Qin Yunxi sighed as he descended into the underground parking lot.
"Alas!"
A sense of guilt washed over him inexplicably.
Gu Shinian was not a woman he should have gotten involved with—which was why Qin Yunxi preferred mature women, those who were open to casual arrangements and could part ways without a second thought.
Breaking up with them carried no emotional burden.
This was also why, in his ten-plus years of romantic entanglements, he avoided simple, kind-hearted women.
If it weren't for the need to produce an heir for the Qin family, if it weren't for the Qin family's excellent genetic lineage...
In any case, he had hurt Gu Shinian.
Qin Yunxi sighed again and said to the bodyguard behind him, "You stay here and secretly protect Miss Gu."
"If she doesn't want to abort the child."
"If she wants to keep it."
"Ensure her and the child's safety."
He would give her the choice, not force her, and certainly not drag her to a hospital for an abortion.
They had known each other... he had liked her...
As the mother of his child, she had the right to choose whether or not to have the baby.
Whatever decision Gu Shinian made, he would take responsibility.
—
Du Ruoxin was agonizing over which pair of high heels to wear tomorrow, aiming to neither reveal her posture nor be too tiring.
If her gait was even slightly off, it would surely escape her mother-in-law's notice, leading to another round of clumsy excuses...
Alas!
It was better to avoid trouble if one could.
Having grown accustomed to flat shoes, she found it a bit difficult to switch back to heels.
If the heels were too high, she feared she wouldn't be able to manage them tomorrow.
If they were too low, they wouldn't conceal her peculiar walking style.
There was only one solution after trying various options—modifying the evening gown into a puffy dress, which would conceal her belly, as well as her hips and legs.
It was perfect.
The designer measured her measurements, and the dress would be made overnight, ready for her to wear first thing in the morning.
Caroline and Ning Ni arrived at the manor one after another.
Grace was the last to arrive.
But the moment she appeared, she immediately drew the concerned inquiries of her friends:
"Darling, are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?"
"We were so worried when we heard you were kidnapped."
"I prayed at church every day for your safe return."
"Thank God."
Grace shook her head and smiled, "I'm fine, I wasn't harmed."
Du Ruoxin, still worried, pulled her aside to examine her from head to toe, "Quick, tell us, what exactly happened?"
Grace had heard the general course of events from Qin Yunxi on the plane ride back:
Oh, so that's what happened, it scared them to death!
They had thought Grace had been blinded by love, agreeing to Qin Yunxi's simultaneous pursuit of multiple women.
"Have you made up your mind?" Miranda asked.
Grace nodded, a newfound determination in her expression, "I have."
Miranda smiled warmly and gave her friend a hug, "Then we wish you well."
Grace: "Thank you."
Caroline also hugged Grace, "Although I'm still a little worried, since you've decided, I will pray to God that you and Qin Yunxi grow old together."
Grace comforted them, "Don't worry, I don't want to be that woman."
She didn't want to be discarded like trash.
In this contest of love, she would always love herself more than Qin Yunxi.