In the book, Brian Chapman had an affair. Phoebe Thorne called her brothers over to cause a huge scene. They certainly vented their anger, but Phoebe didn't benefit from it at all. Because the Thorne family had been too vicious, Brian Chapman, who was originally in the wrong, became the one everyone pitied. When they divorced, Phoebe was left with practically nothing.
The Chapman family's biggest assets were two market stalls, bought with money Phoebe Thorne had borrowed from her own family. When they divorced, the money was never repaid, and she didn't get the stalls either. It looked like a victory, but in reality, it was a massive loss.
Now, since Brian Chapman hadn't started an affair yet, they couldn't afford to be so brutal. They had to fight a battle of wits.
First, they needed to find a strategist who was both resourceful and eloquent.
