cent on this ungrateful brat.’
"Mom... I’m begging you, please let me stay in school! Please!"
Jacqueline pleaded desperately, but Phoenix Golding’s mind was made up. From the other room, Vernon Spann emerged, forcing himself to move through the pain. Jethro Golding hadn’t held back with those lashes; they had injured Vernon to the bone. Besides, Vernon’s constitution had never been strong, and without any good medicine to aid his recovery, he was healing much more slowly than Phoenix. He still wasn’t well enough to return to work.
"COUGH, COUGH... Phoenix, don’t take this too far... Jacqueline is your own daughter!"
Vernon Spann glared at Phoenix with disgust, his fists clenched tight. ’If I ever make something of myself,’ he thought, ’I’ll grind this bitch under my heel.’
Phoenix sneered mockingly. "She’s your precious daughter too, isn’t she? If you’ve got what it takes, you can earn the money to keep her in school. I have a son to raise!"
Vernon Spann’s expression faltered. He blurted out, "Phoenix, don’t force me to expose your dirty secrets!"
"Go on, then. Say it, if you have the guts. See who’ll believe you," Phoenix shot back, unafraid. "Let me tell you something, Vernon Spann. If you still want any hope of returning to the city, you’d better watch your mouth. Otherwise, I’ll make sure you spend the rest of your life as a cuckold here on Millstone Peak!"
Phoenix Golding wasn’t the least bit afraid. She refused to be threatened by this spineless loser. Besides, plenty of villagers already gossiped about her, but they had no proof. They could talk until they were blue in the face, and it wouldn’t change a thing. She would continue to live her life exactly as she pleased.
