Lu Xicheng was seething with rage.
"Xin Xin recreated the scene as soon as she woke up. My mother was furious when she found out I had married without permission."
"She scolded you for clinging to me, and you flew into a rage. In a fit of impulse, you picked up the knife."
"Xin Xin was on the phone with me at the time and immediately rushed over to save my mother."
"You were blinded by fury and pushed her down with a single shove."
"Lu Xicheng!!" Shi Wan's large eyes brimmed with tears.
It made sense to her that Lin Zaixin would frame her.
There were too many scoundrels who harmed others for their own gain.
Being harmed was just part of being among the unlucky ones—it wasn't such a big deal.
But Lu Xicheng, whose fate was tied to hers, was her husband, the only one who could help her. Yet he… had sided with the person who framed her.
"You believe Lin Zaixin, but not me?"
Lu Xicheng's handsome face darkened. "Open your eyes wide and see clearly—the facts are right in front of you!"
"My mother's surgery lasted nine hours; her life hung by a thread."
"She does charity work every day, hoping to live a few more years."
"Someone who cherishes life so much—if you weren't trying to kill her, would she have sought death herself?!"
"And as for Xin Xin, I saw with my own eyes how you pushed her down. You hurt Xin Xin, Shi Wan!"
There was no way to defend herself.
A deep sense of helplessness choked Shi Wan's throat.
She struggled to open her mouth. "Then… what do you think I should do now?"
A document was pushed toward her. Shi Wan lowered her gaze and looked, her pupils trembling violently.
—Divorce papers.
"Xicheng, you… you want to divorce me!"
Lu Xicheng was resolute. "I have to take responsibility for Xin Xin."
Shi Wan instinctively widened her eyes.
In her vision, Lu Xicheng wore a look of guilt.
"Xin Xin is so innocent. She was harmed because of me; I owe her an apology."
Divorcing on their wedding night—even in a dream, she wouldn't dare imagine such a thing.
Shi Wan's parted lips trembled uncontrollably.
"Xicheng, you know I only have you. We can't divorce."
As soon as she finished speaking, heavy, urgent footsteps echoed through the garden.
A group of men rushed in frantically.
Shi Wan turned and saw Lu Zhengrong, Lu Xicheng's father, leading a gang of suited thugs, striding forward with earth-shaking steps.
Lin Zaixin's father was among the crowd.
Shi Wan had always been afraid of Lu Zhengrong.
Lu Zhengrong ruled the household with an iron fist and had affairs outside.
He rarely came home, but tonight he had made a special trip back, showing just how serious the situation had become.
If she wanted to save her marriage with Lu Xicheng, the only way now was to prove her innocence.
Shi Wan looked up at Lu Zhengrong.
"Dad, I didn't hurt Mom…"
"Shut up! Don't call me that! Our family doesn't recognize your marriage to Xicheng!" Lu Zhengrong scolded her harshly.
Shi Wan bit her lip and desperately tried to clarify.
"When I got home, Mrs. Lu wanted an apple. I picked up a knife to peel it, but she threw herself at me, using my hand to harm herself."
Lin Zaixin's father stepped forward to refute her. "Which part of your story holds up? Mrs. Lu, who raised you and treated you like her own daughter—would she harm you? And as for my daughter, Xin Xin, with her precious body—would she throw herself against the tea table? You must be insane, spouting nonsense!"
Lin's father was furious, and even after spewing all that, it wasn't enough.
His sharp eyes swept around the room.
"And there are witnesses! Over a dozen servants in the Lu family saw you commit the crime!"
Shi Wan protested, "They're all in cahoots."
Slap!!
A large hand swung toward her. The old man's solid palm struck Shi Wan's left cheek, the rough calluses on his palm scraping across her delicate skin.
Her face felt as if it were on fire, the burning pain sharp and piercing.
Shi Wan covered her face.
Father Lin’s anger showed no sign of subsiding, baring his teeth and snarling with fury.
“You hurt my daughter so badly—what’s wrong with me hitting you?”
Shi Wan sprang to her feet, raising her hand to strike back.
But the hand she swung through the air was caught in a powerful grip.
She turned in surprise, her gaze meeting Lu Xicheng’s bloodshot eyes, and immediately heard his restrained voice.
“Enough!”
Shi Wan was utterly stunned.
“He hit me!!”
Lu Xicheng’s thin lips were pressed tightly together, his eyes concealing unfathomable emotions.
Shi Wan refused to accept it. “Xicheng, he hit me.”
Thinking that Lu Xicheng had been overwhelmed by today’s accident, she repeated the key words, hoping to awaken him, to make him protect her as he had before.
Yet, Lu Xicheng’s expression remained stern and unyielding. “You deserved it.”
“Xicheng?”
“When you do something wrong, you must face the consequences.”
Father Lin waved his hand dismissively. “Someone, take the culprit to the car and send her to the police station.”
“No!” Lu Xicheng blocked the way, his face ashen.
Father Lin was furious. “Xicheng, your mother is critically injured, my daughter is bleeding from the head and has triggered a seizure—Shi Wan has committed a serious criminal offense. We cannot let her go.”
“Give me some time. I’ll handle this.” Lu Xicheng clenched his jaw.
Father Lin pressed, “How long?”
“Three days.”
“Xicheng, it’s settled then. Three days is the limit. I’ll be waiting for your explanation.”
Watching Father Lin and Lu Zhengrong leave, the light in Shi Wan’s eyes brightened once more.
She took Lu Xicheng’s hand and pressed it against her chest, feeling the warmth his hand conveyed to her, while also offering her own warmth and sincerity for him to feel.
“I won’t blame you. I know they threatened you with divorce. If you didn’t agree, they would have taken me away. You were worried I’d suffer in prison, so you did this to protect me.”
The next moment.
The hand pressed against her chest was pulled away.
Shi Wan’s eyes followed the movement, her gaze shifting to Lu Xicheng’s face.
His narrow eyes, filled with despair, looked at her.
“You cannot be forgiven.”
“Xicheng, do you really not believe me?”
“I told you to be patient with my mother. She’s ill, but you… you wanted her dead!”
Shi Wan couldn’t help but tremble.
“In your eyes, have I become a monster who would do anything for love?”
“No matter your reasons, when you do something wrong, you must take responsibility.”
Lu Xicheng handed her the divorce papers.
“Sign it. I’ll give you a hundred million. Take the money and go as far away as you can.”
It meant he would no longer see her, and she would have no chance to see him again.
From then on, they would be forever apart, worlds away.
Shi Wan’s heart twisted into knots, and she turned her head away.
Lu Xicheng raised his voice. “In the two years I’ve been gone, have you truly become so cunning and deceitful? You won’t even listen to me now.”
“Don’t believe the rumors. I just don’t want to divorce you.”
“Then let me tell you, it’s non-negotiable.”
“Xicheng, is your love for me so shallow that it can’t withstand even this test?”
Lu Xicheng’s gaze darkened, a bitter smile curling at the corner of his handsome face.
“Fine, how bold of you, daring to challenge me now.”
With that, he turned and walked away.
He strode quickly into the garden.
The butler, An Bo, approached him and asked, “Young Master, how should we arrange for Miss Shi Wan?”
“Don’t bother with her!”
An Bo had a face as round and pale as a steamed bun, his smile warm and friendly.
“Should we not give her food or prepare a bed for her?”
“Do as you see fit!”
An Bo hesitated, bending his old waist. "If we don't arrange food for her, her body—won't hold up."
Lu Xicheng gritted his teeth. "She won't starve to death!"