“I wish I was never adopted by you!” Upon saying that, Shen Qi shoved Mrs. Shen’s hands away from her shoulder before taking a few steps back to distance herself from Mrs. Shen.
“This is ridiculous. Before entering this house, I still had a glimmer of hope that you would persuade me to stay. I would have felt so touched even if it was a lie, but… you didn’t try to persuade me. Instead, you even made me give my identity away to Shen Yue. That’s right. I care little for wealth and fame, because what I care more about is my family.
Otherwise, I wouldn’t have listened to you and married into the Ye Family in Shen Yue’s place. Mom, you were right. You deserve some credit for raising me up, but… you have also taken a lot from me at the same time, haven’t you?”
Tears welled up in Shen Qi’s eyes as she recounted the story. However, she stubbornly fought back her tears, biting her lips refusing to let the tears fall.
“You didn’t even ask how I was coping after I divorced. Instead, you sent me away to the Ye Family coldly and without mercy. Do you think I’ve led a happy life after I became the Young lady of the Ye Family? If you think I had a happy life, why didn’t you let Shen Yue marry into the Ye Family in the first place? That was because you were worried that your daughter would marry a handicap and fall into a living hell! So, you chose me instead to endure all these. In that case, I must have already repaid your kindness for bringing me up. Aren’t we even now?”
“No!” Mrs. Shen shook her head vigorously. “We are not even. Shen Qi, don’t even think about getting rid of the Shen Family. I raised you up as my daughter, so it is your duty as a daughter to do whatever thing I tell you to! What’s the big deal about replacing your sister in that marriage anyway? Who on earth would want to marry a divorced woman like you? If it hadn’t been the Shen Family, you would have become a nobody. If you hadn’t married in Shen Yue’s place, you wouldn’t have become the Young Lady of the Ye Family!”
“Then, I’ll give up the title as the Ye Family’s Young Lady!” Shen Yue rebuked loudly. “Do you think I want all this? What makes you think you could shove it down my throat just because you think that the title sounds nice? Have you even asked about my well-being after I married into the Ye Family? All these years, I have always seen myself as the daughter of the Shen Family. Everything that I have done was for your sake because I treated you like my real mother. That’s why I chose to grin and bear it, no matter how unfair you treated me! But today, I’ve finally understood something—my mother is just exploiting me. You just want to milk me until there is nothing left. Then, when I’m no longer useful to you, you’re just going to kick me away without thinking twice!”
“What do you mean ‘exploit’? You don’t want the life you now live, do you? Since you care so little about wealth and fame, you might as well give them all to your sister.”
Why must she give away something she didn’t desire?
“Who says I don’t want it?” Shen Qi sneered. “As you said, it’s the Young Miss of the Han Family we’re talking about. Furthermore, that is what truly belongs to me. I rightfully own the title without question.”
Upon hearing that, Mrs. Shen paused. “Do you… you really want it?
Shen Qi didn’t reply to that. Her eyes turned cold, and the aura that was oozing off her was no longer the same as before.
She came here hoping things would turn out for the better for her, but now, the only glimmer of hope she had was gone. There was no need for her to stay any longer. At the thought of that, Shen Qi turned around and left.
Seeing her leave, Mrs. Shen’s expression changed as she started to get anxious. With a step forward, she seized her wrist. “Where are you going?”
Upon hearing that, a sudden flame of hope lit up in Shen Qi’s heart. However, before she could say a word, Mrs. Shen stated, “You’ll remember my grace for bringing you up even after you leave, won’t you? I’ll just be frank with you—I’m now saddled with debt. You’re now the Young Miss of the Han Family, so, considering the credit that I deserve for raising you up, you’re going to make it up for me, aren’t you?”
With that, Shen Qi’s last ray of hope shattered.
She responded with a nonchalant smile, her eyes void of light. “I know. Don’t worry, I’ll never forget your… grace.”
Upon hearing her assurance, Mrs. Shen rejoiced. “That’s right. I’m your mother who raised you up all these years after all. Alright, you better go home now. Stay safe on the road.”
She paid little attention to Shen Qi’s expression and hence was unaware about what Shen Qi had in her mind. Or perhaps she couldn’t even be bothered about Shen Qi’s feelings at all.
When exiting through the main door, Shen Qi felt as if all hopes were lost. The night breeze blew and stroked her silky long hair. With her dark hair waving in the air, Shen Qi stopped to hug herself across her shoulders. It’s so cold.
Winter hadn’t even arrived yet, but she was already freezing.
It was cold everywhere, without even a tiny bit of warmth.
Upon reaching the junction, Shen Qi realized the Han Family’s car was still parked there. She stood there and stared blankly at it. Shortly after that, the car door opened, and the driver came running toward her.
“Miss, you’re done?. Let me see you back then.”
“Back to where?” Shen Qi asked naturally.
The driver revealed a pleasant smile. “I have orders from Mr. Han. You could come home anytime as you wish, miss. If you don’t want to go home, I could also give you a ride anywhere you want to go.”
Anywhere she wanted to go?
Where else could she go besides Yan’s?
This was absurd. She was a married woman, yet she couldn’t return to her husband nor her maiden home.
No… she was no longer a married woman. Ye Moxuan had already given her the divorce agreement. Therefore, she would be a woman who had divorced twice from then on.
She was… too naïve.
She should have fathomed her situation better, when Ye Moxuan treated her as if she was a filthy harlot. Yet, she actually wishfully thought that she could share a mutual love with Ye Moxuan.
Who knew that it was all a pipe dream?
Where could she go?
Shen Qi raised her gaze and shook her head.
“I don’t know… where to go…”
After looking at her for a moment, the driver suddenly said, “Miss, please hop in. I’ll drive you.”
Shen Qi stood there for a while before finally getting into the car.
After getting into the car, Shen Qi suddenly requested. “Please drive me to the hotel.”
She no longer wanted to impose on Yan, but she didn’t want to go to Han Residence as well. She hadn’t fully accepted the truth, so she needed a quiet place where she could find peace of mind.
The driver hesitated but decided to go along with her in the end and drove her to the hotel.
Shen Qi brought only her identification card with her without extra clothes to change. After apologizing to the driver, she proceeded to check into the hotel by herself.
After making sure that she had entered the elevator, the driver walked to the entrance and gave Han Qing a call.
“Sir, I have taken Young Miss to the hotel as per her request.”
“Alright. I’ll send someone to tail her and make sure she is safe.”
“Sure, sir. I’ve sent the coordinates to your cell phone.”
