Chapter 610: Women Are Often the Sacrifices

Phoebe Thorne regretted giving birth to the little one. Her thinking back then had been so foolish—she thought getting pregnant could win back her husband’s heart. But the truth was, the man had no heart at all. Even if she died right in front of him, he would never change his mind.

’What am I going to do?!’

The atmosphere grew exceptionally heavy. The faces of the Thorne family members darkened, their chests filled with a rage they didn’t know how to vent. They truly wished they could just slaughter that beast, Brian Chapman, but it was just a thought. Murder meant paying with your own life.

"I’m going to Wraven tomorrow! I’m gonna beat that bastard to death!"

Goldie Thorne cursed in anger. Since they couldn’t get a divorce, he’d just break the bastard’s three legs and teach him a harsh lesson.

Phoebe Huxley slapped her thigh and said indignantly, "I’m going tomorrow, too! Are you saying the Thorne family is scared of the Chapmans? If he won’t listen, we’ll beat him. We’ll beat him until he submits!"

She had always believed that reasoning was bullshit. A good beating was a better way to vent and much more effective.

Tang Xiaonan’s heart sank. What she had been worrying about was finally happening.

In the book, the Thorne family had gone to their home and given Brian Chapman a vicious beating, breaking several of his bones. Originally, Brian Chapman’s relatives and the leaders at his workplace had been somewhat sympathetic toward Phoebe Thorne. But upon seeing Brian’s miserable state, they thought the Thorne family was too brutish. This, combined with the Chapmans spreading rumors everywhere about how the Thornes had always used their influence to bully people, made it seem as if Brian Chapman had been forced to find another woman out of desperation.

People have always sympathized with the underdog, and in a patriarchal society, when men do wrong, society is more forgiving, especially in matters of personal conduct. Many people would say, ’It’s normal for men to have a wandering eye. As long as he eventually settles down and comes home, it’s fine.’

When a man settles down, it’s ’a prodigal son’s return, more precious than gold.’ Everyone thinks the wife should just live peacefully with him. After all, he has ’repented and seen the light.’ If the woman is still relentless and unforgiving, she isn’t fulfilling her duties as a wife; she’s just being petty.

But if a woman has a ’lifestyle issue,’ then one wrong step ruins her entire life. In the old days, she’d be made to ride the ’wooden donkey,’ be lit as a ’sky lantern,’ or even drowned in a pond to appease public outrage. Nowadays, while her life might be spared, the gossip alone is enough to kill her. Even if a woman corrects her mistakes, her husband won’t forgive her. Because ’once cheated on, always cheated on.’ As a man, there is zero tolerance for being cuckolded.

Irene once said something that was spot on: this world is incredibly harsh on women. Once you make a mistake, it’s hard to ever stand tall again. (I forgot the original quote, but that’s the gist of it.)

In the book, Phoebe Thorne was a victim of this patriarchal society. It was clearly Brian Chapman who was messing around outside and refused to provide living expenses, which was why the Thorne family beat him up in a fit of rage. But just because they were a bit too heavy-handed, Phoebe Thorne was painted as a tyrannical and brutish shrew. It even made it seem as if Brian Chapman finding a lover was an excusable act born of desperation. Public opinion was entirely on Brian Chapman’s side. Phoebe Thorne lost her reputation, her health suffered, and in the end, she was kicked out of her home with nothing.

Tang Xiaonan’s chest burned with anger. She had to find a way to make sure the Chapman family got what they deserved. She absolutely could not let those bastards get off easy.

First, she had to stop the Thorne family from going to cause a scene.

’But what could she say?’

Just as Tang Xiaonan was struggling with what to do, Frederick Thorne spoke up. "A beating would certainly let off some steam, but it won’t solve the problem. Last time, Sixth Uncle went and handled it very well. I think we should trouble Sixth Uncle again. Let’s have a proper talk with the Chapman family first. We shouldn’t go in all aggressive from the start and give the Chapmans something to hold against us."

Tang Xiaonan breathed a sigh of relief. ’Thank goodness Second Uncle is a reasonable man.’