Chapter 2

For me to lose my temper. To rage. To scream like a woman out of her mind.

I had always wanted the three of us to go to the Maldives together. At first, Yue Feihong said he was busy. After Yue Nianci was born, he said it would be too much trouble.

Every year I asked. Every year he was busy.

Eventually, I stopped asking.

When I gave him no reaction, he sneered and left with Lin Xianya.

I sat on the sofa, trying to steady myself.

Then Yue Nianci appeared in front of me.

He held out a tube of ointment.

“For your injuries. Next time, don’t talk back. You can’t fight them.”

I looked at him. Something stirred inside me, and I almost cried again.

He handed me a sheaf of papers.

“Dad signed it. He thought it was my homework, so he just signed.”

“Do you know what these papers are?” I asked.

Yue Nianci frowned.

“Yes. Divorce papers.”

### 4

He set the ointment and papers beside me.

“Mrs. Qi, let me make something clear, in case you get any ideas.”

“I gave you the ointment because I want you to leave sooner. Don’t use treating your injuries, or anything else, as an excuse to stay and break your promise again.”

“As for the divorce papers, I’m twelve. I know what they mean.”

“Please don’t treat me like a child.”

Contempt showed in his eyes. Then, with an air of condescension, he added, “But if you want to change your mind…”

“I won’t,” I said softly.

I picked up the papers and left.

The next day, I submitted them to the Civil Affairs Bureau.

Back at the Yue residence, I had just finished gathering my identification documents when a disheveled Yue Feihong burst in.

“Qi Ran, are you insane? You actually had the nerve to pay someone to kill her?”

I frowned at him.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You don’t?”

He sneered, advancing on me step by step, and threw a bank statement in my face.

“I’d barely set off with Yaya and our son when we were in a car crash!”

“And what a coincidence! I have an accident today, and yesterday, 1.4 million yuan left your account!”

“You’ve emptied every penny of liquid funds in your name! Don’t tell me you don’t know!”

But I had spent that 1.4 million on insurance for Yue Nianci.

Yue Nianci had always liked the way Lin Xianya spoiled him and let him do as he pleased.

It had never occurred to him to ask why, if she truly cared about him, she had persuaded Yue Feihong to cancel his trust fund.

Why she encouraged him to skip school and resist the education I had arranged to prepare him as an heir.

It had never even occurred to him to wonder why, at his age, he had never been taken to the company once.

This was the last thing I would do for him as his mother.

The only security I could leave him for the rest of his life.

I looked at Yue Feihong.

“I didn’t do it. I’m leaving today.”

“Enough!” he snapped. “Still making a fuss!”

“Do you have any idea how badly Yaya was hurt in that crash? Did you see the state she was in when they took her to the hospital? If I call the police, you’ll go to prison!”

Yue Nianci suddenly ran over, his face wet with tears.

“Dad! The doctor says Mom Lin needs a blood transfusion! But the blood bank doesn’t have any!”

“Then tell them to get some brought in!”

A servant spoke up quietly.

“But Mrs. Qi’s blood type is a match…”

Yue Feihong looked at me. Conflicting emotions flickered in his eyes before he said, “Come to the hospital with me.”

I struggled.

“I didn’t do it! Yue Feihong, will you calm down? I’ve already signed the divorce papers! I’m leaving today!”

He shouted in my face.

“You’re not going anywhere! You’re staying with me forever.”

I looked at Yue Nianci.

“Nianci, tell him. Haven’t I signed the divorce papers?”

His gaze shifted. Yue Feihong crouched in front of him.

“Tell me, Nianci. If she’s signed them, I’ll have someone destroy them right now.”

“She hasn’t,” Yue Nianci said quietly. “I don’t know anything.”

Yue Feihong seized me, his patience apparently exhausted.

“You’re coming to the hospital. Now.”

At the hospital, I was forced into the blood donation room. Once they had drawn 400 milliliters of blood, no one spared me another thought.

A few nurses passed, chatting.

“Mr. Yue really loves his wife. You should have seen it—he booked the entire VIP floor.”

“I know. Apparently, she threw herself in front of him during the crash. That’s true love.”

My phone vibrated.

Lin Xianya.

[Well? Can’t beat me, can you?]

[You can take the blame for this crash.]

Almost at once, I understood. The accident had been a trap she set for me.

Hurried footsteps sounded at the end of the corridor. Madam Yue stopped in front of me, her face ashen.

“What were you thinking? Doing something so stupid! Did you not realize Feihong was in that car too?”

I gave her a strained smile.

“It wasn’t me.”

She opened her mouth to scold me. I smiled.

“Mother, a private detective says he has proof that Lin Xianya arranged the crash. He only wants two million yuan.”