Chapter 5: Ungrateful Wolf?

Amanda Vance didn’t say a word. She went back to her room and returned shortly after, holding a small porcelain bottle. She had Felix Ford lie face down on her lap and gently applied the medicine.

Felix Ford seemed to realize what was going on. He lay there obediently, turning his head to glance at the bed and gritting his teeth.

’Old hags really are the worst.’

"From now on, you’ll sleep with me at night," Amanda Vance said.

"Okay!"

Felix Ford agreed joyfully. He had guessed who was responsible and was already plotting his revenge, never expecting this to be a blessing in disguise.

He’d heard from Paddy that his mom often tucked him in and told him bedtime stories. He wondered if his mom would do the same for him.

At the thought, he wished night would fall right then and there.

She waited until the medicine was mostly dry before letting him go change his clothes.

Amanda Vance stripped the bedsheet off the mattress. Smelling it, her red lips tightened into a thin line as she suppressed her fury. Seeing that Felix Ford had finished changing, she led him straight downstairs.

Sarah Sullivan was already up, chatting with Holly Vance on the sofa. When she saw them, she walked over with a smile. "Megan, you’re up! Come have some—"

Before she could finish, something was thrown in her face. She cried out, her eyes flickering as she saw the item that had fallen to the floor. Then, clutching her face, she stared at Amanda in disbelief as her eyes gradually filled with helplessness and hurt. She stood there, lost, her figure alone looking pitiful enough to stir one’s sympathy.

Sure enough, Holly Vance took the bait. He strode over, looked at the bedsheet on the floor, then at the red mark on Sarah Sullivan’s face from the impact, and flew into a rage. He swung his hand to slap Amanda Vance.

"Mom, look out!" Felix Ford cried out, but in the next second, he was completely stunned.

Amanda directly intercepted his wrist. With a light press, Holly Vance’s body went limp and powerless. She then kicked him squarely, sending him stumbling toward Sarah Sullivan. A flash of terror crossed Sarah’s eyes, but she didn’t dare to dodge. She was forced to catch him, and her back hit the floor with a solid THUD, making her shriek in pain.

"AHHH—"

Compared to her earlier melodramatic performance, this scream was far more genuine.

Amanda Vance cleaned out her ear, walked closer, and looked down at the furious Holly Vance. "Why don’t you ask your dear wife why I hit her?"

Meeting Holly Vance’s questioning gaze, Sarah Sullivan pouted and said plaintively, "Megan, if I did something wrong, just tell me. I’ll change."

Her meek and submissive act made it seem as if Amanda was just looking for trouble.

Holly Vance’s brow furrowed, and he immediately started yelling, "Your mother is only trying to do what’s best for you! How can you be so ungrateful? You’re an ungrateful wretch, that’s what you are! An ungrateful wretch we raised for nothing!"

Amanda remained completely unfazed. In fact, she smiled, which made Holly Vance a little nervous. "What—what are you smiling at?"

"Ungrateful wretch?" Amanda repeated the words with a playful smirk. Her face was smiling, but her eyes were ice-cold as she slowly approached. "Tell me, who’s the real ungrateful wretch here? Holly Vance, have you forgotten how you made your fortune?"

He used to be just some poor kid. If her mother hadn’t married him against her family’s wishes, did he really think he could have gotten to where he is today?

’Who’s the real ungrateful wretch here?’

With his most painful memories exposed, Holly Vance was thoroughly enraged. He scrambled up from the floor to hit her, but Amanda kicked him right back down again. Sarah let out another "Ah!"

Glancing at the pathetic pair, Amanda’s lips curled. "A kind gesture, was it? Fine. Today, you’ll get to enjoy some of my kindness. You can’t refuse, you know. It’s all part of my filial piety. And one more thing." Her eyes shifted to Sarah Sullivan, dripping with sarcasm. "Don’t you dare sully the word ’Mom.’ Is she even worthy?"

’She was just a homewrecker who had wormed her way into the house. Did she really think she deserved to be called "Mom"?’

Sarah Sullivan was so provoked she was about to explode with anger. But with Holly Vance right there, she couldn’t lose her temper. She could only grit her teeth and glare at Amanda. ’That little bastard!’

Seeing through her resentment, Amanda sneered, her eyes devoid of warmth.

’To think she dared to give my son such a low-quality bedsheet to sleep on.’

’She had been too careless. How could she not have noticed yesterday?’

Seeing her leave, Felix Ford hurried to keep up. He deliberately took a detour over to Holly Vance and stepped on him as he passed. Although he was just a child, his full weight on Holly’s chest was still significant, and the pair on the floor cried out again.

Felix Ford spread his hands innocently. "Oops, sorry. I didn’t see you there. You’re both so kind, you surely wouldn’t hold it against a little kid like me, right?"

A flicker of a smile appeared in Amanda’s eyes, and some of her frustration dissipated.

The couple was so angry their eyes were practically shooting fire, but fearing Amanda, they didn’t dare do anything. All they could do was glare at him hatefully.

After taking a couple of steps, Felix Ford turned back. "Mom, wait for me a sec, I forgot something." With that, he stepped on them again. As his foot landed on a hand, he pivoted on his toes, looked up at Amanda, and said, "Don’t go, Mom, okay? Wait for me, I’ll be right down."

Amanda leaned against a pillar and tilted her chin up. "Mm, go ahead."

Felix Ford gave her a smile and scampered upstairs on his short legs. It wasn’t long before he came back out with his little yellow duck backpack on. Reaching the last step, he gave an excited little hop and landed right on Sarah Sullivan’s hand. She shrieked and instinctively pulled her hand away.

Felix Ford lost his balance and tilted backward. Thankfully, Amanda reached out and caught him in time. He swayed, his feet scrambling for purchase, and finally steadied himself. He patted his chest with lingering fear. "You scared me! Oh, dear, how did I step on your hands? I’m so sorry, I didn’t see them. I’ll be more careful next time."

He sounded so sincere, insisting it was an accident, that the pair was left speechless with rage, only able to glare at him.

A constant smile played on Amanda’s lips as she took his hand and led him over their bodies. "Let’s go."

"Mm," Felix Ford replied, obediently pulling his foot back.

Once outside, he scraped his shoes on the ground, then looked up at Amanda and explained with a straight face, "I stepped in something dirtier than dog poop."

"Then we’ll throw these shoes out. We’ll go buy you a new pair."

Felix Ford tilted his head and thought for a moment. "Okay."

Samuel Ford had a habit of exercising in the morning, so he was up early. After his run, he went to his son’s room. He looked at the person lying primly in bed, then glanced around the tidy room and narrowed his eyes.

He remembered that he hadn’t asked anyone to clean the room yesterday.

Besides, he never liked other people touching his things.

’Did he clean it himself?’

’Impossible.’

Sensing his gaze, Jean Vance woke up. He could clearly feel the man’s scrutinizing stare, so he deliberately peeked through a tiny slit in his eyelids before quickly squeezing them shut again and continuing to lie still.

’So he was pretending to be asleep. No wonder.’

Samuel Ford’s heart relaxed. He dismissed his jumbled thoughts, walked over, and said in a low voice, "Get up. I’m taking you to buy toys today. You can get whatever you want."

He guessed the boy wouldn’t be able to resist the temptation.

Sure enough, the person who had been feigning sleep a moment ago immediately opened his eyes and asked in pleasant surprise, "Really?"

"Mm-hmm." Samuel Ford glanced at him, his cool voice softening slightly. "I’ll give you five minutes. If you’re not downstairs by then, I’m leaving without you."

With that, he walked straight out. Hearing the rustling sounds behind him, a faint smile touched his eyes. ’Kids are easy to please. No matter how angry they are, a few toys will usually do the trick. If they’re still upset, it just means you didn’t buy enough.’

Jean Vance watched his back, also smiling. He stretched lazily, feeling a bit listless.

’Whatever. This place is boring. I’d rather go find Mom.’