Xia Jianguo's brows furrowed into a knot. He picked up the clothes on the floor and put them on, then retrieved a cigarette from his pocket, lit it, and walked to the balcony for a slow, casual smoke.
Just as he took a puff, Xia Jianguo's face changed instantly.
From his vantage point, he could see Xia Mian!
Beside Xia Mian stood three men, one of whom, wearing a delivery uniform, was enthusiastically showing his phone to Xia Mian...
Han Xi happened to approach and embraced Xia Jianguo. She followed his gaze, and her face changed instantly, "It's him! The one who just entered our place..."
Although Han Xi hadn't gotten a clear look at the person's face, she did notice the yellow clothes he was wearing.
Now seeing him standing with Xia Mian, Han Xi felt a wave of unease.
"What should we do? Jianguo! Someone really was here earlier!" Han Xi panicked.
Her relationship with Xia Jianguo wasn't legitimate to begin with, and now, with evidence against them, she feared both she and Xia Jianguo would face ruin!
They must act before Song Juan does. Otherwise, they'd end up with nothing but empty promises!
Xia Jianguo's brows remained tightly knit, oblivious to the cigarette burning his hand.
Xia Mian, that disobedient daughter! She actually sent someone to follow him!
Why hadn't that defiant girl just been hit by a car earlier?
"Since you're ruthless, don't blame me for being unkind!" Xia Jianguo ground his teeth, squeezing out his words through gritted teeth.
Over the years, as Xia Jianguo smoothly took over Song Family's business, he had connections in both legal and illegal circles.
He initially intended to take a slow approach, letting Song Juan die quietly.
But now, with evidence against him falling into Song Juan's hands, if he didn't speed up his plans, he'd end up with nothing!
Downstairs, Xiao Huang transferred the photos from his phone to Xia Mian and didn't forget to remind her, "Young girl, these photos aren't suitable for children. Just hand them over to your mom when you get home!"
Xia Mian smiled and cooperated, "Mm, I'll hand them over to my mom when I get back."
Xia Mian beamed brightly. With evidence of Xia Jianguo's infidelity and the evidence of his domestic violence against her and her mother, even if Xia Jianguo didn't want a divorce, he would have to go through with it!
"I'll take you home," Lu Zechuan said softly.
Xia Mian didn't refuse and got into Lu Zechuan's car, leaving the neighborhood.
When Lu Zechuan dropped Xia Mian off at home, Song Juan had just returned from a check-up at the hospital. She needed to keep evidence of the domestic abuse from Xia Jianguo.
The two met at the door, and Xia Mian watched Lu Zechuan's car drive away as she and Song Juan entered the villa together.
"Mom, I've got evidence of Xia Jianguo's infidelity. You should contact a lawyer and prepare to sue him!" Xia Mian sent the saved pictures on her phone to Song Juan.
Seeing the entangled pair in the photos, Song Juan's face instantly turned ashen.
Xia Jianguo, that scumbag, had insisted there was nothing between him and that slut Han Xi?!
Song Juan tightly gripped her phone, her knuckles turning white with anger and a thick hatred flashed in her eyes, "Xia Jianguo, I won't let you off easily!"
Holding Xia Mian's accident report, her own injury records, and the photos of Xia Jianguo's infidelity, Song Juan contacted a law office.
Meanwhile, realizing the gravity of the situation, Xia Jianguo, with a sheepish expression, returned to the villa that very evening.
When Xia Jianguo returned, Song Juan was dining with Xia Mian.
The mother and daughter were in a good mood until they saw Xia Jianguo, and their expressions turned cold.
Xia Jianguo didn't feel embarrassed. He washed his hands, took a set of dishes from the kitchen, and settled next to Song Juan.
However, before he could start eating, Song Juan had already slapped her chopsticks onto the table.
With a loud bang, Xia Jianguo's chopsticks paused in mid-air.
"Xia Jianguo, how dare you come back?" Song Juan turned her head, and there wasn't a trace of affection in her gaze towards Xia Jianguo.
Xia Jianguo forced a smile and awkwardly said, "Juan'er, we're husband and wife. Where's the overnight enmity?"
Song Juan chuckled coldly and casually tossed a stack of photos in front of Xia Jianguo.
The sight of the entangled couple in the photos made Xia Jianguo's face go pale.
He was truly caught red-handed!
Xia Jianguo's breath hitched. He lifted his head and glared fiercely at Xia Mian, "You ungrateful brat, I've raised you all these years, and you rush to break me and your mother apart!"
Xia Mian rolled her eyes at Xia Jianguo and scoffed, "Xia Jianguo, have some decency! You can't even control yourself, betraying my mom! You're dirty, so get out of our Song Family!"
Xia Jianguo was embarrassed by Xia Mian's rebuke. He picked up a bowl and hurled it towards Xia Mian.
But the bowl didn't even touch a strand of Xia Mian's hair as she caught it steadily, "Someone like you doesn't deserve to be my father, and you certainly have no right to lay a finger on me!"
Xia Mian threw the bowl back forcefully, and with a crash, it hit Xia Jianguo on the forehead.
Xia Jianguo felt a burn on his forehead, and a wave of heat flowed down. Wiping it with his hand, he was met with a palm covered in blood.
"Ungrateful daughter!!! How dare you hit your father!!" Xia Jianguo trembled with rage. Seeing the blood flow from his forehead, he felt fury and pain, as darkness flickered before his eyes.
"Not for much longer," Xia Mian said calmly.
Considering all the wrongs Xia Jianguo did to them, just embarrassing him and causing a little bloodshed wasn't nearly enough!
Xia Jianguo bit his teeth, his eyes flashing with the ferocity of a rabid wolf, "A slut's child is a slut! No manners or upbringing at all!"
Hearing this, Song Juan got up and swung her chair at Xia Jianguo.
The chair hit Xia Jianguo on the arm, almost breaking it.
He backed away a few steps, putting distance between himself and Song Juan and Xia Mian, shocked at their actions.
Was Song Juan and Xia Mian out of their minds?
"Song Juan, don't forget, I helped you a lot when I first joined the Song Family! If you dare to blow this matter up, don't think your dirty secrets can stay hidden!" Xia Jianguo threatened, looking at Xia Mian with undisguised loathing.
Everyone believed Song Juan was deeply in love with him. In reality, he was merely a replacement!
Xia Mian, that useless daughter, didn't look like him at all!
Song Juan looked down on his infidelity? Did she not betray him back then?
Song Juan's face turned livid, her gaze at Xia Jianguo filled with disappointment.
Back then, troubled by love and with child, it was Xia Jianguo who stepped up to protect her, cared for her, promising never to reveal the secret.
She thought Xia Jianguo was a responsible man, which is why she disregarded her parents' opposition and let him into the Song Family.
But to her shock, Xia Jianguo always remembered she wasn't pure!
"If you want to reveal it, that's your choice. This marriage is over for me!" Song Juan's voice was even more resolute.
Xia Jianguo's recent behavior had shown Song Juan his true character.
Despicable, shameless, without limits—how on earth had she been blind to such scum back then?