Chapter 70: Rage Unleashed
"You think you're just realizing how 'powerful' I am?" Liang Xiaoluo's voice echoed through the tension-filled courtyard. Her chest heaved, her defiance blazing in her eyes. She was done tolerating his abuse. He had no right to humiliate her, not in front of everyone, not ever.
Everything she had become was because of him. If she was ruined, it was by his hand. If she was shameless, it was his doing.
Ye Tianlin's jaw tightened, his fists clenching at her defiance. The audacity of this woman to stand up to him, and in front of his family no less. Did she think she was untouchable now because Ye Tianqing was on her side?
"Move!" Ye Tianlin barked, his fury barely restrained. His hand itched to lash out, not just at her, but at the brother he believed had betrayed him.
Liang Xiaoluo stood firm, her head held high. Her trembling legs betrayed her nerves, but her pride wouldn't allow her to back down. She was a person, a human being, not a toy for him to discard or humiliate.
Ye Tianlin's patience snapped. His arm shot out, shoving her roughly to the side. The force sent her staggering backward, her heel catching awkwardly on the uneven ground. Gasps echoed as she fell, her head striking the stone bench with a sickening crack.
She crumpled to the ground, motionless.
"Xiaoluo!" Ye Tianqing's shout rang out, his gaze darting from the unconscious woman to his enraged brother.
Ye Tianlin remained oblivious, consumed by his anger. He turned toward Ye Tianqing, his fist raised. "This is your fault!" he roared, delivering a crushing blow to his brother's jaw.
"Enough!" a voice cried from the crowd. "Miss Liang has fainted!"
The words were like a cold bucket of water, extinguishing the flames of Ye Tianlin's rage. His head snapped around, his eyes locking onto Liang Xiaoluo's still form. The sight of her pale face and the blood trickling from her temple made his stomach lurch.
"Xiaoluo…" His voice wavered as he stumbled toward her, his legs heavy as lead. Kneeling by her side, he shook her gently. "Xiaoluo, wake up. Wake up!"
Her closed eyes and shallow breathing made his heart race. Panic surged, choking him. "No, no, no…" he muttered under his breath, as though willing her to wake up could change reality.
Ye Tianqing knelt beside him, placing a steadying hand on his shoulder. "We need to get her inside," he said firmly. "I'll call the doctor."
Ye Tianlin barely registered his brother's words but nodded mechanically. Scooping Liang Xiaoluo into his arms, he carried her toward the house, his steps urgent. The crowd parted to let him pass, their shocked whispers following him.
In the quiet of the bedroom, Ye Tianlin gently laid Liang Xiaoluo on the bed. Her face was ghostly pale, and a fresh wave of fear gripped him. His mind raced, drowning him in guilt and what-ifs.
Moments later, the family doctor, Dr. Li, rushed in, accompanied by Ye Tianqing. "Let me examine her," the doctor said, his tone calm but urgent.
Ye Tianlin reluctantly stepped aside, though his eyes never left Liang Xiaoluo. "Fix her. Whatever it takes, just fix her," he ordered, his voice hoarse.
Dr. Li worked quickly, checking her vitals and inspecting her injury. After what felt like an eternity, he straightened, turning to face the anxious group.
"She'll be fine," he began. "The wound on her head is superficial, and her fainting was due to low blood sugar."
Ye Tianlin let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. Relief began to wash over him, but Dr. Li continued.
"And…" The doctor hesitated, his gaze flickering to Liang Xiaoluo before meeting Ye Tianlin's. "She's pregnant."
The room fell into stunned silence.
Ye Tianlin's mind blanked, the words echoing in his head. Pregnant.
Liang Xiaoluo stirred on the bed, her eyelids fluttering open. She let out a faint groan, her hand instinctively moving to her head.
"Xiaoluo!" Ye Tianqing was at her side immediately, helping her sit up.
Dr. Li quickly stepped in to apply medicine to her wound, murmuring reassurances. But Ye Tianlin remained rooted in place, his eyes fixed on her.
Pregnant.
The news rippled through the room. Ye Lao's joy was palpable as he turned to Dr. Li. "She's pregnant? How far along is she? Is it a boy or a girl? Oh, it doesn't matter; I'm just so happy!"
His laughter filled the room, a sharp contrast to the silence of others. He patted Liang Xiaoluo's hand gently. "My dear, if there's anything you want to eat, just let me know. You need to take care of yourself and the baby!"
The warmth of his words didn't reach Liang Xiaoluo. She sat frozen, her mind reeling. Pregnant? How could this be?
Across the room, Ye Tianlin's face was an unreadable mask. His eyes burned with unspoken accusations as they flicked between Liang Xiaoluo and Ye Tianqing. The image of the kiss marks on her neck flashed in his mind, igniting a dangerous thought.
Whose child was it?
The tension between the two brothers reached a boiling point. Ye Tianqing's voice broke the silence. "You still don't trust me?"
"Should I?" Ye Tianlin shot back, his words dripping with venom. "Tell me, brother, how long have you been hiding this?"
"I've told you already—there's nothing between us," Ye Tianqing said firmly.
Before the argument could escalate further, a soft, melodic voice interrupted. "Enough."
All eyes turned toward the door, where a woman stood with an air of authority and grace.
"Yanzhi!" Ye Lao exclaimed, recognizing her immediately. It was Ye Tianqing's wife, Yan Ruozi.
"I'm sorry for arriving unannounced, Grandfather," she said, her voice calm but firm. "But I couldn't stay away after hearing what was happening."
Her presence brought a measure of calm to the room, though the tension lingered. She approached Ye Tianlin, holding up her phone.
"That night, Tianqing was with me," she said. "We were on the phone for hours. He wasn't anywhere near Liang Xiaoluo."
Her words hung heavily in the air. For a moment, no one spoke.