Since her rebirth, she’d encountered many idiot, but also quite a few good people. The lonely Peter, the old man tending the cowshed in Larkspur Village; Kay and Leo, who had saved her; Hughes Bruce, the individual hawker selling eel noodles in Harborfield; and now Village Chief uncle Daniel, who had stood up for her and her mother.
These people were unrelated to her, they didn’t have to help her like her uncle William had, yet they extended a helping hand. Whitaker Scarlett silently kept their kindness in her heart.
Uncle Daniel glanced at her. “You’re a good girl. Live a good life with your mother from now on.”
Uncle Daniel had been observing Whitaker Scarlett since she started her business. Contrary to rumors, she wasn’t frivolous or spoiled; she was hardworking and only earned what she deserved. Uncle Daniel’s public affirmation meant that the mother and daughter could stand firm upon their return to Wellwater village.
“Uncle Daniel…”
Elizabeth’s tears welled up. She clutched the divorce papers. Was this the end of her connection with the Whitaker family?
Elizabeth couldn’t describe how she felt.
She married Whitaker Chris at sixteen, spending more years in the Whitaker family than on her own. Initially, their relationship had been quite good, but somehow, their life had deteriorated to this point. Her own hardships didn’t matter, but she couldn’t bear to watch her daughter, Whitaker Scarlett, continue to suffer. Sister-in-law Amanda was right; the Whitaker family used her to control Whitaker Scarlett.
So, divorce was the answer. With no connection to the Whitaker family, they could no longer bully Scarlett.
Even Maria’s silver tongue couldn’t salvage the situation. Veronica was dumbfounded. A divorce so swift and decisive? Where did Elizabeth find the courage? Almost forty, infertile, dark, thin, and unremarkable, who would marry her after Whitaker Chris?
However, considering Elizabeth was leaving the Whitaker family and getting rid of Whitaker Scarlett, the “little slut,” Veronica was the only one secretly pleased.
The villagers of Wellwater village watched them leave, like they were guarding against thieves.
Whitaker Chris tore the divorce papers into shreds and tossed them into a roadside ditch.
Even Maria knew there were three copies of the document; tearing one wouldn’t solve anything. “Chris, don’t rush. Once she calms down, you can still work things out…”
Maria’s words were dry and unconvincing, even to herself.
Whitaker Chris remained silent. Veronica thought Elizabeth was determined. She even said she would submit the divorce papers to the county civil affairs bureau. Which couple fighting would make such a fuss?
William must have made a fortune.
It was her brother’s support that gave Elizabeth the courage to divorce.
Veronica was extremely envious. “How will we explain this to Mother?”
…
The villagers of Wellwater chased Whitaker Chris and the others away.
William was going to treat the villagers who had beaten Whitaker Chris to drinks, and he had to thank Village Chief Uncle Daniel properly. Whitaker Scarlett also felt this was her mother’s farewell to the past, the beginning of a new life, even putting her business on hold.
“Uncle, I’ll go buy groceries!”
William stopped her. “Do whatever you need to do. The feast is tonight. Do you need to run around and show off? Uncle’s happy today, just wait for dinner.”
Would William let his niece pay for the feast?
Even if Whitaker Scarlett had money, which she didn’t, this meal was William’s treat.
Amanda agreed.
The couple sent Whitaker Scarlett out. Elizabeth didn’t know what to do at home, still reeling from the divorce. Whitaker Scarlett simply took her mother out to collect eels. After they left, Amanda opened her bedside box, and William followed:
“How much money do we have left?”
William gave most of his earnings to Amanda. He went out three times in six months and brought money home twice, about seven or eight hundred Dollars. Plus the new bicycle, he’d brought home over a thousand Dollars in six months.
Amanda gave William the figure without counting:
“690 Dollars left.”
In six months, Amanda had only spent a little over a hundred Dollars, including Michael’s medical expenses, household expenses, and fertilizer. William frowned, not because Amanda spent too much, but because he felt he didn’t earn enough.
