"How dare he take the child from my womb!"
"Your child? Are you hermaphroditic, Su Qi? Do you think you can give birth to a child? The seed in your belly flows with my Huo Tingyun's blood. He is surnamed Huo, not Su!"
The man tightly gripped her wrist, veins bulging at his temples. Her wrist turned red from his grip, as if it would snap with a little more force. Yet, Su Qi felt no pain, only a buzzing in her ears. When she learned that Huo Tingyun had blocked the divorce proceedings, she thought the man had at least a shred of affection for her.
However, hearing his words, she felt like a ridiculous clown.
She had been too naive. Huo Tingyun had never loved her. He only stopped the divorce because of the child in her womb, solely because he wanted this child.
A pang of pain surged in her abdomen. Su Qi gasped for air, turned, and walked upstairs, each step a struggle.
Her eyes grew warm, a layer of tears welling up.
If it were against Xu Lin Yun, Huo Tingyun would never say such things, would he?
So, in Huo Tingyun's eyes, she was merely a tool for childbirth.
Enduring the pain in her abdomen, she returned to her room, locked the door behind her, and lay down on the bed with difficulty.
Because her belly was growing heavier, Su Qi could only lie on her side.
Closing her eyes, the events of the recent past flashed before her.
She had lost everything; she could not lose this child.
When Su Qi woke up a while later and went downstairs, she found the man had left at some point.
Wu Sao was still cleaning and saw Su Qi coming down. "Young Madam, be careful of your footing. Don't stumble."
Su Qi nodded, holding the stair railing as she descended. She didn't ask where Huo Tingyun had gone, but obediently sat at the dining table and began to eat.
The food was still warm. She didn't savor the taste, simply picking out the nutritious items.
Ever since the car accident, Xu Lin Chuan had told her to take care of her body, and she had become exceptionally cautious.
While eating, Su Qi mentally reviewed the recent events.
Li Cui Ping's death was ultimately ruled an accident by the police, not murder.
That car accident was also simply attributed to drunk driving and an accident.
But how could there be so many accidents in the world?
Su Qi's hand, gripping the spoon, tightened slightly, her fingers turning pale.
If she hadn't been lucky, she might have lost both herself and the child.
The Xu family must have been involved.
Checking the time, Huo Tingyun and Xu Lin Yun's engagement banquet was in three days.
Su Qi finished eating, took a tissue, and slowly wiped her mouth.
After wiping clean, she crumpled the tissue tightly in her hand.
Her gaze lowered, and she sat for a long time, lost in thought.
After a while, as if she had finally made up her mind, Su Qi pushed herself up from the table, using her hands to support herself.
She bought a bouquet of flowers and went to the public cemetery.
Last time, Xu Lin Chuan had told her that Li Cui Ping's ashes were buried here.
Xu Lin Chuan had indeed chosen a good spot for Li Cui Ping, the best location in the cemetery, nestled against the mountains and near the water, not too close to the surrounding tombstones – a veritable mansion in the cemetery. She stopped, looking at the photo of Li Cui Ping carved on the tombstone, and placed the daisies she was holding in front of it.
"Mom, no matter what, you will always be my mother. Don't worry, I will not let the Xu family off so easily. I promise you."
Before the engagement banquet even began, all the media in Shencheng were already abuzz with promotions.
Su Qi came out of the cemetery and found a restaurant to eat. As soon as she sat down, she heard a familiar voice.
"Oh, who is this? Isn't this Mr. Huo's delicate wife? Your husband... oh no, Mr. Huo, is about to get engaged. I thought he was really your husband. Turns out you're just a third party who interfered in someone else's relationship!"
Li Yi Ran, in her high heels, stopped in front of Su Qi. Her heavily made-up face was adorned with a seductive smile, and her malicious gaze fell upon Su Qi. Su Qi instantly lost her appetite. They say enemies often cross paths; how could she encounter Li Yi Ran everywhere?
Seeing Su Qi remain silent, Li Yi Ran became even more smug.
Last time, the detective hadn't been able to find information about this Mr. Huo. She hadn't expected to see him in the news.
And it was news about this Mr. Huo's engagement!
"Su Qi, your good husband is getting engaged to someone else. How does it feel to be this unseen, illegitimate mistress?"
Li Yi Ran still held a grudge about the office building incident and wanted to insult Su Qi with the harshest words.
Su Qi picked up her teacup, took a sip of the slightly hot tea, then stood up, raised her arm, and with a splash, poured the tea into Li Yi Ran's face.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh—"
Inside the restaurant, Li Yi Ran's pig-like scream erupted, instantly drawing the attention of many customers and waitstaff.
Li Yi Ran's entire face instantly turned red from the scalding tea. Her heavy makeup was also smudged by the tea, with half of her false eyelashes hanging on her eyelids and the other half dangling in the air, making her face look incredibly comical, akin to a clown in a circus.
Su Qi let out a chuckle, took a tissue, and leisurely wiped her fingers.
"Excuse me, if you can't use your mouth properly, you can donate it to someone in need. If you lack manners, you can go back to kindergarten. Even if you haven't been to school, you should have learned to respect people. Or perhaps, after serving so long, you've forgotten how to respect people? Didn't your customers teach you respect?"
Su Qi stood up, her back perfectly straight, her swollen belly prominently visible.
Li Cui Ping was right; she and Huo Tingyun were not divorced yet. The third party wasn't her, but Xu Lin Yun!
"Su Qi, you, you—"
Li Yi Ran pointed a finger at Su Qi, her finger practically wanting to stab into Su Qi's eyes.
Su Qi waved for the waiter to come over, paid for the tea, and took two steps before stopping. She turned back and smiled at Li Yi Ran, "Forgot to remind you, try not to get too angry. Be careful your nose implant doesn't pop out!" Li Yi Ran abruptly covered her nose, her face looking extremely unpleasant.
Su Qi turned and left the restaurant. Back in the car, the radio was playing news about Huo Tingyun and Xu Lin Yun's engagement banquet.
Even just the engagement was so widely publicized, such a grand affair.
On her wedding day, she hadn't even had a proper meal.
Su Qi curled her lips bitterly, a flicker of resentment surfacing in her heart.
After a long moment, her hand rested on her bulging belly.
Huo Tingyun, you will never get this child.
This is her flesh and blood, her last remaining family.
She would absolutely not let this child be surnamed Huo.
Su Qi took a deep breath, then picked up her phone and dialed the number that had no contact name.
Three days later, at the Stine Hotel.