“Mom, since Shen Qingxia is already here, why did you let her leave? Everything I said is true. Hurry up and call the police to arrest her.”
“You scoundrel, I think you’ve gone mad for divorce. I’ve already asked Uncle Lin to investigate the nearby surveillance, and Xiaxia never appeared.”
Upon hearing this, and recalling Shen Qingxia’s sudden change and the viciousness in her eyes when she attacked, Nangong Han’s forehead instantly broke out in a fine sweat. The change was too significant; Shen Qingxia was completely different from before.
“Mom? Have you noticed anything different about Shen Qingxia?”
“I think you’ve been bewitched by a ghost. For some disreputable woman, you’re willing to harm yourself to slander your wife. After your father passed away, your Uncle Shen helped our family greatly in business.”
“You and Xiaxia were childhood sweethearts. I don’t need to elaborate on her feelings for you. The Shen and Nangong families have close business ties. No matter how you act out, the young madam of my Nangong family can only be Xiaxia.”
“Mom, why are you forcing me like this? Bai Zhi is not a disreputable woman. She is the woman I love, and the mother of Qiangwei. Mom, you haven’t met Qiangwei yet, have you? She’s really sensible and cute.”
“Childhood sweethearts and all that are not important at all. I don’t love Shen Qingxia. Mom, you love Dad so much, shouldn’t you understand me? Do you want your son to be unhappy for the rest of his life…”
Xie Wanrou raised her hand, stopping him from saying any more.
“Nangong Han, what do you mean by ‘forcing you’? Didn’t you confess your feelings to Xiaxia yourself? Did I tie you up and drag you to the civil affairs bureau with Xiaxia? Did I make you promise your Uncle Shen that you would take good care of Xiaxia for life? Why are you still like this? Never able to stand on your own, always shirking responsibility.”
“But I did all that for our family’s company. If I hadn’t confirmed my relationship with Shen Qingxia, how could Uncle Shen have helped us so much?”
Xie Wanrou took two steps back as if unable to bear the blow, her straight back curving. She couldn’t believe that the son she had meticulously raised would be such a contemptible person.
“You deceived Xiaxia’s feelings for your Uncle Shen’s investment. Since you pretended to be deeply in love with Xiaxia from the start, you should continue to pretend.”
She covered her eyes, turned her head away from Nangong Han, and said in a low voice.
“As long as I am alive, that woman will never enter my Nangong family’s door. I don’t care about Qiangwei or anything else. Only those born to Xiaxia are the descendants of my Nangong family.”
“Mom, how can you be so heartless? She’s your own granddaughter! Do you know how difficult it is to be an illegitimate child? Do you know how hard Bai Zhi has raised her alone all these years, enduring so much gossip and slander?”
“Why should I know? Isn’t the father who can’t control his lower half and the irresponsible mother responsible for the illegitimate child? Since they chose to give birth, they should have considered the consequences.”
“Mom, why aren’t you on my side? Why are you thinking of others? I am your son!”
Nangong Han wanted to mention how Jun Jiuli threatened him into signing the contract, so that Xie Wanrou would understand him and stand by his side. He wanted to divorce Jun Jiuli completely. But no matter what, he couldn’t say it; every time he opened his mouth, the words wouldn’t come out.
“Before you be my son, you should have learned to be a person. It’s my fault for not teaching you well. Don’t even think about divorce, unless you still want to acknowledge me as your mother.”
After speaking, Xie Wanrou walked out of the ward, leaving Nangong Han alone on the hospital bed, full of regret.
Although Xie Wanrou was angry, she still hired the necessary caregivers for him.
Jun Jiuli had already called Xie Wanrou to say that she was busy recently and had no time to visit Nangong Han. Xie Wanrou understood and felt heartbroken at the same time.
Uncle Shen had started letting Xiaxia take over the company a year ago, with him assisting from the side. As soon as Uncle Shen delegated his authority, Xiaxia became busier with her work, but she still worried about that ungrateful son.
Looking at the photos sent by the caregiver, Xie Wanrou’s heart was tormented. Her ungrateful son was not worthy of Xiaxia. But if they divorced suddenly, what would happen to the cooperation between the two families?
She had always known Xiaxia’s feelings for him. Would she be unable to accept a divorce? If it escalated, it would definitely affect the Nangong family’s reputation. What could she do to achieve a win-win situation?
Thinking about spending the rest of her life with someone who didn’t love her, how painful that must be. Moreover, Bai Zhi was not someone to be underestimated, and they had a daughter between them.
After an afternoon of deep consideration, she picked up her bag and headed to the hospital alone. She couldn’t be so selfish anymore. If she continued like this, Xiaxia would be the one most wronged.
When she reached the ward door, it was open. Seeing the harmonious scene of the family of three inside, Xie Wanrou made up her mind.
The moment Xie Wanrou entered the ward, the laughter and chatter of the three instantly stopped. The air suddenly became quiet and somewhat awkward.
Bai Zhi, sitting by the hospital bed, shrank back, appearing very fearful. Nangong Han reassuringly squeezed her hand.
Nangong Qiangwei stood behind Bai Zhi, her big eyes sparkling as she stared at Xie Wanrou, looking very curious.
“Mom, why did you suddenly come?”
As soon as Xie Wanrou entered, she took in everyone’s expressions. Bai Zhi was still that unimpressive person, and her son was supporting and favoring her. Her decision was correct.
Just then, Nangong Qiangwei suddenly ran out like a precocious child, hugged Xie Wanrou’s leg, and looked up at Xie Wanrou with a very cute expression, saying:
“You’re Grandma, right? You’re so beautiful. Qiangwei likes Grandma very much. Can Grandma play with Qiangwei?”
Xie Wanrou looked at the child’s beautiful and cute face, heard her soft and intimate words, but she simply couldn’t like her. The purposefulness in those eyes was too strong.
She gently pulled her feet out and said somewhat harshly, “I’m sorry, you’ve mistaken me. My son just got married, and my daughter-in-law hasn’t had any children yet.”
Nangong Qiangwei’s eyes instantly filled with tears, and she said with a cry, “Doesn’t Grandma like Qiangwei? Dad calls you Mom, so you are my Grandma. Did Qiangwei do something wrong?”
After speaking, she looked back at Nangong Han with her tear-filled eyes. Nangong Han’s heart instantly ached. “Mom, Qiangwei is a child. How can you say such things to a child?”
“I haven’t said anything wrong,” Xie Wanrou replied and sat down on the nearby sofa.
“I won’t beat around the bush with you anymore. Since you two truly love each other and must be together, then you should bear the troubles you’ve caused.”
“Mom, that’s great! You finally agreed to let Bai Zhi in. Thank you, Mom.” The three people in the room were overjoyed.
“Hold on, let me finish. You must personally apologize to the Shen family and get their forgiveness before you can propose a divorce. You also need to compensate Xiaxia. The cooperation between the two families depends on your Uncle Shen’s decision.”
“Mom, this definitely won’t work. The shareholders won’t agree.”
Xie Wanrou raised her hand to stop him: “And hold a press conference to clarify everything between you. You can’t let Xiaxia get married and then divorced for nothing. The 5% shares your father gave her are forfeited. I will also transfer another 2% of my shares to Xiaxia.”
“Mom, absolutely not. If that happens, Shen Qingxia will hold 7% of our family’s shares. If she holds a grudge against me and colludes with shareholders to cause trouble, we have to guard against it.”
“Then the 5% that Father gave back must also be returned. That was Father’s meeting gift for his future daughter-in-law. It should have been given to Bai Zhi. After the divorce, Shen Qingxia should return it.”
Bai Zhi and her daughter remained silent. Xie Wanrou’s chest heaved up and down with anger.
“Enough, Nangong Han, have you no shame? You were the one who deceived Xiaxia’s feelings and did so many things against her. Xiaxia is not the kind of person you describe. Also, after you marry this woman, don’t ever return to the old house again. I’m afraid you’ll anger me to death.”
“Mom, who is your child after all?”
“Either do as I say, or cut ties completely with this woman in front of you and live properly with Xiaxia.”