Until the banquet ended, neither my adoptive mother nor Lu Min ever appeared.
The butler later whispered to me, "Sir was furious. He even struck Madam—there may be a divorce. They're still in the study."
As I passed by, muffled sobs and harsh scolding seeped through the door.
I had warned her just days ago. Yet my adoptive mother—she never listens.
I returned to my room to change. Before I could even remove my makeup, I headed for the study. The moment I stepped inside, a vase shattered at my feet.
I looked up to see my adoptive mother, her cheek swollen and red, clutching a shard of porcelain to her throat as she threatened my adoptive father.
"Letting your own flesh and blood wander outside breaks my heart. If you insist on driving her away, then drive me out too—along with the son in my womb!"
Tsk.
Who gave her the nerve?
Liang Jingru?
"Are you satisfied now?" Lu Min suddenly lunged out from the side, shrieking. "Seeing Mom like this makes you happy, doesn't it? If it weren't for you, she wouldn't have to beg Dad like this—for me!"
Her sharp nails glinted coldly.
She meant to rake my face.
I struck first—slapping her hard, then grabbing her hair and smashing her into the wall.
"I won't allow you to slander my father," I said coldly. "He treats me well, and he treats Mom well. He works hard to give us a better life—nothing more. Even if I'm not his biological daughter, I will never let you smear his name!"
My words set her eyes ablaze; her teeth chattered with rage.
"You're framing me—"
In the blind spot of others' eyes, I lifted my leg and drove my knee into her abdomen—again and again.
She retched in pain and collapsed to the floor.
I immediately turned, eyes brimming with tears, my voice trembling as I faced the man before me.
"I didn't want to do this… but she spoke ill of Dad."
"I know I'm not Dad's real daughter, but what she said was truly unbearable…"
My adoptive father's expression softened. "Dad believes you, Xiao Ruan. I raised you with my own hands—I know your nature. And remember this: your mother and I have only one daughter. You are the Lu family's daughter. No stray cat or dog can replace you."
Red-eyed, I nodded obediently.
"No!" Lu Min screamed.
"I'm the real daughter! She's fake—she stole my life!"
She looked terrifying, roaring like a cornered beast.
I shrank back behind my adoptive father.
[This kind of person is beyond reform.]
[Zhang Xinru even dares to threaten me—hm, no need for mercy.]
[But casting her out might affect the company's image. Better to keep her confined at home.]
Listening to his thoughts, I smiled inwardly.
Lu Min, you're finally going to taste my suffering.
My adoptive father summoned the butler and ordered him to lock Lu Min in the basement.
My adoptive mother rushed forward, clutching her belly to block them.
My adoptive father kicked her aside.
"Mom!" Lu Min shoved the butler away and ran to her.
Beneath my adoptive mother's elegant dress, blood slowly spread.
Lu Min had never witnessed anything like this before. She froze in terror.
My adoptive father merely snorted. "It's just as well if the child is gone—saves us the money for an abortion."
He instructed the butler, "Take her to the hospital. If the child's still alive, terminate it. As for her—"
He pointed at Lu Min. She met his gaze and felt her hair stand on end.
"Lock her in the basement."
With that, he slammed the door and left.
My adoptive mother raged, her curses spilling nonstop—until even I was dragged into them.
"This is all because of you!"
"Because of you, you bitch—my son is gone! I will never let you off!"
While the butler dragged Lu Min toward the basement, I slowly crouched before my adoptive mother and whispered, savoring each word—
"Mom, little brother doesn't want you anymore."
"I saw it. This brother is the same one as before. Because you abandoned him, he came back to find you—only for you to abandon him again."
"He's very sad. So tonight, he's coming to ask you himself… why you don't want him."
My left eye's ability to foresee the future was something she knew well.
And so, at my words, her fear deepened into sheer terror.