"Yes," he replied curtly, shutting his laptop with a final click, "Ensure the statement is out before the market closes, that will be all."
"Yes, President Li."
The call finally ended. Li Feng leaned back in his leather chair, pinching the bridge of his nose briefly before gesturing to Secretary Yu.
"Prepare the boardroom for the internal audit meeting at one o'clock. I want all department heads present."
"Yes, sir."
Li Feng exhaled softly, as he glanced out the window into the tranquil, sunlit courtyard.
The tranquility wouldn't last.
Not with her in this house.
—
20 MINUTES LATER
LI FAMILY MAIN MANSION – LIVING ROOM
The grand double doors slammed open as Mr and Mrs Shen rushed in, flanked by two worried maids.
"Where is she?!" Mrs Shen cried, her perfectly set hair trembling with each hurried step, "Where is my daughter?!"
"She's upstairs, madam," the maid bowed quickly, "The doctor has just finished bandaging her arm....."
Before she could finish, Mrs Shen was already running up the grand staircase, her husband following with a grim expression.
They rushed over to the master bedroom and found Shen Ruyi lying pale and weak on the bed, her arm wrapped in a white gauze. Fresh tears slid down her cheeks as she saw them.
"Mom… Dad…" she hoarsely whispered brokenly, "I… I didn't want to… but I… I don't know what to do anymore… Li Feng… he hates me… the kids hate me… I have no one…"
"Momma.... They all hate me!"
"I have never wronged them, but they all hate me, even the sons I gave birth to hate me....."
"Oh, my poor baby… my poor girl…" Mrs Shen wept loudly, cradling her daughter's face in her trembling hands, "How could he treat you like this? How could he push you to this point?!"
Mr Shen's expression darkened, his eyes sharp and cold. "Where is he?"
"Sir…" the maid began nervously, "Master Li is in the study…"
Without another word, Mr Shen turned and stormed out of the master bedroom onto the hallway, his footsteps echoing through the silent mansion.
PRIVATE STUDY
Li Feng sat at his desk, reviewing the day's reports on his tablet. His eyes were tired, but still focused. The door suddenly swung open with a loud bang.
"Li Feng!" Mr Shen's furious voice boomed across the study, "What the hell is going on here?!"
Li Feng looked up calmly, his dark eyes flicking to his father-in-law without a hint of emotion, "Mr Shen...."
"Don't 'Mr Shen' me!" the older man snarled, slamming his fist down on the desk, rattling the paperweights and pen holders that were on the desk, "My daughter just tried to kill herself because of you! Are you satisfied now?! How can you be this cruel?"
Li Feng's gaze remained steady and unflinching. "She is alive, isn't she? The doctor said it was not a life-threatening situation. Causing such a ruckus for no good reason..."
"That's not the point!" Mrs Shen had arrived too, her tear-streaked face twisted with grief and rage, "How could you treat her like this? Do you have any idea what she has sacrificed for you?! Her youth, her dreams, her career....."
Li Feng's jaw tightened faintly at the mention of 'sacrifice,' but his voice remained cold and even, "She has sacrificed nothing she wasn't willing to trade for her own benefit. If she thinks she has been wronged, I can gladly set her free..." But he knew she would never accept an amicable separation, it would either end up violent or a scandal....