Some said that drawing blood on the wedding day was an ill omen. Others said the Shen family had been arrogant for too long and had finally run out of luck. Whatever the reason, after that incident, everything began going wrong for the Shen family.
Shen Yanchen, in particular, had somehow contracted a terrible illness. It plagued him, and his temperament grew violent and cruel. Though he still maintained the appearance of a modest gentleman, in truth he was as terrifying and merciless as a devil!
Tao Huanyi knew nothing of Yanchen’s family’s past.
Now, hearing Old Madam Shen admonish her so sternly, she couldn’t help shivering. As she worried over how this would all end, she felt a wave of warmth rise behind her. Old Madam Shen was coming toward her step by step, leaning on her cane.
“Girl, I heard everything that just happened.”
Unlike the coolness in her voice when she had spoken to Shen Yanchen, Old Madam Shen now sounded tender and full of concern. “Girl, your aunt has been so cruel to you, and now you’ve defied her in front of everyone and humiliated her. If you go back, I’m afraid she won’t let you off!”
Remembering her aunt’s terrifying manner, Tao Huanyi felt a sudden chill. “Grandma…”
“Good girl,” Grandma said. “Don’t be afraid. Don’t be afraid!”
Seeing her like that, Old Madam Shen took Tao Huanyi’s hand with concern and promised her solemnly, “I meant every word I said just now. Since you’re carrying a child of the Shen family, move into the Shen residence. Let Yanchen and me take good care of you.”
“Don’t worry. As long as Grandma is here, no one in this house will dare lay a finger on you!”
“Grandma…”
Shen Yanchen frowned and was about to interrupt, but Grandma struck him hard with her cane.
“You little rascal! This is no place for you to speak!”
“Go on, get your household registration booklet. The Civil Affairs Bureau hasn’t closed yet, so we’ll go get the marriage certificate right now!”
Then Old Madam Shen patted Tao Huanyi’s hand and asked gently, “Good girl, is your household registration booklet at home? Shall I send someone to fetch it for you?”
Tao Huanyi opened her mouth to refuse Grandma, but the words reached her tongue and then retreated.
After all, she had offended her aunt and cousin. There was no way she could go back to her uncle’s place now. And blind and pregnant, where else could she go except the Shen residence?
She bit her lip lightly, lowered her head, and agreed to Old Madam Shen’s suggestion.
Grandma beamed at her answer and immediately ordered someone to go to the Tao family for the documents.
Tao Huanyi listened quietly as Grandma’s footsteps receded. Suddenly, a cold laugh sounded beside her ear.
“What a brilliant double act.”
Standing behind Tao Huanyi, Shen Yanchen let out a low, mocking sigh. “Your aunt plays the villain, you play the innocent victim, and getting into the Shen residence is your real goal. Am I right?”
How ridiculous! He’d actually been taken in by her pitiful, helpless appearance.
He’d thought she really was as innocent and harmless as she seemed, a poor girl who’d suffered so much.
Now it was obvious: this was all just a performance they’d put on to get her into the Shen residence!
But if they wanted to play games, he’d play along to the very end!
Shen Yanchen smiled faintly and gripped her arm, seemingly guiding her step by step toward the reception room. His voice was slow, laced with an unsettling gentleness, yet each word cut into Tao Huanyi like a butcher’s knife.
“Miss Tao, the Shen residence isn’t the rich paradise you imagine. But since you’re so determined to force your way in, then…”
“I’ll just have to take my time playing with you.”
With a crash, Tao Huanyi felt someone shove her from behind. She stumbled and turned around, only to hear the door slammed shut without mercy.
Clutching her white cane, Tao Huanyi felt her heart slowly sink. It seemed he had locked her in.
Outside the reception room, Shen Yanchen’s gaze was cold, and the faint smile on his face had vanished.
He turned away without another glance at Tao Huanyi inside and headed for the lobby. At the same time, he quickly called his assistant and ordered in a cold voice, “Look into someone for me: Tao Huanyi of the Tao family.”
“I want everything on her. Find out who she’s been in contact with over the past month.”
Tao Huanyi had no idea how long she was kept in the private room off the reception hall.
She leaned against the wall and slowly sank into a crouch. Hunger made her head spin, and she was nearly fainting when the Shen family’s people finally opened the door. They helped her out of the hotel and drove straight to the Civil Affairs Bureau to register their marriage.
On the way, Tao Huanyi felt the documents the driver had handed her. After hesitating for a long while, she finally asked softly, “Did you find all of these at my home?”
“Yes, Miss Tao,” the driver replied respectfully. “We went to the address you gave us and brought back your household registration booklet and ID card. We also brought your birth certificate, graduation certificate, and everything else.”
That much…? Had they really brought everything?
Tao Huanyi’s heart sank a little. She opened her mouth, then asked softly, “When you went there, did you happen to see my uncle?”
Before the driver could answer, a faint, mocking laugh came from beside her.
Shen Yanchen was sitting next to Tao Huanyi. Hearing her naive question, he gave a quiet scoff and replied with measured sarcasm, “Miss Tao, are you asking whether your uncle knew your aunt was doing all this?”
“Or are you wondering whether he’ll come rushing over to rescue you, no matter the cost? Hmm?”
His eyes narrowed slowly. “Miss Tao, as far as I know, you’re already twenty. A twenty-year-old woman shouldn’t be so naive. People who share a bed don’t have completely different minds. How could your uncle not know what your aunt was doing? His inaction is answer enough.”
In other words, she really shouldn’t be so naive as to expect anything from her uncle.
The car continued slowly toward the Civil Affairs Bureau.
Listening to Shen Yanchen’s icy words, Tao Huanyi pressed her lips together and tightened her grip on her white cane.
She couldn’t refute his clear, logical argument. Still, she drew a quiet breath and answered with a young woman’s stubbornness, “Mr. Shen, whatever my aunt has done to me, when I was ten and my family was destroyed, leaving me alone and helpless, it was my uncle who gave me a home.”
“I believe that family ties can sometimes transcend reason.”
Feeling the car slow to a stop, Tao Huanyi didn’t wait for Shen Yanchen to say anything else. She gripped her white cane and prepared to get out. “Are we there? Then let’s get out.”
She had only leaned an inch toward the door when someone grabbed her arm and pulled her back.
“Wait.”
Shen Yanchen held Tao Huanyi’s arm with one hand and took the agreement the driver handed him with the other. He shoved it into her hands and said in a tone that brooked no argument, “Sign this before you get out.”