Xia Yanfang glared at her angrily. "Are you stupid? The Zhou family is so wealthy, how can you just divorce without getting any compensation?"
She snorted, "Your father's medical treatment costs thousands every month, and Jun'an's school fees are expensive. I'm not as high-minded as you. If you're divorcing, they should pay up! Otherwise, you can cover the cost yourself!"
Xu Yansang felt helpless. "Aunt Fang, I've been the one paying all along."
"That's different. Before, you had the Zhou family backing you up, so you could afford it. But now you have nothing. How will you manage in the future?"
Xu Yansang explained patiently, "I never took a single cent from the Zhou family. The money I've given you in the past two years came from my own savings. I still have some savings left, and I will earn money soon. I promise you won't be short of anything."
"You're such a fool! You should've kept the money to help Jun'an get married! You were already married into their family, why didn't you take their money? Did you let them sleep with you for free for two years?"
Xia Yanfang was furious and gave her a hard push.
To think that marrying into such a wealthy family brought her no benefits at all!
Xu Yansang stumbled a few steps, too exhausted to argue with Xia Yanfang anymore. Her whole body trembled with frustration, and she finally snapped, "I got married and divorced properly. How is that being used for free? I'm not a commodity to be bought and sold!"
Xia Yanfang, completely disregarding her, sneered arrogantly, "Trying to argue with me? If you have the guts, go strangle your father to death! Little wretch, do you think I can't deal with you?"
At that moment, Xia Yanfang's phone rang. She picked it up impatiently. "Hello? Who is this?"
Hearing the voice on the other end, her expression changed abruptly. She hurriedly replied, "Don't be angry, I'll come over right now. Let's talk face-to-face..."
After hanging up, she glared at Xu Yansang viciously. "I'll deal with you later!"
Then she rushed off in a hurry.
As soon as she left, Xu Yansang finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Three years ago, her parents were in a car accident. Her mother died on the spot, and her father was left with a leg injury. A kind neighbor introduced Xia Yanfang to care for her father.
Xia Yanfang, who had a son in high school, initially looked down on her disabled father. But when she heard that Xu Yansang was marrying Zhou Muchuan, she agreed to the arrangement.
Xu Yansang had always known that Xia Yanfang was after money.
But with her father unable to move and in need of long-term care, she couldn't find a better option than Xia Yanfang.
She accepted the fact that money was involved, believing it was a fair price to pay.
However, she never expected Xia Yanfang to try and take a share of the Zhou family's wealth.
The Zhou family wielded immense power in Beicheng, and ordinary people trying to challenge them was like throwing eggs at a rock.
She had already suffered enough in this marriage, wasn't that lesson enough?
Xu Yansang smiled bitterly and was about to leave when the tightly shut villa door suddenly opened.
Standing on the high steps was Zhao Jiali, arms crossed, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Since you're already divorced, keep your crazy family in check. Our Zhou family isn't a trash bin for your garbage!"
Earlier, Xia Yanfang was too fierce for her to argue with, so she hid inside. Now that the troublemaker was gone, facing Xu Yansang alone was easy.
Xu Yansang paused and looked at Zhao Jiali. The word "Mom" instinctively came to her lips but she swallowed it back down.
Over the past two years, she had learned an important lesson: when people don't value you, don't flatter them and lower yourself.
Hiding her pain, she remained composed. "I'm sorry. This won't happen again. But please, mind your words—my family is not crazy."
She had no intention of arguing further and turned to leave.
"Stop right there!" Zhao Jiali stepped down, looking at her coldly. "Is this how you talk to your elders? So all that submissive behavior before was just an act? Now that you're divorced, your true colors are showing!"
Xu Yansang clenched her fists by her sides but quickly let go, forcing a tired smile.
She laughed at her own foolishness.
She had been the Zhou family's daughter-in-law for two years, serving them wholeheartedly. When Zhao Jiali had uterine fibroid surgery last year, she was the one who stayed by her bedside, cleaning and caring for her without rest.
And what did she get in return?
Insults, humiliation, and ridicule.
From the very beginning, no one in the Zhou family had ever truly respected her.
"I have a clear conscience toward you," Xu Yansang said calmly, eyes downcast, as if numbed to the pain.
At that moment, a silver-gray sports car screeched to a halt outside the villa.
Zhou Muchuan got out, striding toward her with a cold expression. "Xu Yansang, why are you still lingering here? Why can't you just stay away?"
Xu Yansang froze, about to explain, but he didn't give her a chance.
"You've been hanging around me for days. Do you think this will make me change my mind? I thought you divorced me to let me and Sisi be together, but it turns out you were just buying time. Your hypocrisy disgusts me!"
Xu Yansang's face turned pale, and she stared at him, her voice trembling with anger.
"Zhou Muchuan! Do you think I can't let go? Yes... I did love you, but from the moment we left the civil affairs bureau, I never once thought of turning back! How dare you belittle me without even asking?"
Qin Sisi appeared at some point, sighing softly. "Yansang, it's normal that you can't let go of someone as outstanding as Muchuan. But no matter what, you shouldn't bother Auntie over it."
She gently walked to Zhao Jiali's side and said in a concerned voice, "Auntie, are you feeling unwell? Your face looks pale. Is your high blood pressure acting up again?"
Zhao Jiali, who adored her soon-to-be daughter-in-law, held Qin Sisi's hand warmly. "I'm fine, just angry at that wretch. Seeing you makes me feel better."
Qin Sisi looked apologetic. "It's our fault, Auntie. If we had come earlier, you wouldn't have had to suffer like this."
Her soft words were like daggers, accusing Xu Yansang and solidifying her guilt.
Zhou Muchuan's face darkened further. He glared at Xu Yansang coldly. "Is this your goal? To anger my mother until something happens to her? Will that satisfy you?"
Xu Yansang fought back tears.
She was exhausted—tired of always being blamed with no way to defend herself.
Two years of marriage had been filled with countless similar accusations. Zhou Muchuan always believed everyone but her.
She had only wanted to love someone and enter a marriage with hope. Why did it all end in such humiliation?