Chapter 29: Leaving the Vance Family

Amanda Vance cooked a meal, and both the adult and the child ate until they were stuffed. They were now sprawled on the sofa, letting their food settle.

"Was it really that good?" Amanda Vance asked, amused as she looked at them.

Felix Ford nodded emphatically. "It was super delicious!"

He rubbed his little belly and said with a hint of regret, "It’s a shame my tummy is so small. I couldn’t eat that much. Otherwise, I definitely would’ve eaten way more than Uncle." As he spoke, he glared at the person beside him. ’So disrespectful for an old guy. He doesn’t know how to go easy on me at all. He actually fought me for food! Doesn’t he have any shame?’

Hayden Grant paid no mind to the boy’s harmless glare. "Survival of the fittest," he said leisurely. "It’s an immutable law of nature. Who can you blame but yourself for not eating faster?"

’He’s just bullying me because my arms are short and my mouth is small. I can’t reach the food, and I can’t stuff much in anyway!’

Felix Ford was so mad he reached out and smacked Hayden on the stomach.

Hayden Grant grabbed his hand and shot him a look. "You sure you want to start something with me?"

"Mommy, Uncle is bullying me!" Unable to break free, Felix immediately tattled. The words had barely left his mouth when the large hand on his wrist let go. He huffed, ran to Amanda Vance’s side, and shot a triumphant look over his shoulder, causing Hayden Grant to roll his eyes in exasperation.

He didn’t mind the eye-roll. He looked up at Amanda Vance and said sweetly, "Mommy, I’ll help you do the dishes."

"You don’t have to." Amanda Vance stroked his little cheek. "I can handle it myself. You go play."

’He’s so little, how could he wash the dishes? He’s not even as tall as the counter.’

Felix Ford seemed to realize this too. "Then I’ll cheer for you, Mommy!"

"PFFT—" Hayden Grant couldn’t help but laugh. He walked over, pinched the back of Felix’s collar, and lifted him out of the kitchen. "What a clueless thing to say. Scoot, I’ll do them."

He rolled up his sleeves, revealing his pale arms. "You head out too, Megan. I’ll wash up."

"Okay." Amanda Vance didn’t argue. ’He used to be the one who cooked and washed the dishes anyway.’

Later, she took a walk with them and stayed for dinner before finally driving back to the Vance residence. The moment she stepped inside, something came flying at her head. Her eyes turned to ice. Clutching Felix Ford, she sidestepped the object, which slammed against the door with a heavy, dull THUD.

Amanda Vance glanced down at the solid iron lock on the floor. She lifted her gaze, her eyes cold as she stared at Holly Vance. "What’s the matter? You want to go to prison?"

If she hadn’t dodged so quickly, that lock would have seriously injured anyone it hit.

Seeing she was unharmed, Holly Vance snorted. He glared at her, his eyes filled with a resentment that was completely out of place in a father looking at his own daughter. His words were even more vicious. "It would be worth going to jail just to get rid of you. I should have strangled you the moment you were born! I raised you all these years, and all you do is cause me trouble! I told you to apologize to Mr. Ford, but you managed to provoke him again! Then you collude with an outsider to bully your own sister! Amanda Vance, why don’t you just drop dead!"

He glared at her ferociously, as if he wanted to tear her to pieces.

A chill went through Felix Ford. He instinctively looked up at his mother’s face, but her expression hadn’t changed in the slightest. It was as if she was already used to hearing such things.

’At that thought, his heart ached for her even more. He had thought Holly Vance simply didn’t like his mommy, but he never imagined the man could say something so horrible. How much must it hurt his mommy to hear that?’

Feeling a small hand slip into hers, Amanda Vance looked down. Her son was looking at her resolutely, his eyes filled with silent comfort. Her heart softened, and she squeezed his hand back. She shot a mocking glance at Shirley Vance, who was sitting off to the side, and said with a humorless smile, "Oh? *I’m* the one who provoked Mr. Ford?"

At those words, Shirley Vance flinched. On the way home, she had been replaying what Shawn Ford said over and over. He’d said he would remember the Vance Family.

’The Sheffield Family’s fate was a recent memory, and the Vance Family was even less influential. She was terrified he would use the same tactics on them. Even worse, she was terrified her father would find out she was the one who doomed their family. So, when she got home and saw Amanda wasn’t back yet, she decided she might as well pin the blame on her sister.’

’If she hadn’t taken Mr. Ford’s car, there wouldn’t have been a race today. There wouldn’t have been that bet. She wouldn’t have lost a million—no, they didn’t take her money. They just humiliated her. And all of it, every last bit, was Amanda Vance’s fault.’

’She was the real culprit.’

Now, as Amanda looked her way, she met her gaze without flinching, glaring back with raw hatred.

Amanda Vance gave a short, soft laugh. ’She had really overestimated her sister.’

’Then again, how could she expect someone like Shirley Vance to act with integrity and take responsibility for her own actions? That would be asking too much of such a petty person.’

"You really think *I’m* the one who offended Mr. Ford?"

"Who else would it be? Shirley is so sweet. It’s impossible that she’s the one who offended him," Holly Vance said, looking at her with disgust. "Having a daughter like you... I must have had terrible luck for eight lifetimes."

"What a coincidence. I feel the same way. My mother was unlucky to have a husband like you, and I am unfortunate to have a father like you."

"You—!" Holly Vance was livid. He clenched his fists as if to charge forward and hit her, but he seemed wary of her fighting skills and didn’t dare.

Amanda Vance sneered. ’What a coward.’

"Fine. In that case, I’ll just leave. If Mr. Ford really comes looking for trouble because of me, you can just tell him you threw me out of the house ages ago. Try to sound indignant when you say it. And if he’s still not satisfied, you all can help him brainstorm ways to completely destroy me. It’s not like it would be the first time you’ve done something like that, anyway."

Without bothering to see their reactions, she carried Felix Ford upstairs. Listening to her father’s thunderous rage behind her, the corner of her mouth lifted in a mocking smile.

"Mommy." Only when they were in her room did Felix Ford dare to speak. He carefully studied her expression, trying to see if she was angry.

Amanda Vance took a deep breath and caressed his small face. "Don’t worry, Mommy’s fine. I saw their true colors a long time ago."

Felix Ford breathed a sigh of relief. "So, are we really leaving?"

"We are. I’ve already checked everywhere. The Jade Pendant isn’t in the Vance house, so there’s no reason to stay."

"Oh." ’Felix Ford wanted to ask what Jade Pendant she was talking about, but he didn’t dare. What if Jean Vance found out? Asking now would blow his cover.’

’Still, from what Mommy said, she was looking for a jade pendant. He’d find a chance to ask her about it quietly later. He could help her look for it, too.’

Amanda Vance quickly packed her things. She hadn’t been staying at the Vance house for long, so she was mostly just packing the same luggage she’d arrived with. However, she had bought quite a few new things for Felix during their stay. She hesitated for a moment, but seeing the reluctant look in his eyes, she swallowed the words about just buying him new ones.

’Besides, they had a car. It wasn’t like she had to carry it all herself. They might as well take everything.’

After stuffing everything into a large bag, the mother and son emerged from the room. Downstairs, Holly Vance and the others were sitting in the living room. Sarah Sullivan was just about to speak when Amanda Vance cut her off. "Drop the act. Aren’t you tired of it?"

Sarah Sullivan looked at her with a wronged expression, staying silent as if Amanda had just bullied her.

"Let her go! Get out of my house!" Holly Vance roared.

’His house? If he hadn’t mentioned it, she would have almost forgotten. This house belonged to her mother, too. Tsk. Squat in someone else’s nest long enough, and you really start thinking you’re the master. How righteous he sounds.’

’Truly a family. Each one more shameless than the last.’