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Chapter 25 - Chapter 25: Slandered Even After Death

My mother's face showed displeasure, and she also lowered her voice: "Mom, with so many distinguished guests here, we can't delay everyone because of one person. The snowstorm is heavy tonight; flight delays are possible. Let's just save a piece of cake for her."

"Grandma, perhaps Su Wan never intended to come back in the first place," my eldest brother added.

Everyone urged Grandma to cut the cake quickly, completely failing to notice the light in her eyes growing dimmer.

"Wan promised me she would arrive on time; she never breaks her promises. Something must have happened. Her phone is unreachable. Have you gone to Yuncheng to look for her?"

My parents exchanged a glance, both seeing the awkwardness in each other's eyes.

They never even considered looking for me; after all, I always used to come back on my own after venting.

"If she takes it upon herself to disappear, looking for her would only encourage her bad behavior. Later, whenever she's unhappy, she'll turn off her phone and fly off somewhere. Where would we even look?"

"Yes, she's grown up and perfectly capable. She'll come back naturally once she's had enough fun outside."

Hearing her family's indifferent words, Grandma's heart grew cold.

Over the years, I rarely complained in her ear; she could only learn the details from servants and others.

Seeing my family's attitude toward me, she finally realized just how miserable my life had been.

"You heartless people! She is your own daughter, your own sister! She's been missing for so many days, and not one of you cares about her..." Grandma's chest heaved with anger.

"Grandma, I found out where sister is!" Su Ning'an shouted, holding up her phone, instantly drawing everyone's attention.

"Where?" Grandma stopped her scolding and quickly took Su Ning'an's phone.

On the screen was a video of a club scene. Amidst the neon lights and music, a woman with a figure very similar to mine was enthusiastically dancing with a man.

The woman was scantily clad, and her dancing was explicit.

The lighting was dim, and only her profile was visible, making it hard to tell for sure.

But when Su Ning'an claimed it was me, everyone immediately jumped to conclusions.

"I saw this by chance in a Yuncheng friend's social media feed. Sister is having a great time at the bar; she probably forgot all about Grandma's birthday long ago."

"No wonder she prepared the gift in advance—she never planned to come back!"

Grandma's eyesight wasn't good; she didn't believe it was me and asked a servant to fetch her reading glasses for a closer look. Lu Shiyan's face was icy. He watched the video three times from start to finish, his gaze fixed on the area above the woman's pale chest, where there was a black mole—easier to identify than her face.

Grandma put on her reading glasses and peered at it. "I don't think this is Wan. The lighting is so poor; you can't even tell if it's a person or a ghost."

"Grandma, stop making excuses for her. She's always been that kind of woman. Before, she was constantly entangled with men. I didn't say anything because I was afraid of upsetting Brother. This time, she used Brother's jilting as an excuse to leave. Who knows if she wanted revenge or already had someone else?"

"You wretched girl! How dare you slander your sister based on just one video! You..." Grandma still wanted to defend me.

Lu Shiyan, who had been silent until now, spoke coldly: "It's Su Wan. I'm sure of it."

His words caused an uproar among those present.

As the man who shared my bed, his confirmation was the final verdict.

"So there's more to Mr. Lu's jilting than we thought."

"I always said, if Su Wan wasn't at fault, why would he jilt her? Maybe she was already carrying on with another man behind his back."

"Mr. Lu really got the short end of the stick."

"Su Wan is so shameless. All that talk about childhood sweethearts—maybe she was already worn out from playing around."

Listening to the increasingly harsh comments, I thought I wouldn't be angry over this scumbag and that bitch anymore, but now I was fuming.

Su Ning'an had already stolen my paintings; I never expected she wouldn't even spare my reputation, spreading such vile rumors about me after my death, ensuring I'd be scorned and spat upon by thousands.

How vicious her heart is!

As for Lu Shiyan, he was utterly foolish. We had shared a bed, yet he concluded it was me based on a somewhat similar profile and a black mole on the chest.

Was he stupid, or did he always think of me as such an unchaste woman?

Hearing those unbearable words, I slowly retreated from the crowd.

But in a corner, I overheard a male voice: "Sir, should we intervene? Clearly, Miss Su isn't in Yuncheng; this person isn't her."

"Unnecessary. At this critical moment, it would only add fuel to the fire, drawing attention back to me. If word got out about an affair with Lu Shiyan's uncle, do you think it would sound any better than this?"

Lu Yanchen sighed softly: "Public opinion is fearsome. Let's go. She probably won't come."

I stood frozen. How did he know I wasn't in Yuncheng?

Unless Lu Yanchen had already had someone confirm it!

But why would he do something even my husband hadn't? No wonder he tested me repeatedly in front of Lu Shiyan and Grandma. Was he worried about me?

He was the only one who cared about my reputation.

I closed my eyes, thinking of that time I had a miscarriage after being provoked by Su Ning'an.

That day, I was covered in blood from the waist down. I crawled to the door, and before losing consciousness, I seemed to see a pair of custom-made leather shoes near a wheelchair...

It was he who arranged for me to have the abortion surgery as soon as possible. Although the child couldn't be saved, he minimized the damage to my body. Outside the operating room, when the doctor said a family member needed to sign, I vaguely heard a magnetic male voice—it was him.

Half a month before the wedding, I saw him again.

His expression was cold as he asked me: "If you're unwilling, I can cancel this marriage for you."

At that time, my mind was filled with extreme thoughts of revenge against the two at the wedding. I refused without a second thought. "Uncle, Shiyan and I grew up together. Marrying him is my lifelong wish."

The cold wind brushed against his face, veiling it in a layer of frost that made his expression unclear to me.

After a long time, when my legs were numb from standing, he spoke faintly: "I wish you happiness."

He left me with aindifferent figure receding into the distance. and went abroad that very day.

Even so, I still sent him an invitation and a wedding favor. On the wedding day, he didn't come.

We didn't have much interaction, so why, after I went missing, when even my family didn't care, did Lu Yanchen urgently try to find me?

If I'm not mistaken, he came today not just to wish Grandma a happy birthday, but to confirm whether I would show up.

Was he concerned about me?

The noisy crowd gradually settled the matter. Servants wheeled out a large, multi-tiered cake.

Everyone gathered around Grandma to congratulate her, temporarily setting aside the video issue. In the flickering candlelight, I saw many hypocritical faces.

Only Grandma looked deeply worried.

I moved to Grandma's side and softly sang "Happy Birthday" in a voice she couldn't hear.

"Grandma, make a wish."

Grandma closed her eyes, clasped her hands together, her face full of devotion.

Her voice was very soft: "May Wan have a safe, smooth life, free from worries for a lifetime."

She blew out the candles. With tearful eyes, I looked at her and whispered softly in her ear:

"Grandma, please live well for my sake too. Live a long, healthy life!"

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