"Are you insane?"
Edward tossed out these words and ascended the stairs, leaving Bella gazing at his retreating form, her heart tightening.
A marriage devoid of love was like a delicate structure, susceptible to being shaken by the slightest breeze or drizzle.
Once seeds of doubt took root, they grew closer without need for nourishment, towering into mighty trees.
Since their argument, Edward had been away on a business trip, and the couple had not exchanged a word.
It wasn't until the Dragon Boat Festival arrived.
Bella, staring at the bouquet in their wedding photo with one more flower painted red, found herself inexplicably adding color to another.
Stroke by stroke, the sound of the marker filled the room.
At that moment, the phone rang abruptly.
Bella answered, hearing Edward's voice: "Come out, we're going to the ancestral home for the festival."
His voice, tinged with static, sounded unfamiliar, causing her to drift momentarily.
Only when Edward's impatient inquiry came through again did Bella respond: "Alright, I'm coming out now."
En route to the ancestral home,
Bella sat quietly in the rear passenger seat, her eyes fixed on Edward's reflection in the rearview mirror.
Two days apart, and she missed him dearly.
Edward seemed to sense her gaze, glancing briefly at the mirror to meet her eyes.
Instantly, Bella averted her gaze.
"There will be many people at the ancestral home this year. You don't need to speak or do anything, just follow me," Edward instructed.
"Mm-hmm," Bella replied softly.
"If our parents ask about children, tell them I'm not ready for them."
"Okay."
Bella agreed, watching the familiar scenery outside the window grow. Her heart gradually lifted with each passing landmark.
Visits to the ancestral home with Edward were infrequent, perhaps two or three times a year.
Each visit inevitably involved subtle criticism from Margaret.
She knew this year would be no different.
Suddenly, the car came to a halt.
Bella snapped back to reality, momentarily startled by the figure blocking their path: Why was Lena here?
She instinctively glanced at the rearview mirror, catching only Edward's knitted brows.
Then, a knock resounded on the car window, but Edward remained motionless.
Time ticked by.
Worried about arriving late and displeasing the Gu , Bella reluctantly stepped out of the car: "Miss, is there something you need?"
Upon seeing Bella, Lena's smile contorted for a split second.
But recalling Edward's presence in the car, she regained her composure: "I need to speak with Edward."
Bella turned back to look, the tinted glass obscuring Edward's expression.
"He..."
Before she could finish, a faint mechanical noise interrupted her.
The driver's side window slowly lowered, revealing Edward's face.
He glanced at Bella, impatience evident: "Get in the car."
Bella froze, unsure whom he was addressing.
Beside her, Lena approached Edward: "I wanted to visit Uncle and Aunt for the Dragon Boat Festival, but I was afraid they wouldn't be pleased to see me. Please take these gifts in for me."
Edward ignored her, frowning at Bella: "What are you waiting for?"
Fearing his annoyance, Bella disregarded Lena and hastily reentered the vehicle.
In the next instant, Edward drove straight into the ancestral home.
Bella glanced back at Lena still standing at the gate, sensing something odd about Edward's attitude towards her.
If Lena truly was a lost love he couldn't have, wouldn't he be happy upon her return?
Yet Edward's demeanor seemed more of disdain, even hatred?
After much contemplation, Bella voiced her query: "Why did you and Lena part ways?"
Edward offered no response, merely slamming on the brakes: "Get out."
His grim expression deterred Bella from pressing further, and she complied.
Just as she considered easing the tension between them, a honking sound erupted behind her.
Bella turned to see another car pulling up, from which two individuals emerged.
One was Edward's cousin.
The other was none other than Lena, who had been at the gate moments ago!
As the cousin caught sight of Edward, he removed his sunglasses: "Cousin, You change girlfriends quite frequently, eh!"
Edward's expression chilled slightly, his gaze sweeping over Lena beside his cousin before he turned and entered the living room.
Bella stood rooted to the spot, watching his receding back, her silence stretching before she too followed.
The festive season filled the house with warmth and cheer.
Yet, the instant Edward and Bella stepped in, an eerie silence descended.
"Dad, Bella and I are here to visit you and Mom," Edward announced, his hand resting on Bella's shoulder, guiding her forward.
"Dad, Mom," Bella greeted them, refraining from saying more.
She had learned from experience that less was more—in the early years of their marriage, she had tried to ingratiate herself.
But the more time passed, the clearer it became that she was not the daughter-in-law they had envisioned, and nothing she did would win their acceptance.
"Mm," Margaret responded coolly, her smile immediately brightening as she turned to Edward, "You've arrived just in time, dinner is ready."
With that, she rose and ushered everyone toward the dining room.
At that moment, the cousin's voice rang out: "Auntie, look who I've brought along!"
"Uncle, Auntie, it's been a long time," Lena said, her grip tightening on the gift boxes as she took a step forward.
Her appearance caused an awkward shift in the room; everyone present remembered the uproar caused by Lena's relationship with Edward.
Now, after four years of Edward's marriage, her sudden emergence was bound to raise eyebrows.
All eyes turned to Edward and Bella.
Bella looked up to see Edward's frigid expression.
He reminded her of their first visit to the ancestral home four years ago, shortly after their wedding.
She couldn't recall the specifics of what happened then, only remembering Edward's words as he pulled her away.
"Even if I leave this one, I can marry another, countless others, but never the one you want me to marry."
His current demeanor was almost identical to that day.
Subconsciously, Bella clutched at the sleeve of Edward's shirt.
Edward glanced at her, frowned, and withdrew his arm.
Her hand empty, Bella slowly balled it into a fist.
Watching his gaze settle on Lena, her heart ached.
Indeed, even though Edward had told her not to mention Lena again, he still cared for her in his heart.
With that thought, Bella bit her lip, hiding all her emotions beneath her lowered lashes.
"Come with me," Edward's voice cut through her thoughts.
Bella looked up to see him leading Lena out of the room.
The scene overlapped with that from the previous banquet.
"I need to use the restroom," Bella said, hurrying away, fleeing almost in panic.
After some time, she emerged from the bathroom.
Glancing at the empty living room, Bella quietly retreated, wandering aimlessly around the ancestral home.
As she rounded a corner, she overheard voices.
Edward and Lena stood facing each other, quite close.
Bella caught snippets of Lena's question: "You love me, don't you?"
Edward remained silent.
"How could a woman like Bella, who only wants money, ever deserve you?" Lena continued, taking his silence as tacit agreement.
Hearing this, Bella's gaze on Edward flickered with mixed emotions, anticipation brimming in her eyes for his response.
Edward merely said: "She doesn't deserve me."
Four simple words, a definitive statement, extinguished all of Bella's hopes.
She felt a burning heat across her face, as if slapped.
She fled, her spirit shattered, back to the dining room.
For the first time, Bella ignored the scrutiny of the Gu family members, lost in her own reverie.
After an unknown period, Edward returned.
Sitting beside her, he observed her state and was about to inquire when Margaret's voice interrupted.
"Where's Lena?"
Edward did not respond.
Margaret continued: "It's been several years, and she's changed a lot. She's good enough for you now. Get a divorce and marry her instead!"