After dropping Lin Jiayuan off at the house and handing him her credit card and her car with a light threat not to overspend and overspeed, Jiaxuan leaned back in a taxi seat with a sigh. The warmth from her brother's smile still lingered in her chest, but her mind refused to rest. Her phone buzzed. Unknown number.
Unknown Number: "Come to the Silver Birch Café. I have something. Come alone."
She narrowed her eyes. No name. No threat. Just enough to stir her curiosity.
Fifteen minutes later, Jiaxuan stepped into the quiet café tucked into a side street, still wearing her sleek black dress and heels. Her hair danced with the breeze as she scanned the room.
He was seated by the window, wearing a cap pulled low and dark shades that couldn't hide the alert stiffness of his body. The same man who had helped her sneak into Chen Yuze's penthouse—only this time, he looked more nervous than she'd seen him.
"You picked a cozy place to look like a fugitive," Jiaxuan remarked as she slid into the seat opposite him.
He gave a short laugh, pushing a thick envelope toward her. "I would've stayed longer, but the guards started circling. Something was off."
Jiaxuan opened the envelope, flipping through high-resolution pictures. Some showed Chen Yuze entertaining foreign businessmen, others captured packages being exchanged discreetly near the penthouse elevator. But something was missing.
"These are good," she said carefully. "But not enough. The USB drives in the third drawer—those are what we need."
"I couldn't get them. Someone clocked me, I think." His voice lowered. "I had to get out before I got caught."
She smiled slightly, her fingers tracing the edge of a photo. "You're lucky you didn't. Chen Yuze doesn't do forgiveness. Only funerals."
The man swallowed hard. "So what now?"
"We try again," Jiaxuan said, sliding the envelope into her bag. "But more carefully. And this time, I'll go alone."
Just as Jiaxuan stood up from the café table, ready to leave after her cryptic meeting with the man who had snuck into Chen Yuze's penthouse, her phone buzzed again.
Unknown Number.
Her brow furrowed. Another one?
She swiped it open.
Caller ID: Lin Meilin.
Ah. Of course.
She didn't answer immediately. She stared at the screen for a beat longer, like it had personally offended her. Her thumb hovered before she finally tapped accept and held it to her ear.
"Jiaxuan~" came the voice on the other end, sugary enough to cause cavities. "It's me, your darling sister!"
Jiaxuan didn't bother hiding her eye roll. She could practically hear the fake smile painted on Meilin's lips. Her tone was soft, breathy, full of carefully cultivated charm. She probably practiced it in the mirror every morning, like a pageant queen rehearsing for a crown she didn't earn.
"To what do I owe the honor?" Jiaxuan asked dryly, stepping out into the evening air. The city lights bounced off her cheekbones like a spotlight, casting her in a silver glow.
"Oh, don't be like that," Meilin giggled. "Daddy wants you home."
"Does he?" Jiaxuan drawled, flagging down a taxi with a lazy flick of her wrist. "Last I checked, he preferred when I wasn't around to ruin the family photo."
Meilin ignored the jab with practiced grace. "He said he insists you come back tonight. Something about wanting the whole family together. You know, like old times"
"Ah," Jiaxuan said, sliding into the backseat of the car. "So, he's lost his memory and developed selective nostalgia?"
There was a small pause, then Meilin's voice lowered into a syrupy whisper.
"There's a surprise waiting for you" she said, dragging the words out like some kind of twisted lullaby.
Jiaxuan's fingers clenched slightly around her phone. "Is that so?"
"Mmm," Meilin hummed. "It's a big one. You'll love it."
"Define love," Jiaxuan said. "Because the last time you said that, I walked into an engagement party I didn't agree to and a fiancé I didn't want."
"Oh, you're so dramatic," Meilin sighed, all gentle giggles again. "Just come home. You'll see. Daddy's really looking forward to it. We all are."
Jiaxuan leaned back against the seat and stared out the window, watching the city blur by.
"Tell 'Daddy' I'm on my way. But if this is one of your little setups, Meilin, I'm wearing heels. I won't hesitate to bury one in someone's chest."
"Can't wait to see you too, sister," Meilin said cheerily, and hung up.
Jiaxuan stared at the phone a moment longer before setting it in her lap. The driver peeked at her through the rearview mirror, clearly curious.
"Rough call?" he asked.
She gave a humorless laugh. "Family."
That single word tasted bitter in her mouth.
As the car curved around the final bend toward the Lin estate, the mansion came into view, lit like a palace waiting for a coronation—or a sacrifice.
And somehow, she had the feeling tonight, she might be both.
The iron gates of the Lin estate creaked open slowly, as if even the metal itself knew better than to welcome her warmly. The taxi driver whistled low under his breath as he caught sight of the sprawling mansion ahead, its white walls bathed in golden light, glowing like the surface of a lie.
"Nice house," he murmured.
Jiaxuan didn't respond. Her eyes were fixed on the tall, glass-paneled double doors at the top of the steps. Behind them was the same place she had once called home—until home became a stage, and she the family's unwilling understudy, never good enough for the lead.
She paid the driver, stepped out, and straightened her long black trench coat, adjusting the lapel with grace. Her heels clicked against the marble steps, echoing like a countdown.
As if they had rehearsed it, the doors opened before she even reached them.
And there stood Madam Lin also know Meng Lianhua dessed in an ivory cheongsam embroidered with golden phoenixes, her hair twisted into a severe bun. Her eyes—always sharp, always cold—flicked over Jiaxuan's figure with disapproval veiled behind a tight-lipped smile.
"You came," she said, like it was both a surprise and a disappointment.
Jiaxuan gave her a once-over. "I was summoned."
From the grand foyer behind her, voices floated—light laughter, polite greetings, glasses clinking. A gathering. Of course.
A family event she was never invited to… until now.
Before she could take another step, Lin Meilin emerged from the staircase with her usual elegance, wrapped in a pastel pink dress that clung to her like a designer lie. Her soft curls bounced with every step, and her eyes gleamed with anticipation.
"Jiaxuan!" she called sweetly, arms extended like they were long-lost sisters instead of… whatever they actually were.
Jiaxuan stood still.
Meilin came forward, wrapped her arms delicately around her shoulders, and whispered, "You're just in time. Daddy's inside… and the surprise too."
Jiaxuan's hand gripped the strap of her purse just a bit tighter.
"I hope it's not another family photo," she said, tone clipped. "I didn't bring my knife."
Meilin giggled again, pulling back. "Come on. Everyone's waiting."
Jiaxuan followed her down the glittering hallway, past golden-framed portraits and polished vases, the memories crashing into her one by one—years of being the shadow child, the unwanted branch in a family tree pruned with scissors.
As they stepped into the ballroom, everyone turned.
The laughter died. Conversations paused.
Her father, Chairman Lin, stood at the center with a wine glass in hand. His face was still the same—aged but proud, carved with the weight of ambition. Standing beside him was a group of business partners, their eyes now trained on Jiaxuan like she was a foreign element disrupting the perfect frame.
"Ah, Jiaxuan," Chairman Lin said, voice even but distant. "You made it."
She gave a short nod. "You called."
He raised his glass slightly. "It's good to have you home… finally."
That was a lie. He hadn't wanted her here since her mother gave birth to her
"Shall we begin the announcement?" Meilin chirped, clapping her hands once as the attention shifted.
A butler opened the side doors.
And then—
In walked a man.
Tall. Clean-cut. Dressed in a three-piece suit like he'd stepped off a magazine cover.
Jiaxuan blinked.
No. Her heart twisted.
She knew that face.
It was Li Shixuan.
The heir of the Li Conglomerate. The one her father used to pitch to Meilin as a suitor.
The one who used to visit their home once upon a time…
…and the one who, long ago, had stared at Jiaxuan longer than Meilin ever noticed.
Chairman Lin raised his voice. "Tonight, I'd like to formally announce the engagement of my beloved daughter—"
Jiaxuan's spine stiffened.
No. No. Not her. Not again.
"—Lin Jiaxuan to Li Shixuan, heir of the Li Group."
The room burst into polite applause.
The blood drained from her face.
Meilin was smiling beside her, wide and bright, but there was something victorious in her eyes. Checkmate.
Li Shixuan stepped forward. His expression unreadable, eyes focused on her, but his lips curved faintly.
Jiaxuan turned to her father, her voice cold. "You must be joking."
"No," Chairman Lin said smoothly. "This is your second chance to make your place in this family. And this time, don't ruin it."
Meilin leaned in behind her and whispered sweetly, "Surprise"
Two Years Ago
It had been nearly two years ago.
Back then, Shen Zhi was just a powerful name whispered in elite corridors—an unattainable heir. And she? She was the silent daughter with a powerful father, trapped beneath a web of alliances and fake smiles.
That summer, the Lin family had held a private villa retreat. Li Shixuan was invited. He had always hovered around the edges of their circle—a rising young executive in a family business that bowed frequently to her father's influence. From the outside, he was golden: good-looking, successful, charming. But Jiaxuan had always felt something rotten behind the smile he wore.
She remembered it vividly.
She had been walking to the side garden, hoping to get a moment away from the suffocating banquet. The sun had already set, and the fairy lights were flickering softly around the roses when she felt someone behind her.
"Miss Jiaxuan," came the voice, low and sickeningly sweet.
She turned and forced a polite smile. "Mr. Li. The event's that way."
He didn't budge. "You looked tired. I thought I'd offer you company."
"I don't need company."
"Why do you always brush me off?" he asked, a dark gleam flickering in his eyes. "Do you not see how much I care for you?"
She blinked, stunned. "What are you talking about?"
"I've always noticed you," he said, stepping closer. "The way you carry yourself, how your eyes cut through people like glass. You're different from the others. You don't smile like they do. You intrigue me, Jiaxuan."
Her body stiffened. "You're drunk."
"I'm not," he insisted, his tone deepening, growing hungry. "I know your father's looking for a match. What better man than me? I can give you everything. You just need to stop pretending like you're above feeling something."
He reached out to touch her wrist.
Her reaction was instinctive—she yanked her arm away and stepped back.
"Don't touch me."
Li Shixuan's face darkened. "You think you're untouchable? That because you wear expensive dresses and walk like a queen, no one has the right?"
She turned to walk away.
That's when he grabbed her from behind.
His arm coiled around her waist as he dragged her back toward the hedge, one hand trying to muffle her scream.
"You'll learn to love me," he hissed against her ear. "You'll see. I'm not asking—I'm taking what should've been mine."
Her knee struck upward, slamming into his groin.
He cried out, loosening his grip just long enough for her to elbow his jaw and shove him away.
"Come near me again and I'll ruin your entire bloodline," she spat, trembling with rage. Her breath was ragged, her hair wild around her face, but her eyes—those sharp, venom-laced eyes—were unyielding.
He looked up at her, dazed and humiliated. "You'll regret that."
"I already regret not screaming loud enough for the entire Lin estate to hear what kind of man you are."
She stormed away that night, fists clenched, heart pounding—and didn't speak a word of it to her father. She knew how those things ended. Power protected power. No one would believe her. Not against the golden boy of the Li family.
It was only months later—after she'd met Shen Zhi and the engagement talks began—that Li Shixuan started to disappear from the elite circles, whispers following him like shadows.
Jiaxuan never asked questions.
She didn't need to.
Shen Zhi had his own way of protecting what was his—even if she hadn't belonged to him then.
Present....
The grand chandelier in the Lin mansion's drawing room shimmered overhead, its golden light reflecting off polished marble floors. But no shine could mask the tension that hung in the air like a noose around Jiaxuan's neck.
She stood tall, her arms crossed, lips curled into something between disbelief and disdain. Across from her sat Lin Weiren — her father — expression calm, almost smug, flanked by his perfectly poised wife, Madam Xu Lianhua, who wore a mask of maternal concern.
"I don't understand what kind of madness this is," Jiaxuan said sharply, voice echoing through the grand room. "I am already married. I have a son. What is this sudden nonsense about marrying Li Shixuan?"
Her father's expression didn't waver. "That can be handled. You can annul the marriage quietly. As for your son—" He glanced down at a file before meeting her eyes. " Shixuan is willing to father him legally. Yichen will become my acknowledged grandson. He will lack nothing."
Jiaxuan took a step back, a breath catching in her throat. Her eyes burned as she stared at him. "You want to own my son like a pawn on your political chessboard?"
"Don't be dramatic," her father said, dismissively waving his hand. "This is what's best for everyone. Especially you."
"Best?" Jiaxuan laughed bitterly, the sound sharp like glass shattering in the quiet. "You think this is best? Selling me off to Li Shixuan like a shiny trophy wife just to secure votes for your damned presidential campaign?"
"Jiaxuan—" her stepmother started softly, moving toward her with a faint, placating smile. "Let's not raise our voices. We're still a family, after all."
Jiaxuan stepped back instantly, eyes cold and cutting. "Don't touch me."
Xu Lianhua froze mid-step.
"The last time I checked," Jiaxuan hissed, "you and I don't share a drop of blood. So don't pretend to be something you're not."
Her father's jaw tightened. "You will not speak to your elders like this. Especially not to the woman who raised you."
"She didn't raise me," Jiaxuan snapped. "My mother did. My real mother. The one you pushed into exile after marrying her."
There was silence.
Until Lin Weiren finally spoke again — calmly, like he wasn't about to destroy his own daughter's life. "Your mother and brother will be moving into this house."
Jiaxuan blinked. "What?"
"Starting next week," he continued, flipping through a few pages of what looked like legal documents, "they will take up residence here under the Lin family name. We can't afford outside rumors or disjointed images. If I'm running for president, everything has to be… unified."
"So this was the reason." Jiaxuan's voice broke into a dry, bitter whisper. "This is why you brought Li Shixuan back into the picture. You needed a clean, controlled image — a perfect little arranged marriage for your headlines."
Her father didn't deny it.
"You're working with him, aren't you?" she accused, voice rising. "You and Li Shixuan — using me like I'm some kind of political package deal. And you thought I'd just… agree?"
"Politics require sacrifice," her father replied smoothly.
Jiaxuan let out a choked laugh, fury rising like a tide. "You want sacrifice? You want control?" She stepped forward, face inches from his. "Then you should've asked the man who once tried to assault me before I ever married Shenzhi. That same man you're now forcing into my life again!"
Xu Lianhua's smile finally cracked.
Her father's silence said enough.
Jiaxuan's voice shook as she stepped back. "This is madness. And if you think I'll go down quietly like the rest of your perfect pawns, then you've underestimated the daughter you threw away for politics a long time ago."
The double mahogany doors slammed behind Jiaxuan as she stormed out, her heels clicking furiously against the marble steps of the Lin family estate. Her chest rose and fell in heavy breaths, fury and disbelief clouding her gaze.
Behind her, Lin Shixuan straightened his suit, brushed a hand through his neatly combed hair, and turned to her father.
"Uncle, don't worry. I'll talk to her. Jiaxuan just needs time. I'll change her mind," he said with confidence.
The elder Lin gave a weary nod. "Do it quickly. I don't want any more drama before the campaign launch."
Without another word, Lin Shixuan darted after Jiaxuan.
She was already halfway down the grand stairway when she heard his voice.
"Jiaxuan! Wait!"
She stopped but didn't turn around.
"Please, just give me a minute," he pleaded, catching up and blocking her path.
"What now, Lin Shixuan?" she hissed, arms crossed. "Did my father forget to mention another brilliant plan you both cooked up? Maybe sell me to another devil for political favors?"
"I never wanted that!" he said sharply. "Everything I've done—everything—was for you. Because I love you."
She froze for a heartbeat, then turned to face him. Her eyes were cold, sharp like a blade.
"Love?" Her voice dropped. "Who tries to assault someone they claim to love, Shixuan?"
His face stiffened. "That night… that night was a mistake. I was overwhelmed. You have no idea how hard it was, watching you slip further away from me."
She scoffed. "So your solution was to force yourself on me?"
"I lost control! But I didn't mean to hurt you. I've regretted it every day since," he insisted, reaching for her hand.
She yanked it back like his touch burned.
"You don't get to rewrite what you did," she spat. "You crossed a line you can never undo. I would rather rot than be in the same room with you—let alone marry you!"
He stepped closer, lowering his voice. "You don't mean that. You're just angry. But I know deep down, you still feel something. Shenzhi—he can't give you the future I can. He doesn't love you like I do."
"Don't you dare mention his name," she growled. "You think this is about who can offer me more power or a better name? I already have a husband—and a son. What you're asking me to do is unforgivable."
Shixuan's expression twisted. "You married him for revenge. For power. Not love."
She laughed bitterly. "Even if that were true, at least he didn't try to break me."
There was silence.
"I'm giving you time, Jiaxuan," he said after a pause, eyes dark and serious. "Time to realize that we belong together. I'm not giving up on you. You'll divorce Shenzhi eventually—and when you do, I'll be waiting."
She looked at him with a mix of disgust and pity.
"I'd rather be broken and alone than loved by someone like you."
With that, she turned and walked away without looking back.
_______
At Old Huo Mansion
Jiaxuan stepped out of the taxi, her heels clicking against the cobblestone path of the Huo family's old estate. The sight of the grand mansion—cold and towering—sent an unease crawling up her spine. She didn't know why her mother-in-law had summoned her so urgently, but the tone in the woman's voice over the phone had been sharp, commanding. Something was wrong.
The moment she walked in, the warm giggles of a child caught her attention.
"MaMa!" Yichen, her son, dropped his crayon and ran across the marble floor, wrapping his tiny arms around her legs. His innocent laughter bloomed like sunshine in the cold room.
"Baby," she knelt to his level, cupping his cheeks as her heart softened. "Were you coloring with grandma?"
The sharp sound of a throat clearing shattered the tender moment.
"Take the child away," the matriarch said coolly, waving a hand at the nearby maid.
"Grandma—" Yichen began to protest, clinging to Jiaxuan.
"Yichen," the maid said quickly, distracting him by pretending to snatch one of his toys. "Look, I'm stealing your robot! Come catch me!"
With a playful shriek, Yichen darted after her, leaving his mother alone in the vast, suffocating room.
Jiaxuan stood slowly, smoothing down her shirt before turning to face the formidable woman across the room.
Madam Huo didn't sit down. Instead, she walked to the table and slammed a stack of papers onto it, the sound echoing ominously.
Jiaxuan's heart dropped.
A pen was placed beside the document, and Madam Huo looked her in the eye, her expression unreadable. "Sign it."
Jiaxuan blinked. "Sign what?"
"The divorce papers."
Silence.
A bitter laugh escaped Jiaxuan's lips, sharp and strained. She approached the table and picked up the papers with trembling fingers. Her eyes scanned the legal text, but the words blurred. Her throat burned.
Madam Huo crossed her arms. "You'll be generously compensated. A villa. A lump sum. Custody arrangements can be made. You'll be free of all this. Isn't that what you want?"
Jiaxuan placed the papers back down and looked up, her voice calm but resolute.
"No, it's not."
Her mother-in-law raised a brow. "Excuse me?"
"I won't leave my husband," Jiaxuan said firmly. "And I won't destroy my son's family for your convenience, Madam Huo."
"You think this marriage is about family?" her mother-in-law scoffed. "This marriage was a mistake from the beginning. My son never wanted it. And now that Rouluan is back—"
"Ah." Jiaxuan smiled bitterly. "So this is about Xu Rouluan."
Madam Huo didn't deny it.
"I know you want her for Shenzhi," Jiaxuan continued, her voice soft but unwavering. "I know you believe she's better suited. Maybe in your eyes, I was never worthy to begin with. But I didn't force this marriage. I didn't chase your son. He married me. I gave birth to his child. I'm standing by him."
"You're too emotional," Madam Huo said stiffly. "Marriage is not about emotion. It's about legacy. Rouluan is a suitable partner for Shenzhi, especially in the political climate we're entering. Don't make this harder than it has to be."
"Happiness is not a chess move," Jiaxuan replied. "And I won't give up my happiness to make space for someone else's."
The matriarch's eyes narrowed. "You think this is about your happiness?"
"I know it is," Jiaxuan said. "I'm not here to fight you, Madam Huo. I respect you. I always have. You're Yichen's grandmother, and I won't forget what that means. But I won't sign those papers. Not now. Not ever."
The tension crackled in the air like a storm. Madam Huo looked furious, but Jiaxuan didn't flinch.
"I'm not a fool," Jiaxuan added, her voice trembling slightly. "I know what I walked into when I married into this family. I know I've had to prove myself every day. And maybe I'll keep having to prove myself. But my marriage is not disposable. Neither am I."
For a long moment, neither of them spoke. Only the distant sound of Yichen laughing echoed faintly in the halls.
Finally, Jiaxuan stepped back and bowed respectfully.
"If you'll excuse me, I want to take my son home now."
She didn't wait for permission. She turned, walked toward the playroom, and scooped her son into her arms.
"Let's go, baby," she whispered.
As the heavy front doors closed behind her, Jiaxuan felt the cold air sting her eyes, but she refused to cry.
This was war—and she had no intention of losing.
MEANWHILE....
The call came late in the afternoon. Huo Shenzhi stood by his office window, the sky outside painted in soft hues of dying sunlight when his phone lit up with the name he could never ignore—Mother.
He sighed and picked it up.
"Shenzhi," Madam Huo's voice came sharp, clipped, and brimming with restrained fury. "You need to divorce that woman."
Shenzhi blinked, still holding the phone to his ear. "…Mother?"
"She disrespected me," she snapped. "She refused to sign the divorce papers. In my own house! She dared to speak back to me as though I were some meddling stranger off the street."
He closed his eyes briefly, resting his hand on the cold glass window. "What exactly did she say?"
"She said she wouldn't leave you. That she wouldn't walk away from her marriage or her child—like she's some righteous martyr. And all because she thinks Xu Rouluan is a threat! She even accused me of trying to take her happiness. How ungrateful can she be? After everything this family has done for her—"
"Mother," Shenzhi interrupted gently, voice low but firm. "You're upset. I can hear it in your tone. But this isn't how we resolve anything."
There was a pause on the other end. Then, incredulously, "You're defending her?"
"I'm not defending anyone," he said calmly, though there was a tired ache beneath his voice. "I'm simply asking you to stop. Please."
"She's ruining your life!" his mother exclaimed. "You've been stuck in limbo for years, Shenzhi! How long will you keep pretending you're still married to her? She's been gone. You've suffered in silence. Now that she's back, she acts as if nothing has changed and even has the audacity to treat me like the enemy!"
"I haven't moved on, Mother," he replied after a moment, the weight of that truth sinking into his chest. "And it's not something that can be fixed with papers or another woman waiting in the wings."
"You're being foolish," she hissed. "Xu Rouluan is still willing to accept you. She would never disrespect me—she would never hold you hostage in your own emotions the way that woman has."
"Mother," Shenzhi said again, firmer this time. "Please stop."
Silence stretched on the line. She wasn't used to this tone from her son—gentle, yet filled with the quiet strength that said he wouldn't bend this time.
"I'm not asking you to accept her. But I am asking you to leave her alone," he added, each word weighted with years of bottled-up hurt. "Let me deal with Jiaxuan the way I need to. Whatever you feel about her... please don't drag her into more chaos. Not for me. Not for Yichen."
"You're still in love with her," Madam Huo whispered, like a bitter realization.
He didn't answer.
He didn't need to.
"Fine," she muttered after a long silence. "But don't come crying to me when she breaks you again."
And with that, she ended the call.
Shenzhi lowered the phone from his ear and stood still for a long moment, watching the sun disappear behind the city skyline. The silence was deafening.
He still hadn't moved on.
And perhaps, he didn't want to.