Grandma's words hung in the air. Meng Shutang glanced at Gu Yunci—his lips pressed tight, silent.
Tonight would be a sleepless night.
*Cough, cough.*
Grandma's health had never been good. She'd fought lung cancer for years, survived three surgeries. Once plump, she was now nothing but skin and bones.
The operation a year ago had nearly killed her.
She'd been living in East Hua Mountain ever since, recovering and praying.
Meng Shutang had no idea why she'd come back suddenly. Her chest ached at the cough. "Grandma, are you feeling unwell again?"
"Just old troubles," Grandma said, but she didn't hide the truth this time. "I had another small surgery on my thyroid recently. At my age, every operation is a race with death.
I didn't tell any of you—no use making you worry."
Meng Shutang squeezed her hand tightly, her soft voice laced with pain. "You shouldn't carry everything alone. Surgery is huge—you should have told us.
I know you want to protect us, but we love you more. Promise you won't hide things from us anymore, okay?"
Grandma smiled warmly. "I was wrong this time. Next time I'll let you stay with me. Actually—" She took Gu Yunci's hand and placed it over Meng Shutang's. "You and Yunci need to give me a chubby great-grandbaby. I'll hold him every day, be happy, and my illness will heal itself!"
She shot a glare at Gu Yunci. "Hear me? Stop obsessing over your stupid company! Having a baby is more important than a billion-dollar contract!"
Gu Yeheng disagreed.
Meng Shutang was a famous ancient pearl restorer, but she was just a craftswoman scraping by.
Gu Yunci was the heir of the Gu family!
The only woman worthy of him was a wealthy socialite from a matching family, one who could boost his career.
Meng Shutang was nowhere close.
"Dinner's ready. Stop talking—let's eat," Gu Yeheng called.
At the table, Grandma's almond eyes flicked between Gu Yunci and Meng Shutang, smiling quietly.
After dinner, Grandma chatted with Meng Shutang privately. Then she sent Gu Yunci upstairs alone.
"I know what you're planning," she said sharply. "Drop the divorce idea right now. Shutang is my only granddaughter-in-law. You want a divorce? You'll have to get past me first.
And stay away from Bai Cixian. You young people say it—an ex should stay gone.
What is she doing here, crawling back from the dead?"
Gu Yunci hung his head, annoyed. "Stay out of my business."
Grandma's strong demeanor crumbled instantly. She leaned on the table, barely standing. "I have lung cancer. I just had surgery. Don't push me."
She broke into a violent cough.
Gu Yunci's hands at his sides clenched. "Fine. Rest."
He helped her lie down, closed the door, and returned to the bedroom.
The second he left, Grandma's weakness vanished. She sat up straight, snorting. "Hmph. That Bai Cixian—I'll teach her a lesson."
She pulled out her phone and made a call.
Downstairs, Meng Shutang was about to help the maids clean. She'd always been hardworking, even helping Aunt Zhang and Sister Li at Repulse Bay.
But before she reached the kitchen, Gu Yeheng stopped her.
"Shutang, come here."
They stood in the corridor, wind whipping Gu Yeheng's white shirt.
"If Grandma hadn't forced it, I would never have let you marry Yunci," he snapped. "He deserves better.
The Gu family hasn't mistreated you these three years. You signed the divorce papers—why did you come here tonight?
Are you trying to torture me by dragging this out?"
Gu Yeheng had hated her since the day they married.
She'd always been polite, never talking back.
Torture him? She didn't dare.
Her heart twisted sharply. Meng Shutang clenched her fists. "Did I ever have a choice in this marriage? You saw it—your son dragged me away that day!
And the divorce? It's not my decision either!"
Gu Yeheng raised his hand to slap her.
But he froze, his hand tightening into a fist. His voice softened.
"Jinxing has suffered these three years. I can't sleep thinking about him in Africa.
He grew up with everything—how can he stand the rough food there?"
Meng Shutang had no idea Gu Jinxing was in Africa.
After marriage, she'd focused on being Mrs. Gu, never caring about other men.
But she felt guilty for him.
"You don't have to worry. We'll get divorced," she said quietly, tears stinging her eyes.
If she left, Gu Jinxing could come home. Gu Yunci could marry his love. Everyone would win.
Gu Yeheng nodded. "You and Yunci were never meant to be. This marriage was a mistake from the start.
Staying with him will only make the hatred between him and Jinxing worse."
He turned and left.
That was the real reason he'd said all that.
Zhang Ma's words flashed through her mind—Gu Yunci and Gu Jinxing had hated each other since childhood.
Yes. Their marriage was a mistake. She'd always been just a tool for Gu Yunci's revenge.
Now he was done with her, and he was throwing her away.
When she returned to the bedroom, Gu Yunci was already lying on the bed. She quickly got in too.
The second she sat down, he snapped: "Get off."
Meng Shutang looked around the tiny room—only one bed, no sofa. "Where else am I supposed to sleep?"
"Figure it out."
She refused to obey. She'd been obedient enough for three years.
She placed a pillow down the middle of the bed. "Don't get the wrong idea, Mr. Gu. We're just pretending for Grandma."
She lay down fully clothed.
"Mr. Gu, you haven't signed the divorce agreement yet—"
Before she could finish, his phone rang. He stood up slowly.
His gaze cut to her, his jaw cold and sharp.
It was Bai Cixian.
"Yunci, I got into a car accident. Come take care of me, please?"
"Okay."
He hung up, grabbed his clothes, and stepped toward her. He yanked her into his arms, his fingers squeezing her chin. A cold smirk tugged at his lips.
"The bed is yours, Mrs. Gu."
His touch was still possessive, but his words were ice water, drenching her to the bone.
She stared at him silently.
After he left, she pulled the blanket over her face, hiding her tears.
He left her for Bai Cixian without a second thought. But little did she know—Grandma's "lesson" for Bai Cixian would uncover a terrifying secret about her mother's accident!**