The sound of tires crunching on gravel echoed across the Su Mansion's courtyard just as dawn light spilled across the garden. From the second-floor balcony, Su Ruoyan heard the familiar hum of engines before she saw the cars, and she didn't need to look to know who had arrived.
A moment later, the front doors burst open, and the once-quiet mansion came alive with voices that had been absent for far too long. "Where is my sister? I didn't manage to see her properly last night." Su Chengyuan's voice, firm and commanding, carried through the hall.
"Calm down," another voice replied smoothly. It was Su Yichen, his tone composed but laced with relief. "Haoxuan said she's resting and please, don't go charging in like you're in a meeting with the shareholders." His military boots clicked against the marble, each step filled with restless impatience.
"After what she's been through, I'll do whatever I want," Chengyuan snapped, glaring briefly at his brother. "Three years, Yichen. Three years she's been suffering, and we didn't even know the truth."
Su Haoxuan, the youngest among the three brothers, followed them in, shutting the door behind him. "Don't start this now," he said quietly. "She doesn't need to hear our anger, she just needs us to be her strength."
From her place at the top of the stairs, Ruoyan took a slow breath and descended, her steps steady. The moment her brothers saw her, all their arguments fell silent. The sight of her brought a rush of emotion that none could quite mask.
"Ruoyan," Chengyuan's voice broke first, the eldest's usual composure slipping as he stepped forward with an air of vulnerability.
She offered him a small smile. "Brother." That single word cracked something deep inside each of them.
Chengyuan was the first to approach her, the usually composed president whom every employee at Su's Corporation feared, in this moment, looked at her with deep concern and compassion. "Yichen and Haoxuan told me you've lost weight, and I honestly thought they were exaggerating. But seeing you now, it's clear that you're skinnier than the last time we met," he said softly, his voice laced with genuine worry.
"I've been catching up on my lost sleep," she replied softly. Though her smile flickered, it didn't quite reach her eyes, reflecting the years of struggle hidden beneath the surface.
Haoxuan stepped closer, his usual easy grin replaced by guilt and concern. "Jiejie, I know you didn't blame us, but we failed to protect you as your brother. We should've come for you sooner," he admitted, his voice filled with regret.
Ruoyan shook her head gently. "Haoxuan, I know all of you are worried about me, and I am very grateful that you guys brought me back when I was at my lowest point in my life."
Finally, Chengyuan gestured toward the sitting room, his tone softening. "Come, let's have a serious talk," he said quietly. They gathered in the Su family's private study, the air was thick with the scent of old wood and sandalwood incense, evoking memories of childhood moments spent in warmth and togetherness.
As Ruoyan sat by the window, her brothers took their usual places. Chengyuan is near the desk, Yichen is standing with arms crossed, and Haoxuan is leaning against the wall. The room was filled with a heavy silence before Chengyuan finally broke it, his voice grave yet even. "We've read the report," he began. "Lu Shenyang had filed for divorce under false grounds. He spread rumors of infidelity, irresponsibility, and he even questioned your health."
Ruoyan's eyes remained steady, unwavering. "That sounds like what he will do," she replied, the resignation in her voice betraying the weight of the truth.
"Do you need us to retaliate for this?" Yichen asked, his tone cold and sharp. "Because you know, with one order from you, I can make him disappear from every social circle in the capital."
Ruoyan met his sharp gaze with unwavering resolve. "Yichen, I don't want you to dirty your hands for someone unworthy like him. Besides, I don't want to take any action yet. Not yet."
Yichen frowned, his confusion reflected in his expression. "Not yet?"
She folded her hands in her lap, her expression calm but resolute. "Lu Shenyang took everything he thought defined me. My pride, my dignity, and my future, but he never knew who I truly was. If I move now, it'll look like a revenge from a bitter woman, and I don't want him to fall without knowing whose hand pushed him."
The quiet confidence in her voice made her brothers exchange glances, an understanding forming between them. Chengyuan leaned back in his chair, assessing her with newfound respect. "You've changed, Ruoyan."
Her lips curved into a faint smile. "I've heard that from each one of you, and I don't mind repeating, pain does have a way of teaching lessons that no one else can."
Yichen's frown softened slightly, though his expression remained stern. "So, do you need us to do anything?"
"I just need you guys to cooperate in protecting my secrets," she urged. "No one, I mean no one aside from the family, can know that I'm back."
Chengyuan nodded slowly, impressed by her strategy. "That's wise." Yichen turned toward Ruoyan, a steely determination in his gaze. "Are you sure you are ready to take this path?"
"Yes," she said firmly. Her voice held no wavering. "If I'm going to stand again, I will do it as myself. Not as the woman that he pitied or the wife that he betrayed, but as Su Ruoyan of the Su clan."
Pride flickered in her brothers' eyes as they absorbed her words. In that moment, they resonated with a shared purpose. One by one, they stood, uniting in their resolve.
Chengyuan placed his hand on the desk between them. "Then it's settled. We will follow whatever you have decided, and we will back you completely."
Haoxuan stepped forward, resting a hand on her shoulder. "Always remember, Ruoyan. You're not alone in your vengeance. We, your family, will be with you in every step you take."
My brothers' words finally broke through the wall I had built around my emotions, and the tears I had stubbornly held back fell freely. They were panicking, trying to stem the flow, but I reassured them, "This will be the last time my tears fall for my past. I promise you, from this moment on, you will witness the strongest version of me, Su Ruoyan, that you have ever known."
The Su's brother watched their sister with a mix of pride and joy. For the first time in three years, they felt a sense of hope as they realized she was finally ready to claim what was rightfully hers.