At eight in the morning, Su Ding arrived at the doorstep precisely on time.
Gazing at the tall, opulent villa before her, the bitterness in her heart intensified.
All the past happiness and sweetness were here.
She dragged her suitcase, not to go home, but as requested by Jin Ye, to retrieve her belongings…
Making space for the new mistress.
The thought weighed even heavier on her mood.
"It's you?"
The maid saw Su Ding and, with disbelief mixed with contempt, exclaimed, "What are you back for? After doing such a vile thing, you still have the audacity to return home!"
Su Ding's face paled. She had long expected to be treated this way, but enduring it in person still ached deeply.
"I… I've come to get my things."
Her voice was soft, as she didn't want to escalate the conflict.
Seeing this, the maid grew even more audacious, "Get your things? Haven't you deceived Mr. Jin enough? Which single needle, thread, blade of grass, or leaf here was bought by you, Su Ding?"
Su Ding stated sternly, "Jin Ye asked me to come."
"Oh, it seems Mr. Jin wants to completely erase any evidence of your existence. Looking at you every day must be tiresome," the maid assessed her with a sideways glance. "You don't look that well-off. Was cheating fun?"
Su Ding could endure no longer. She raised her head, her sharp gaze fixed on the maid, and commanded, "Open the door for me!"
Her key was long gone, and she was now blocked from the massive iron gate.
The maid, seeing her anger, felt a surge of pleasure. The former pampered madam was now reduced to this.
She deserved it!
If it were her, she would never have committed such a scandal.
Just then, morning runners passed by, casting glances their way.
First, a young girl.
Then, a couple, both slowing their pace to observe Su Ding.
"Isn't that Su Ding?" the wife asked in surprise.
The girl curiously stepped closer, exclaiming, "It really is Su Ding!"
"Good heavens, has she been kicked out of the house?"
The wife, pulling out her phone to take pictures, said to her husband, "She cheated on the groom on their wedding day, and with such a big belly, and she's a big star, no less!"
"This woman is incredible."
The husband also leaned in with gossip, trying to get a clear look at her face.
Su Ding instinctively covered her face, trying to evade the pursuit of the camera.
"Open the door for me!"
She lowered her voice, glaring at the maid.
The maid, with her arms crossed, watched the spectacle, entirely unfazed by Su Ding's predicament.
Su Ding wished she could tear into the maid.
This maid used to be meek and lazy, and Su Ding had never complained.
But now that she was in trouble, this was the maid's true colors!
"Miss Su Ding, Mr. Jin isn't home, why are you here with your suitcase? Are you planning to secretly move back in?"
The maid, as if fearing the world wasn't chaotic enough, shouted to humiliate her.
The three onlookers were even more entertained. The girl loudly declared, "Don't you feel dirty? You've been played by another man and then kicked out."
"I used to like you, but thinking back, I was completely blind!"
The wife chimed in, "Everything on screen is a lie. You celebrities are the best at pretending to be good people in front of the camera."
Su Ding's expression was extremely grim.
She found it impossible to defend herself regarding that night.
She had been drugged. The pain and humiliation in her heart were already difficult to suppress, and now, being exposed so mercilessly by passersby, the barely healed wound reopened and bled anew.
"I was framed."
Su Ding said weakly, gripping the suitcase handle tightly, her fingernails turning white.
Her words were like a feather falling on a lake, creating no ripples, but instead eliciting uproarious laughter from her audience.
"Framed? Are you acting in a TV drama?"
"You really think you're the tragic heroine? Your private life is a mess, and you still won't admit it!"
"Bitch!"
...
Su Ding's heart sank. Her dignity was being trampled upon at will.
She refused to tolerate it any longer. These people never knew when to stop; they were all opportunistic fools!
"Slap!"
No one saw her move. The wife's phone was smashed to the ground, shattering into pieces!
The wife looked up in shock, only to see Su Ding's face contorted with fierce determination.
"You, you broke my phone…"
Seeing his wife being bullied, the husband stepped forward without a word, raising his fist—
Just as Su Ding was about to execute a shoulder throw, a tall figure suddenly appeared behind her, enshrouding her and firmly grasping the husband's wrist.
The husband cried out in pain, his brow furrowed, "It hurts… it hurts…"
"Scram!"
Jin Ye uttered the word coldly.
The husband, intimidated by the man's powerful aura, dared not press further. He picked up his phone from the ground and dragged his wife away.
The girl also slipped away at the sight.
Su Ding stared blankly at the man before her, speechless for a moment.
He was still as cold and powerful as ever.
But after experiencing his gentleness, this facade of indifference pierced her even more acutely.
"Still in the mood for arguing?"
Jin Ye shot her a cold glance and walked into the house without looking back.
The maid stood to the side, trembling and silent.
Su Ding followed closely behind Jin Ye, her heart a chaotic mess…
Must their relationship end like this?
She gazed at his tall back, her nose stinging, a wave of sorrow quickly surging from her heart to her entire body, making it hard to breathe.
"Can you walk any faster?"
Jin Ye paused, turning to look at the woman behind him.
Su Ding had fallen several steps behind, her head bowed, like a dejected puppy.
The words jolted Su Ding awake. She sniffled and quickly caught up.
Jin Ye pursed his lips, saying nothing.
For a moment, the sound of the suitcase wheels rolling against the floor was exceptionally clear.
She hadn't felt the house was this large before.
Now, time seemed to stretch endlessly, and they never seemed to reach the room.
Su Ding secretly took a deep breath, trying to calm her emotions.
She kept telling herself, it's over, it's truly over, don't hold onto any more illusions.
Finally, they entered the living room.
Jin Ye didn't linger in the living room but went straight upstairs.
Su Ding quickly followed with her suitcase, stepping onto the stairs. Her mind was in turmoil, and she looked down at the floor.
"Ah!"
Suddenly, Su Ding bumped into the man in front of her, her momentum sending her backward—
Jin Ye instantly grabbed her arm, but Su Ding's suitcase wasn't so lucky. It tumbled and fell to the ground.
Su Ding gasped, still shaken, and clung tightly to the man's hand.
Once she regained her balance, Jin Ye's cold expression returned.
"Let go," he said coldly.
"Oh, sorry." Su Ding quickly withdrew her hand, biting her lip, her expression growing colder.
It seemed her affections were unrequited.
Perhaps, that was for the best.
Su Ding turned and started back downstairs to pick up her suitcase.
However, the suitcase had split open…
As she lifted it, the crack widened significantly, and the wheels at the bottom also broke.
Damn it.
Su Ding cursed, why was she so unlucky!
Jin Ye, watching from upstairs, saw it clearly but deliberately said, "Come upstairs, what are you dawdling for."
That dog man!
Su Ding looked up at Jin Ye's face, a surge of inexplicable anger rising within her.
She directly hugged the suitcase and stormed upstairs.
As she passed the children's room, Su Ding slowed her steps, her gaze lingering on the door.
"Xiao Xi, are you home?"
Jin Ye's lips curled cruelly. "He went with his mother."
Su Ding felt as if she had been struck by a bolt from the blue. Her face instantly turned pale, her mind buzzing, "Oh, oh…"
She had already lost that little one's trust.
She walked on with her head down, reaching their former bedroom.
Upon opening the door, the familiar decor inside made it feel as though she had never left.
Every corner held their memories.
The bedding on the bed was still the one she and Jin Ye had chosen together. The first day they put it on, they had "soiled" it.
Su Ding's eyes welled up again.
"Regretting it?"
Jin Ye, who had been observing her expression the entire time, spoke in a deep voice.
Su Ding fought back tears and shook her head.
"No."