"How many months along am I?" Emily finally came to her senses and turned to Liu Shang, her voice trembling slightly as the reality of the situation began to sink in.
"About half a month," Liu Shang answered.
Emily nodded, a wave of gratitude washing over her. "Thank you, Mr. Liu," she said, bowing deeply, her heart full. If it weren't for him, she might never have discovered she was pregnant. She would never have understood that the fatigue and dizziness she had been feeling lately were due to her pregnancy. Without this revelation, she might have risked her first child by continuing the strain of her life with Alexander.
"What are you thanking me for?" Liu Shang chuckled, clearly flattered but a little embarrassed. "It's my job as a doctor. You're being too formal."
He had treated countless patients and saved many lives, but no one had ever bowed to him like this. It seemed so strange. She wasn't even his patient—not in the traditional sense—so why this gesture of respect?
Emily smiled softly, shaking her head, but said nothing.
Liu Shang blinked, momentarily mesmerized by the warmth of her smile. It was as if the light in the room had shifted just for that moment. But by the time he came to his senses, Emily was already walking toward the door.
As she stepped outside, the harsh reality of her surroundings hit her. The night was cold, and the air was eerily still. She looked around—this was no longer the city. This was the countryside.
The chill crept up her spine as she folded her arms, trying to ward off the biting cold. The night was far colder than she had expected.
"Do you need a ride home?" Liu Shang's voice called from behind her. She turned to find him stepping out, his jacket now draped around his arm. "You're freezing."
Before she could protest, he slipped his coat over her shoulders. The warmth was immediate, but she hesitated.
"I can't accept this," Emily murmured, instinctively reaching to take it off. She had to remember: she was a married woman, and accepting something so intimate from another man felt wrong.
"You're pregnant, you need to stay warm," Liu Shang said gently, but firmly, halting her movements. "It's cold, and you're not in a position to argue."
His words were full of a quiet insistence that made Emily pause. It was strange for him to care so much—after all, they'd known each other for less than a day. Liu Shang wasn't the kind of man to give such attention to anyone outside of his patients.
She stood there, her lips tight in thought, then sighed, reluctantly letting her hands fall to her sides. "Thank you," she murmured, flashing a small, grateful smile.
Liu Shang gave a curt nod before saying, "Wait here. I'll bring the car around."
He disappeared into the garage, and when he returned, the car's headlights flickered on. He rolled down the window and called to her, "Get in. I'll drive you."
Emily nodded, stepping toward the car and climbing inside. The interior was warm and comforting. She let out a soft sigh of relief as the heat enveloped her.
"Where to?" Liu Shang asked as he adjusted the temperature.
"Just take me home," Emily answered, though she wasn't sure how to describe the exact location. "The manor."
"The manor?" Liu Shang sounded confused.
Emily shrugged. "It's a large English-style house in the suburbs, at the top of a mountain. You probably don't know it."
Liu Shang paused, clearly trying to place it. "I think I know the place you mean," he said slowly, his tone thoughtful. "The one up on the highest peak?"
"Yes, that's the one," Emily confirmed.
"Okay, I know where it is." Liu Shang shifted the car into gear, his eyes on the road as he began driving. The car slid smoothly up the winding mountain roads, and soon, the lights of the luxurious manor came into view.
A few minutes later, they pulled up at the entrance. Liu Shang turned to Emily, his brow furrowed. "Is this where you live?"
Emily looked out the window at the grand house. "Yes," she said quietly, a sense of both relief and dread sweeping over her.
Liu Shang's gaze lingered on her, thoughtful. "I didn't realize you were... well, this well-off," he said carefully, studying the pristine estate. But something nagged at him. How could someone with so much wealth be so worn down, so... tired? And the wound on her hand—it didn't match the image of a pampered lady of luxury.
Emily opened the car door and stepped out. The cold wind hit her immediately, and she shivered, already longing for the warmth of the car.
But Liu Shang was already pulling away, his car gliding down the driveway and disappearing into the night.
"Wait!" Emily called, but it was no use. His car was already too far gone. She stood there for a moment, staring into the void, clutching his coat tightly to her chest. The cold felt more biting now than before. She'd return it to him someday. When she saw him again.
As she entered the main house, the cold outside seemed to follow her in. The moment Emily stepped inside, she was immediately met by her mother-in-law's furious voice.
"Where have you been all day? You didn't come home for lunch, you didn't come back for dinner. Do you want to be divorced by Alexander?!" her mother-in-law raged.
Emily shook her head, trying to explain, "Mom, I—"
"Don't call me 'mom'!" her mother-in-law snapped, cutting her off. She jabbed a sharp finger at Emily's forehead, causing her to recoil. "Luo Aiqin, did you do this on purpose? Are you trying to starve me to death? You think I won't notice that you're not around to take care of things? Your heart is as dark as your intentions!"
"I didn't—" Emily's voice faltered as the pain from the jab registered on her forehead. She stepped back, trying to avoid her mother-in-law's angry outbursts.
"You didn't? Who are you trying to fool?" Lu Qianqian, Emily's sister-in-law, appeared at the top of the stairs, her eyes narrowing as she looked down at Emily. Her gaze landed on the men's jacket draped across Emily's arms, and she stalked toward her.
"Whose jacket is this?" Lu Qianqian demanded, her voice full of accusation.
"This is…" Emily hesitated, trying to find the right words.
"Huh?" Lu Qianqian glared at her. It was the kind of look that promised consequences if Emily didn't give the right answer.
"It's a friend's," Emily said quickly, feeling cornered. She knew what Lu Qianqian would think if she said anything else.
"A male friend?" Lu Qianqian's voice turned sharp.
"Yes," Emily nodded, her eyes lowered, avoiding her sister-in-law's piercing gaze.
Lu Qianqian scoffed, her eyes filled with disbelief. "You lie so easily, don't you? In the two years you've been married to my brother, you haven't even had a female friend to talk to, so how could you possibly have a male friend?"
Emily opened her mouth to defend herself, but no words came out.
"You're cheating on my brother, aren't you?" Lu Qianqian grabbed Emily's wrist and yanked her forward. "Admit it!"
"I'm not!" Emily cried out, her voice shaking with the urgency of her denial.
Before she could say anything else, her mother-in-law slapped her across the face. The blow was so forceful that the Band-Aid Liu Shang had placed on her hand was knocked off, revealing the scratch from earlier.
"We have proof of your infidelity, Luo Aiqin!" her mother-in-law hissed. "Don't try to deny it!"
"I didn't—" Emily's voice broke as tears welled up in her eyes. She could barely hold it together anymore.
Her mother-in-law pushed her forcefully, sending her stumbling backward. "I don't want to see you anymore. Get out!"
Lu Qianqian stepped forward, helping her mother to push Emily out of the house.
"Please, don't," Emily begged, tears streaming down her face. "Please don't kick me out!"
But her cries fell on deaf ears. With one final shove, her mother-in-law and Lu Qianqian slammed the door shut behind her.
Outside, the only things that kept her company were the bitter cold, Liu Shang's coat, and the sound of the falling snow. She reached into her pocket, pulling out her phone, only to find over twenty missed calls—each one from her mother-in-law.