Lin Qiutong had expected that playing the victim would garner support from her fans and allow her to reclaim her former glory.
To her surprise, the fans who used to shower her with adoration and marriage proposals seemed to have vanished into thin air.
Not only did no one speak up for her, but many turned against her.
Someone, she didn't know who, leaked the news of her pregnancy, causing her reputation to plummet. Companies that had endorsed her were terminating contracts, her dramas were shelved, and even promising collaborations fell through.
She was drowning in debt due to breach of contract, and her company had abandoned her to fend for herself.
Lin Qiutong had become a pariah, reviled by everyone.
With no other recourse, Lin Qiutong sought help from the Lin couple.
In the Lin family living room, Lin Xing'an sat on the sofa, smoking, while Ye Fanglin appeared flustered and conflicted.
Lin Qiutong, however, was kneeling on the floor, weeping profusely and looking pitiful.
"Mom, Dad, I truly regret my actions. But Shen Qiwen and I... it's not what you think. I don't like him, and Xingxing is my sister. How could I betray her? I... I was forced into it..."
Lin Qiutong understood her desperate situation; only Lin Xing'an could salvage her from this predicament.
"On the day Shen Qiwen married Xingxing, I celebrated a little too much. When I woke up, Shen Qiwen had already... He had photos of me and threatened to ruin my reputation if I exposed him."
Lin Qiutong's voice broke with sadness, "For the past three years, I've lived with guilt and pain. I never intended to hurt Xingxing!"
Ye Fanglin's heart softened. After all, this was the daughter she had watched grow up.
"Mom, Dad! Please, just this once, forgive me and save me. If even you abandon me, what's the point of living?"
Ye Fanglin glanced at Lin Xing'an, who was silently smoking, then at the heartbroken Lin Qiutong. She slowly walked to Lin Xing'an's side, "Lao Lin..."
Lin Xing'an extinguished his cigarette, his weary eyes falling lightly on Lin Qiutong. "If Shen Qiwen truly threatened to ruin you, why did he save you this time?"
"I... I don't know..."
"I heard Xingxing say you're pregnant with Shen Qiwen's child?"
Lin Qiutong's face turned ashen. At this point, no matter what she said, even if she claimed the child was Shen Chiyan's, no one would believe her. She nodded tearfully.
Thinking quickly, she added, "I see now! Shen Qiwen must have saved me because I'm carrying his child. But really, I could have gotten out on my own. I am innocent!"
Lin Xing'an shook his head in disappointment. "Tongtong, I've always found it hard to believe you've become this way. Later, I had someone investigate you and discovered many things you've done..."
Lin Qiutong was shocked that Lin Xing'an had investigated her. She didn't know what he had uncovered, but judging by his expression, it couldn't be good.
"You know yourself what you've done. I won't elaborate in front of your mother, but there's one thing you must know. From this day forward, you are no longer my daughter."
Lin Qiutong's face turned ashen. She crawled on her knees towards Lin Xing'an, clinging to his leg. "Dad, I'm your daughter! You can't do this to me!"
"No! You are not my daughter!"
Lin Xing'an sighed heavily. "When Feng Wanhui appeared, even knowing you weren't my biological daughter, I kept you in the Lin family. I feared you'd overthink things, that you'd be upset. I even wronged my own daughter, but you've disappointed me too much!"
The thought of Mu Yuxin filled Lin Xing'an with immense guilt. Damn it, what had he done!
"Dad... I truly know I was wrong. Please give me another chance. Don't you remember? Even though I'm not your biological daughter, you and Mom raised me yourselves!"
Lin Qiutong could only resort to emotional appeals, hoping Lin Xing'an and Ye Fanglin would show leniency based on their past affection.
However, Lin Xing'an remained stone-hearted.
"Leave. Don't show your face here again."
Seeing Lin Xing'an unmoved, Lin Qiutong turned to Ye Fanglin, tears streaming down her face. "Mom... You don't want me either?"
Ye Fanglin's face lost all color. She tried to speak, but Lin Xing'an gently reminded her, "Fanglin, don't forget who caused your two daughters so much pain!"
Hearing this, Ye Fanglin struggled for a moment. "I have a headache. I'm going upstairs."
"I'll accompany you."
As Lin Xing'an escorted Ye Fanglin upstairs, he quietly instructed the butler, "Uncle Zhang, show the guest out!"
Lin Qiutong couldn't believe that even the Lin couple had abandoned her. She collapsed onto the floor, her face devoid of all hope.
It was over!
Everything was over!
However, for Lin Qiutong, the worst was yet to come.
She was hounded daily for her debts, and whenever she went out and was recognized, she faced relentless verbal abuse and attacks.
She had hoped Shen Qiwen had left her a fallback plan, but then Shen Chiyan and the police uncovered the past case of the forest chase. Shen Qiwen's involvement as the mastermind was also exposed.
The police and Shen Chiyan had never stopped suspecting Lin Qiutong. To ensure Lin Qiutong's safety, Shen Chiyan had even confessed to killing Feng Wanhui himself.
With multiple convictions, Shen Qiwen was sure to face the death penalty.
But Lin Qiutong harbored no desire to save Shen Qiwen; she was consumed with her own survival.
Meanwhile, the Shen Zhengming family was also facing dark clouds.
Shen Zhengming had been in a furious temper for days. He never dreamed that Shen Qiwen would risk his own life for a woman.
Ju Honglan gloated from the side. "Hmph, I told you that slut's son was unreliable. You insisted on bringing him home. See? Not only did he contribute nothing to our family, but he's also put us in a precarious position."
Shen Zhengming, already agitated, snapped at Ju Honglan's nagging. "Can you shut up?"
Ju Honglan didn't quiet down; instead, she became even more vocal. "Why are you yelling at me? Did I tell your son to do wicked things? Hmph, you father are a philanderer, but your son is a romantic fool."
Seeing Shen Zhengming glare at her, Ju Honglan pouted, suddenly becoming a little timid. Thinking of something, she anxiously said, "The old madam wants you to go to the old house tonight. She'll surely bring up Shen Qiwen's chase of Shen Chiyan. She might already suspect you. Have you thought about what you're going to say?"
Shen Zhengming narrowed his eyes. A person suddenly came to mind, and he made a phone call.