After cutting the cake, everyone took their seats for dinner. Grandma excused herself, citing discomfort, and returned to her room.
I retreated into the Buddhist scriptures, waiting quietly.
Grandma's voice came from the doorway: "Aunt Wang, send someone to investigate Yuncheng. Something feels very wrong."
"Madam, are you so certain the person in that video isn't Miss Wan?"
Grandma shot Aunt Wang a glare. "I watched Wan grow up. Do you think I don't know her character? Even if she fell for someone else, she'd divorce Lu Shiyan first. She wouldn't do such things while still married."
"True. Miss Wan has turned down so many suitors over the years. She's always been rational—hard to imagine her acting out of spite, using her body to retaliate against Mr. Lu."
Grandma gritted her teeth. "Even an old woman like me can see the obvious. Yet Lu Shiyan, who grew up with her, lets himself be led by the nose. When Wan returns, I'll make sure she divorces him. Trust is the foundation of marriage. If even your husband won't trust you, what's the point of staying together?"
My eyes stung as I listened. Grandma's words pierced my heart.
Something she could understand, the person who grew up with me couldn't.
"Just send someone discreetly to check on Yuncheng. Find out what Wan's really doing there."
"Alright, Madam. You should wash up and rest early. Maybe Miss will return tomorrow."
"Perhaps."
With a long sigh, Grandma went to freshen up.
By 10 p.m., Grandma had taken her medicine but kept staring at the slice of cake on the table—she'd glanced at it many times that night.
"Madam, time to sleep."
"It's not midnight yet. I'm waiting for Wan."
When she mentioned me, a gentle light flickered in her eyes. "That girl's loved sweets since she was little. I spoiled her, even learned baking to make treats for her. She's got a good heart—when my legs grew weak with age, she often cooked for me."
"She said, 'You watched me grow up; I'll take care of you as you age.'"
Tears streamed down Grandma's face as she laughed. "Aunt Wang, that child's always been filial. She wouldn't just not come back. I'm so afraid... afraid something's happened to her."
"Oh, Madam, Miss Wan isn't a child anymore. What could happen to her? And if it did, news travels fast—the Su family would've heard by now."
Aunt Wang patted Grandma's shoulder like soothing a child. "It's nothing. Miss Wan's just upset with Mr. Lu. Women like to sulk sometimes. She's not answering her phone because she doesn't want him reaching her through us. She's making a point—didn't she even get you a protective charm? She cares for you."
Grandma wiped her tears. "You're right. Wan wouldn't come to harm. That bastard Lu Shiyan deserves a lesson."
"Exactly. If you cry yourself sick, Miss Wan will only feel worse."
Grandma cast one last look at the cake. "If she returns, tell her to eat it. I saved it just for her."
"Of course. Rest now. I'll keep watch—if Miss Wan comes back, you'll be the first to know."
Listening to them, I reached for the cake, desperate for one last taste—to fulfill Grandma's wish. But my fingers passed through it, again and again. I screamed in agony, unheard by anyone.
God, why did it have to be me?
Why do the good die young while the wicked thrive?
Grandma tossed and turned in bed, clutching the scriptures for comfort—like she once held me. Her embrace had been so warm.
So warm it made me yearn to live again, to fulfill those unspoken promises.
Midnight came. Grandma, still waiting, finally succumbed to sleep, her face etched with reluctance.
I left her side, returning to Lu Shiyan's possession.
He wasn't asleep but in a nightclub, surrounded by neon lights and women. His long fingers twisted a string of beads, a futile attempt to quell his rage.
His friend Liang Mo handed him a whiskey. "Brother, it's got to be a misunderstanding. We know Sister-in-law's character. Remember in college? That senior was obsessed with her, yet she still chose you."
"That video just showed a profile—could be someone who resembles her."
Lu Shiyan said nothing, downing glass after glass.
A woman sidled up to him. "Mr. Lu, since your wife ran off, let me ease your loneliness—"
He smashed his glass. "Get out!"
At his command, the room emptied.
Liang Mo tried to interject, but Lu Shiyan snapped, "You too!"
Alone in the vast room, he drank heavily by the time I arrived. His stomach must've ached—he clutched it, slurring my name: "Su Wan, why betray me? Why!"
When no answer came, he grabbed his phone, snarling into a voice message: "Su Wan, if you betrayed me, you'll pay! Just wait—I'm coming to Yuncheng tomorrow. You can't hide!"
His assistant entered, startled by the man slumped on the couch—eyes bloodshot, face dark with drunken fury.
"Sir, you're drunk. Let me take you home."
"Home? Su Wan's not there. What home?"
"But Madam's in Yuncheng. You asked me to book a flight for tomorrow—don't you remember? You'll see her then. Rest tonight."
Lu Shiyan staggered to his feet. "Right... Wanwan hates when I stay out. I'll go home."
Drunk, he returned to the marital home—only to find Su Ning'an opening the door. The assistant gaped. "Miss Su? Why are you here?"
"I was worried about my brother. How could you let him drink so much?"
They hauled him to the living room, where he collapsed onto the couch, unconscious.
"I'll handle this. You should go."
The assistant hesitated—this wasn't appropriate. "Miss, alone with him—"
"Did I stutter?" Su Ning'an's sudden sharpness sent him fleeing.
Before leaving, he saw the way she tenderly wiped Lu Shiyan's face—her gaze brimming with love, nothing sisterly about it.
As the door closed, she kissed him.
The assistant didn't dare look back, rushing away.
Lu Shiyan, delirious, mistook her for me. Overjoyed, he murmured, "Wanwan, you're back."
He pulled her close, their bodies entwining.
I stood coldly by, watching through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Across the street, perched in a tree, a camera lens captured every shameless move of the pair.