Chapter 620: No Feelings, Yet a Son With Whom?

The director looked over the papers. They were indeed check-up reports from the past six months. The medical records stated clearly that the pregnant woman had gestational hypertension, a very dangerous condition. She required complete rest and extra nutrition. Twenty yuan was definitely not enough.

Phoebe Thorne started crying again. "I’ve been staying at my parents’ place for over half a year, and that heartless Brian Chapman hasn’t come to see me or our child even once. It’s only an hour’s walk to my family’s home, but he can’t even spare that little bit of time. It’s obvious he doesn’t care about us anymore. He must have a mistress on the side..."

With every mention of a "mistress," Brian Chapman grew more livid. His face turned as black as the bottom of a wok. He hated Phoebe Thorne with a passion and resolved to divorce this shrew.

But having a mistress was an accusation he would not accept. If his moral character came into question, he’d lose his "iron rice bowl."

"I’ve done nothing wrong. Don’t make a scene at my office. Let’s go home. I’ll talk to you after I get off work," Brian Chapman said, trying to contain his rage.

"If you’ve done nothing wrong, then why won’t you give me money for living expenses? You’re trying to starve us to death! You’re more vicious than a tiger!"

"We’ll talk about this at home! Stop making a scene!"

Brian Chapman could feel the director’s anger and feared his job was on the line. He had no choice but to try and placate Phoebe Thorne. He had to coax this shrew into going home first, then he could discuss the divorce with his parents. In any case, he was thoroughly sick of her.

"I’ll go if you give me the money. If you don’t, the three of us will starve to death right here in your office! Let everyone see what a scoundrel you are—dumping your wife for a mistress!" Phoebe Thorne wasn’t falling for it. She was determined to blow this up.

"Stop going on about a ’mistress.’ Comrade Brian Chapman is a man of upstanding character. How could he possibly have a mistress? You’re slandering your own husband. Aren’t you worried about ruining his reputation?"

A middle-aged woman in her fifties walked over. Her tone was severe as she looked at Phoebe Thorne with disapproval. She was also a Chapman, a distant cousin of Brian’s father, and a manager of some rank at the same office. It was thanks to this relative’s patronage that Brian had been able to get a raise.

Phoebe Thorne, of course, recognized her. She sneered inwardly. ’Not a single one of these Chapmans is any good.’

"If he doesn’t have a mistress, why won’t he give me money to live on? The only reason he wouldn’t give me money is because he has a mistress! Since he’s the one who’s done something so shameless, I’m not allowed to talk about it? ’Auntie,’ you Chapmans are all one big family, and I’m the outsider. I know you won’t take my side, but you shouldn’t act without a conscience. Watch out you don’t get struck by lightning on your way home!"

More than a decade of pent-up resentment erupted in that instant. Phoebe Thorne dropped all pretense and sneered at her without restraint.

The relative was so furious she looked ready to have an aneurysm. She pointed a finger at Phoebe Thorne and berated her, "You... just look at yourself! You’re nothing but a shrew! And you have the audacity to blame Brian? What kind of wife acts like you, relying on your family’s many brothers to bully Brian and his family into submission? Then you abandon everyone, young and old, to run back to your parents’ place and live a carefree life! Any other man would have divorced a shrew like you long ago. Brian only tolerates you for the children’s sake!"

Phoebe Thorne gave a cold laugh and retorted, "So, ’Auntie,’ are you saying that Brian and I haven’t had feelings for each other for a long time?"

The relative snorted. She didn’t say yes, but her meaning was unmistakable.

Phoebe Thorne laughed even louder. She adjusted her grip on Allister, then lifted him high for everyone to see. She declared to the crowd, "Since this Chapman has no feelings for me, then who did I have this son with? Did I force him at knifepoint? Director, take a look! Don’t my son and Brian Chapman have the exact same face? I haven’t been unfaithful! This is Brian Chapman’s own flesh and blood. He has no feelings for me, yet he had a son with me. ’Auntie,’ how can you say something so ridiculous without worrying you’ll be the laughingstock of this office!"