Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Unsurprisingly, Xu Wan never came to see me again after that.

On the contrary, she kept an even tighter leash on Xie Yan. Claiming she felt insecure, she made Xie Yan decline all invitations to events that required the two of us to appear together.

This made our long-delayed engagement banquet look more and more like a joke.

During a recent gathering between our two families, Mother Xie gave Xie Yan a direct order: he had to show up at the dinner.

Xie Yan agreed, but halfway through, the Xie Family butler received news that he had been in a car accident.

Xie Yan claimed his injuries were severe and that he had to go to the hospital immediately.

Without waiting for Madam Xie to take the phone and ask questions, he hung up.

As if certain that I wouldn’t get angry with him, Xie Yan used clumsy lies and a perfunctory attitude to deal with me.

But this time, the dinner was hosted by the Xie Family for both families.

His behavior was a slap in the face to everyone involved.

In front of Xie’s Parents, my mother and I looked displeased, but internally, I was overjoyed. I wished Xie Yan would act even more like an idiot.

Madam Xie took my mother’s hand, trying to smooth things over with some pretty words, but my mother brushed her off and turned to leave.

After all, she was a person of status in the Haicheng business world. To be disrespected by a junior like Xie Yan was an insult.

It wouldn’t have been overstepping if she had ordered someone to trash the place right then and there.

Madam Xie couldn’t stop her from leaving, so she turned a pleading gaze toward me.

I gave her a small smile and stayed to finish the dinner with them.

However, I didn’t say a single word throughout the entire process.

In the eyes of Xie’s Parents, I was the picture of a woman who had endured endless grievances.

As I was leaving, Mother Xie held my hand and slipped a violet glass-type jade bangle-which she had won at an auction for an astronomical price-onto my wrist.

I politely declined a couple of times before finally accepting it with a look of feigned hesitation.

“Yuanyuan, you’re a good child. I’ve seen your feelings for Ah Yan all these years. Don’t worry, Ah Yan is a bastard, but the Xie Family won’t let you suffer.”

Hearing Madam Xie say those words, I finally let out a sincere smile from the bottom of my heart.

When I got home, my mother was sitting on the sofa in her loungewear, playing video games.

I kicked off my high heels and slumped beside her, discarding all pretense of poise.

“Is it done?” she asked.

“It’s done,” I said. “At least two billion this time. Your reputation is certainly worth a lot.”

After speaking, I reached out and massaged her shoulders.

My mother squinted her eyes contentedly. I looked at her sharp, striking features.

Time seemed to favor her; even as the years flew by, they only carved out an increasingly powerful presence in her.

Powerful, ruthless, and cold.

That was how the outside world described her, and it was also the goal I pursued.

I remembered when I was eighteen, a man claiming to be my biological father appeared.

He handed me a cake wrapped in pink ribbons.

He told me that from now on, I would have a father to love me.

He said, “Your mother has raised you to be a monster just like her. But girls are born to be pampered. Now that Daddy is here, you just need to be a beautiful princess.”

After hearing his words, I chuckled softly. The man thought I agreed with him; his eyes sparkled, and the excitement and greed on his face were almost impossible to hide.

He had timed it perfectly, appearing only after I officially gained inheritance rights on my eighteenth birthday.

As long as he gained my approval, he would have the capital to contend with my mother.

But in the next moment, I politely had him “escorted” away.

I used a few methods to ensure he would never have the chance to harass my mother or me again for the rest of his life.

Originally, I had someone look into this so-called biological father’s background, but after hearing him speak, I felt there was no need to look further.

I had seen enough people like him while growing up; their lives held no nutritional value for reference.

My mother had once told me frankly that I was the product of a pregnancy after she was schemed against.

That man was a stain on her life, but my existence was not her shame.

“You are my daughter and an independent individual. Who your father is isn’t a reason for others to insult you. I respect all your choices, but I still hope we can share the same ambitions, that you can stand by my side.”

If that were the case, our bond would be even deeper.

I was the daughter my mother raised to grow wild-a comrade-in-arms who fought by her side.

Therefore, my goal would never be just to be beautiful and loved.

As long as you are strong enough, people will scramble to love you.

And you can choose whichever type you like to your heart’s content.