Chu Luyao didn't give Song Yuhuan a chance to explain. She snatched the phone and opened it right in his face.
Clicking on the text message thread, she saw it all—clearly and undeniably. Every single taunting photo, every vicious word Song Yuhuan had sent to Zhou Du over the short span of half a month.
A thunderclap exploded in Chu Luyao's mind. Her vision went black for a moment as those vile words and images pierced deeply into her heart.
The sharp pain of her fingernails digging into her palms forced her to vividly recall the absurd and shameful things she and Song Yuhuan had done during this time.
Chu Luyao's face turned deathly pale. Her heart ached so violently she had to clutch her chest, gasping for large, desperate mouthfuls of air.
Song Yuhuan's expression turned ugly. He hadn't expected to be exposed so quickly.
"It was you who forced Zhou Du away!"
Chu Luyao forced herself to calm down, her eyes looking at Song Yuhuan with utter coldness.
Song Yuhuan panicked inwardly. He had underestimated Zhou Du's position in her heart.
"It was me, but I did it for our child."
"I just hope that I can accompany my child as he grows up, openly and with dignity, and give him a complete family. Is that wrong?"
Song Yuhuan spoke with self-righteous conviction, staring straight at Chu Luyao.
"I know clearly that without my brother, I wouldn't have anything I have now. I have self-awareness, so I never dared to hope for too much. I warned myself again and again not to be greedy for your love."
"I tried hard to endure and hide it, never revealing a hint to anyone. I had long prepared myself for my love for you to remain in the shadows forever."
"But when you told me you were pregnant with my child, I really couldn't hold back anymore. I can keep stepping back, but do you have the heart to let our child live like that too?"
Every word Song Yuhuan spoke was filled with genuine emotion. He tremblingly took Chu Luyao's hand, looking at her with eyes full of deep affection.
A single tear rolled down from the corner of Song Yuhuan's eye, sliding past the tear mole beneath it. Chu Luyao felt a moment of trance.
A trace of darkness flashed through the depths of Song Yuhuan's eyes. He interlaced his fingers tightly with Chu Luyao's and placed them on her lower abdomen to feel the existence of the child.
"Sister Yaoyao, Zhou Du must have thought the same thing. He wanted to give our child a complete family, which is why he left."
"He knows you don't love him, just like you don't love me."
Chu Luyao threw off his hand. Fueled by unwillingness and anger, her voice became sharp and piercing.
"You're talking nonsense! How could I not love Zhou Du?"
Song Yuhuan revealed a desolate, bitter smile, his eyes unable to hide his hurt.
"The way you look at me always makes me feel like you are looking at another person. I know who he is."
"The living can never defeat the dead. You don't love Zhou Du at all. You always call out my brother's name at night, and even when you are sick. You haven't forgotten Song Yuheng at all."
Song Yuhuan pressed Chu Luyao in front of the mirror, forcing her to see clearly who exactly was in her heart.
The figures and faces of Zhou Du and Song Yuheng flashed ceaselessly before Chu Luyao's eyes, wavering, overlapping, and blurring into one.
Song Yuhuan hugged Chu Luyao from behind. Seeing that his goal of shaking her resolve had been achieved, he no longer pretended.
"Isn't this exactly what you wanted? Zhou Du is gone; no one can control your thoughts anymore. Yaodu is yours now."
"After some time, when you get used to it, you'll realize Zhou Du isn't the only one. Anything he can do, I can do too."
Song Yuhuan tightened his arms around Chu Luyao, as if trying to melt her into his own flesh and blood.