Gu Mian felt as if the blood in her entire body had frozen, a chill spreading from the soles of her feet in an instant throughout her limbs and bones, nearly freezing her solid.
She was too naive.
She thought she could fight for something, she thought he would, as Mother Yang said, settle down for the sake of their child.
But in his heart, their child wasn't as important as Yin Luoxue.
Her child was not welcomed by his father.
Gu Mian closed her eyes in pain, tears sliding down her cheeks.
"I know you don't like Luoxue, but her health is indeed poor, so please be understanding," Li Tingshen looked at her pale face and said soothingly, "If you want a child, we can wait until her health improves before planning for it."
Gu Mian tugged at the corner of her lips.
If she told Li Tingshen now that she was pregnant, would he immediately take her to the hospital for an abortion?
This child was one of the few relatives she had left; she absolutely couldn't let the child be aborted because of Yin Luoxue!
"I understand," Gu Mian wiped the tears from her face, "You go ahead with your work, I won't disturb you."
Gu Mian fled in panic, returned to Yunyue Bay, packed her belongings, gave Mother Yang a few instructions, and then left with her suitcase.
She had intended to find a hotel to stay in initially, but she received a call from her uncle in the taxi and immediately rushed over.
The one who opened the door was Aunt Wang Shulan; as soon as she saw Gu Mian, she eagerly welcomed her in, "Mianmian, you finally came. I've missed you so much!"
Her smile froze the moment she saw Gu Mian's empty hands besides the suitcase.
Gu Mian quickly said, "Auntie, I'm sorry I came in such a hurry and didn't manage to buy you a gift."
"Mianmian, come in," Uncle Gu Zhiyuan walked over, "When have you ever brought us things on your past visits? Don't be so formal. Why didn't you notify me when you were released from prison? I would have picked you up."
"I didn't want to bother you with the rain, uncle. How have you been recently?"
"Same old," Gu Zhiyuan glanced at the suitcase in the entryway and asked, "Why are you carrying a suitcase?"
"I'm getting a divorce and moving out of Yunyue Bay."
"What? Divorce?" Wang Shulan's shrill voice rang out, "Was it Li Tingshen's idea?"
Gu Mian shook her head gently, "It's my decision."
"Are you crazy!" Wang Shulan exclaimed, "The Li Family is the wealthiest in Hua Country, and countless people are trying to marry into it. And here you are, initiating a divorce? Did prison make you lose your mind?"
"Shut your mouth!" Gu Zhiyuan glared at his wife and, indignant, said, "Back then, Li Tingshen sent Mianmian to prison without verifying the truth of that video. Anyone would lose hope and want to leave. Let it be a divorce! Even though Grandmother has passed away, your uncle will support you. Move in here, so it's easier for me to take care of you."
Gu Mian quickly refused, "There's no need. I will rent my own place and then find a job. Uncle, don't worry about me."
"There are spare rooms at home; why spend money on rent?" Gu Zhiyuan said as he reached for the suitcase, "That settles it."
"Yeah, listen to your uncle," Wang Shulan chimed in before asking immediately, "Mianmian, it's fine to divorce, but how much of the Li Family's assets do you plan to take?"
"I will leave with nothing."
"What did you say!" Wang Shulan exploded, "You must be out of your mind. How can you leave with nothing? Without money, are you planning to live off air!"
"Auntie, I've signed a prenuptial agreement, I never stood a chance at taking the Li Family's wealth," Gu Mian shifted the topic, "By the way, uncle, Grandmother gave me a jade pendant before she died and mentioned something about my origin. What's all that about?"
Gu Zhiyuan's eyes flickered for a moment but quickly steadied as he replied, "Since Grandmother gave it to you, just keep it safe. As for what she said about your origin... she was just lamenting how pitiable your origin is."
Gu Mian did not suspect a thing, "Even though I grew up without parents, my grandparents gave me all their love. I don't feel pitiful at all."
"If you can think like that, they can rest in peace in heaven..."
...
At ten o'clock at night, Li Tingshen returned to Yunyue Bay, but Gu Mian was nowhere to be found in the master bedroom.
He took out his phone to call Gu Mian but couldn't get through at all.
Li Tingshen went downstairs and called for Mrs. Yang, "Where is Mrs. Li?"
"The madam has moved out."
"What did you say?" Li Tingshen frowned. "When did she move out?"
"This morning."
Mrs. Yang hesitated, wanting to speak but stopped herself. Before Gu Mian left, she had told her that she must not reveal her pregnancy to Li Tingshen, otherwise it would harm the child, so she dared not speak.
Mrs. Yang handed over a document, "This is the divorce agreement Mrs. Li left behind."
Li Tingshen skimmed through it and let out a cold laugh, "To leave without taking anything with her, she's really grown a spine!"
"Sir, the madam is adamant about getting a divorce."
"That's not for her to decide!" Li Tingshen said irritably as he tugged at his tie. "Where has she moved to?"
"The madam didn't say."
Li Tingshen walked straight out and instructed the driver to start the car.
...
In the guest room, Gu Mian had bathed and was about to go to sleep when her mobile phone suddenly rang.
It was an unfamiliar number.
Gu Mian slid to answer, "Hello, who is this?"
"Come downstairs." The familiar cold voice came from the other end of the phone.
Gu Mian's hand holding the phone stiffened, and she replied, "I've already gone to bed."
"I'm giving you ten minutes to come downstairs, otherwise no one in this complex will get any sleep tonight."
Gu Mian looked at the hung-up call, hesitated for a moment, but still got dressed and went downstairs.
In front of the unit was a black Rolls-Royce, and a tall, straight man was leaning against the car, smoking.
Gu Mian approached, keeping her distance, and spoke calmly, "What do you want, coming here so late?"
"What do I want! Gu Mian, did you ignore what I said last night? Daring to draft a divorce agreement and to run away from home?" Li Tingshen took a fierce drag on his cigarette. "Get in the car and come home with me now, and I won't hold it against you."
"Run away from home..." Gu Mian laughed bitterly. "Do you really think that place is my home? If it is, then why would my husband not come home at night and spend it with another woman?"
"It always comes back to Luoxue. Gu Mian, can't you be a little less narrow-minded?"
"So how should I behave to not be considered narrow-minded? Smile while watching you two getting cozy, continue to provide her with blood transfusions, or go to jail for a few more years?" Gu Mian looked at him. "Tingshen, our marriage was indeed a trade of interests from the beginning, but I am human, not a blood-supply machine for Yin Luoxue."
Li Tingshen curled his lips in a cold smirk. "You know our marriage was a trade of interests, you married me to save your grandmother, and now that she's gone, you're in a hurry to get divorced and burn your bridges, huh?"
Gu Mian closed her eyes wearily, "Then I'll pay back all the money my grandmother spent in the Li hospital over the years; that shouldn't be considered burning bridges, right?"
Fury ignited in Li Tingshen's chest in an instant. "Say that again!"
Gu Mian looked directly into his anger-filled eyes. "Calculate how much money it was, I'll give you an IOU and pay you back in installments. You set the interest."
As soon as her words fell, the man in front of her suddenly dropped his cigarette and strode forward.
Before Gu Mian could react, she was enveloped in the man's arms.
The next second, her slender waist was gripped, and Gu Mian felt the world spin as she was quickly pressed against the car by the man!
"What are you trying to... mm..."
The words she started to speak were blocked. The man's thin lips captured hers, and his domineering kiss stole her breath, leaving her struggling to breathe.
"Mmh..." Gu Mian struggled fiercely, but her hands were restrained by him.
After a long while, Li Tingshen finally released her, unwilling to let go. All the anger in his eyes had turned into undisguised desire, and his deep voice carried a hint of seduction, "If you don't want me to take you right here, get in the car with me."