3.Betrayal

Looking at the disarranged office, Xufan felt satisfied. She quickly left and went back to her room where she freshened up and went to bed. 

The next day held more promise for Xufan, as she had exciting news. Her agent, Xiao Fang, had successfully secured her a brand deal, which thrilled her.

However, she was hesitant to share the good news with her disapproving husband and mother-in-law.

Xufan had become increasingly insecure about her place in the Qin family due to their disapproval of her career. Her mother-in-law had given her a chance to prove herself by organizing the Qin family's end-of-year charitable ball.

Determined to excel, Xufan had been working tirelessly on the event for the past two months, with only three weeks remaining.

She knew she needed to find a way to break through the emotional barrier that had formed between them. Xufan longed to feel connected to the family, even if just for a moment. To achieve this, she planned a surprise dinner the next day, hoping to melt the ice. With this plan in mind, Xufan went to bed in a good mood.

She awoke to the sound of her alarm clock at 6 a.m., instinctively getting out of bed to prepare for her day. She got ready to meet Xiao Fang at the apartment complex provided to her by Gold Media Entertainment, her management agency.

As one of the top five entertainment companies in City A, there are a few A-list and and B-list celebrities signed under Gold Media. There are also C-list celebrities like Xufan , who mainly starred as extras or second lead interests that die off early.

Xiao Fang didn't know about Xu Fan's marriage, so whenever Xu Fan had a schedule, she had to wake up early and arrive at her apartment complex before her agent. Luckily, being a morning person made this routine easy for her.

Arriving at her second home, Xu Fan quickly changed into gym clothes and headed to the gym located on the middle floor of the apartment complex. This was where her agent, Xiao Feng, would meet her before they went up to her apartment for her to freshen up before heading to work.

Xiao Fang looked vat Xufan warmly with a bright smile. "Ready for today?"

"Absolutely. Let's get this started." Xu Fan cheerfully replied. 

Xu Fan's schedule at the company was light that day. She only had a meeting to discuss selecting her as a spokesperson for a newly launched makeup brand, Reve. This was her first brand deal since debuting three years ago, so she was very happy to secure it.

Everything went smoothly as they arrived 30 minutes earlier than scheduled. The managers from Reve were pleased, and after an hour, the meeting was finished and the contract was signed.

"This is fantastic, Xu Fan! Congratulations!" Xiao Fang exclaimed, giving her a hug.

"Thank you, Xiao Fang. I couldn't have done it without you," Xu Fan said, smiling. "But I have a special plan tonight, so can we celebrate tomorrow instead?"

"Of course!" Xiao Fang replied eagerly. "Where do you want to go?"

"You pick the place. It's my treat," Xu Fan said.

"Deal! I know just the spot," Xiao Fang said excitedly.

Xu Fan then bid her farewell and hurried back to the Qin Mansion. She spent the entire evening preparing, personally cooking her husband's favorite dishes and ensuring everything was perfect for the surprise.

Finally, the moment arrived. Dressed in a beautiful silk gown that hugged her curves in all the right places, she made her way down the grand staircase towards the study to call her husband.

The sound of muffled voices from the adjacent study seeped through the heavy door, each word a dagger to her heart. She had thought that she could finally fit in the Qin family, but fate had other plans.

"Are you sure this is what you want?" Her husband, sounded hesitant, his voice wavering slightly.

"Of course, it's for the best," came the sharp reply, unmistakably from her mother-in-law Shuang Xiao, Mrs. Qin. "She's not one of us, and she never will be. You need someone with influence, someone who can help you rise in the family."

Gripping the banister, Xufan felt the weight of her chest falling into her stomach like a ton of bricks. It was true that she had never felt completely welcomed by the Qin household, but she had hoped that with time and effort she could change their perceptions. But now, hearing her mother-in-law speak so dismissively of her, she realized it was never going to happen.

Tears threatened to spill down her cheeks, but she fought them back. She wouldn't give Shuang Xiao the satisfaction of knowing how much her words had hurt.

Xufan took a deep breath and composed herself, then walked away from the study and toward the dining room. She needed to steel herself before she breaks down.

As Xufan entered the dining room, the aroma of her homemade dishes filled the room, and she could feel some tension dissolving. She sat in her seat and forced back her tears, not willing to ruin her makeup. She slowly closed her eyes and blocked out everything around her.

By the time she opened her eyes Qin Cheng was already seated opposite her at the table, his eyes calmly watching her. 

Xu fan gently smiled but her attention was quickly drawn to her father-in-law, Qin Yichen as he walked in. Following closely behind with a pleasant expression was Shuang Xiao, her mother-in-law. 

 XuFan's heart fluttered as their eyes met, but the patronizing gleam in Shuang's eyes sent a cold chill down her spine. 

'Here we go', she thought.