Chapter 5

When my mother was wheeled into the operating room, I stood motionless in the hallway, staring at the tightly shut doors.

My uncle stood beside me. My mother’s blood stained his suit, but he seemed not to notice. His eyes were fixed on the red light above the door.

Time seemed to stretch endlessly.

I don’t know how long passed before the operating-room doors finally opened.

A masked doctor came out and removed his mask, revealing an exhausted smile.

“Mother and child are both safe. It’s a boy. The mother is weak, but the baby is healthy and has a strong cry.”

My mother was wheeled out.

I rushed forward. Her face was still pale, but at last there was a little color in her lips.

In her arms was a tiny bundle. Inside the swaddling cloth lay a wrinkled, ruddy newborn, eyes closed as he yawned sleepily.

Tears began streaming down my face without warning.

I didn’t sob. I simply stood by the door and watched them for a long time.

Then my mother turned her head and opened her eyes.

“Xiangyi…”

Her voice was as faint as a breath.

“Mom’s all right now.”

I nodded. My throat was too tight to speak.

My mother stayed in the hospital for three days. My uncle arranged the best room and nurses for her.

By the afternoon of the third day, she was feeling much better. She could prop herself up against the headboard and sip a little congee.

The baby in her arms was named An’an. My mother said she hoped his life would be peaceful and smooth, without any more hardship.

That evening, my uncle sat on the sofa in the hospital room and asked me,

“Xiangyi, what do you want to do next?”

I was sitting in a chair beside my mother’s bed, holding An’an. He was fast asleep, his plump little cheeks squished into an adorable curve.

I looked up at my uncle, then glanced at my mother and answered without hesitation.

“Have Mom divorce him.”

My uncle paused while peeling a tangerine.

He handed a segment to my mother, wiped his hands, and looked at me seriously.

“All right. I’ll contact a lawyer and have them prepare the divorce agreement as soon as possible.”

I interrupted him.

“Uncle, there’s no rush.”

He raised an eyebrow.

I gently laid An’an on the bed, then turned to face him.

“Mom can divorce him.”

I paused. “But I have to stay with the Shen family.”

My mother jerked her head up.

“Xiangyi? What are you saying? You want to stay in that house? No!”

I went over to her bedside and took her hand.

“Mom, please hear me out.”

“Take An’an and go. You can stay with the Huo family or somewhere else—anywhere far away from that man. But I can’t leave.”

“If I go, won’t that be exactly what Chen Meiyi wants? She’s dying for the Shen household to be left with just her and Shen Jingze. Then she can take her place as the legitimate wife, and her illegitimate son can inherit the Shen family’s fortune.”

“But that house is too dangerous…” My mother’s voice trembled.

“Uncle will be there to back me up. He won’t dare touch me. Besides, the law may go easy on Shen Jingze because he’s still a minor, after he tried to make you fall—but I won’t let it go. The debt those two have piled up against us will be settled, bit by bit.”

My uncle was silent for a moment.

Then he reached out to stroke my head. A faint smile flickered in his eyes.

“Xiangyi, you’re a lot like me.”

I smiled.

“Will you help me, then?”

He stood and went to the window, watching the sunset before turning back.

“I will. But what if Shen Wanjun refuses to sign the divorce papers?”

I tilted my head back to look at him, my tone calm.

“He let his illegitimate son harm his lawful wife. I still have that weakness in my hands.”

“If he won’t agree to the divorce, I’ll release the security footage and the testimony from the traffickers at the reform center.”

“To Shen Wanjun, beauty and money are nothing more than passing clouds. The only person he loves is himself. Once this stain is attached to his name, he won’t be able to hold on to the Shen chairmanship.”

My uncle looked at me for a long time.

“Fine. We’ll do it that way.”

Things went more smoothly than I had imagined.

My father was released after three days in detention, looking utterly wretched.

The divorce agreement was waiting for him.

“Huo Yanshen,” he said hoarsely, looking up at my uncle. “Couldn’t we have discussed this properly? The children are grown. Making a public spectacle of the divorce won’t look good for either the Shen or the Huo family.”

My uncle leaned against the doorframe with his arms crossed, smiling faintly.

“Shen Wanjun, you care about appearances. But my sister has to care about staying alive.”

“If you think this looks bad, we can play the security footage again and settle every debt between us.”

My father’s expression changed several times.

He turned to me, lips moving as if he were choosing his words: