BABY IS NOT A TOOL

Shen Wan was about to push open the door.

Bai Qing, however, grasped her hand.

She had also heard Mo Xiao's words.

Mo Xiao said, within three days, he would make her donate her bone marrow.

How did he plan to do that? Drag her to the hospital bed and force her?

Shen Wan glanced at Bai Qing.

Tears brimmed in Bai Qing's eyes. She was clearly aggrieved, yet stubbornly held back her sobs.

Shen Wan sighed.

She took Bai Qing by the hand and left.

Mo Xiao sensed someone outside the door. He stepped out to check, but found no one.

Was it just his imagination?

Bai Qing brought Shen Wan into the ward.

After closing the door, Shen Wan said coolly, "Rest assured, as long as you don't agree, Mo Xiao won't be able to force you. What, does he think he can defy everything?"

Bai Qing bit her lip. "Mom, thank you."

Even though Shen Wan was Mo Xiao's biological mother, she had always protected her.

Shen Wan sighed, "Bai Qing, you endure too much. Don't you know that it's the child who cries that gets fed? The more you endure, the less Mo Xiao will care."

"If I don't endure, I won't be able to stay by his side," Bai Qing murmured, biting her lip softly.

"Why did you go to the civil affairs bureau today?" Shen Wan looked Bai Qing up and down.

Bai Qing couldn't lie.

Shen Wan could tell at a glance.

"I..." Bai Qing hesitated.

If she told Shen Wan, it would be as good as the entire Mo family knowing.

"To get a divorce?" Shen Wan arched a brow at her. "Are you and Mo Xiao planning to act first and inform later?"

Bai Qing lowered her head in guilt.

"You two, really!" Shen Wan snapped angrily. "If Grandma finds out, do you think either of you will have any peace?"

Shen Wan's meaning was clear: if Madam Mo learned of their plan to divorce, she would surely be furious.

Madam Mo's health wasn't good, and any anger could cause her serious problems.

If something happened to Madam Mo, no one could bear the consequences.

Bai Qing bit her lip. "Mom, as long as we don't tell Grandma, she won't find out."

"Do you really think that little vixen Yun Qiqi can keep her mouth shut?" Shen Wan spat angrily. "She'd probably announce it to the world, and then Grandma would find out regardless."

No secret stays hidden forever.

Even if Madam Mo rarely went out, she was still living in the modern world.

She knew how to use a phone and browse the internet. These things couldn't be concealed from her.

Bai Qing fell silent.

So, what could they do?

Were they just supposed to continue being at odds with Mo Xiao?

Gurgle.

Bai Qing's stomach rumbled suddenly.

Shen Wan paused.

Bai Qing felt embarrassed. She hadn't eaten all day.

"That scoundrel Mo Xiao—has he not even arranged food for you?" Shen Wan fumed.

Her daughter-in-law was hospitalized, yet Mo Xiao was only concerned with his mistress, forgetting that his wife was also starving in the hospital.

No wonder Bai Qing was determined to divorce him.

"Mom, I'll just get some bread later," Bai Qing said, hoping to calm her down.

Shen Wan gave her a deep look. "Wait here!"

With that, Shen Wan picked up her phone and dialed a number. "Hey, are you still at work? Good. Could you bring some food to the hospital? My daughter-in-law's hospitalized. Yes, something delicious and nutritious."

After hanging up, Shen Wan turned to Bai Qing. "I've asked Aunt An to send over a meal. It'll be here soon."

Aunt An, Shen Wan's best friend, was a five-star chef, known for her exquisite culinary skills.

People had to book her food months in advance.

Yet one phone call from Shen Wan and it was arranged.

In some ways, Shen Wan was the real queen here.

Twenty minutes later.

An Mi'er arrived.

She brought several dishes with her.

Shen Wan took them. "Thanks, darling."

"No need for thanks." An Mi'er turned to Bai Qing. "Qingbao, why are you in the hospital?"

"I..." Bai Qing didn't know how to explain.

"Don't ask. Someone tried to harm Qingbao, but a policeman saved her. He's in critical condition, still in the ICU," Shen Wan explained.

"What?!" An Mi'er gasped.

She walked over to the bed, inspecting Bai Qing's condition, cupping her soft, delicate face. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine." Bai Qing shook her head.

"Good. If something happened to you, your mother-in-law would be devastated," An Mi'er teased.

Shen Wan began unpacking the food An Mi'er brought. "Isn't that true?"

"She always wanted a daughter, but her husband said childbirth was too painful, so they only had Mo Xiao," An Mi'er said wistfully. "That's why she treats you like her own."

"I know." Bai Qing nodded, fully aware of how much Shen Wan cherished her.

She loved and respected Shen Wan like her own mother.

Thanks to Shen Wan, even An Mi'er had taken a deep liking to her.

In fact, everyone connected to the Mo family treated her kindly.

Everyone except Mo Xiao.

Sometimes, Bai Qing wondered if the reason she couldn't bring herself to leave Mo Xiao was because of these wonderful people.

"Come, eat something." Shen Wan placed the food in front of her.

An Mi'er glanced around. "By the way, where's Mo Xiao?"

Shen Wan sighed impatiently. "He's upstairs."

An Mi'er immediately understood, her brows furrowing. "Mo Xiao is really too much. I'm going to drag him down here."

"Aunt An, don't!" Bai Qing held her back. "Just let him be. I don't care anymore."

She truly didn't care anymore.

An Mi'er looked at her with sorrow. "Mo Xiao will regret this, mark my words."

Shen Wan nodded. "Oh, he'll regret it alright. He'll be crying and groveling for forgiveness soon enough."

"Exactly!" An Mi'er chimed in fiercely. "Qingbao, don't you dare forgive him easily when that time comes."

Bai Qing smiled faintly. Whose mother were they, really?

"Ugh!" Suddenly, Bai Qing felt a wave of nausea.

She jumped out of bed and rushed to the bathroom.

Shen Wan and An Mi'er exchanged a glance.

A moment later, Bai Qing returned.

Her face was pale.

"Qingbao, what's wrong?" An Mi'er asked, her tone carrying a hint of suspicion. "Are you feeling unwell?"

"Aunt An, don't worry. It's just my stomach. I saw a doctor yesterday," Bai Qing explained.

She was determined to keep her pregnancy a secret.

If the Mo family found out, they wouldn't let her divorce. They'd insist she carry the child to term.

But so what?

Mo Xiao wasn't going to change his mind.

And she never intended to use the baby to bind him.

A child is a person, not a tool.

She would cherish and care for her baby on her own.

She didn't need anyone else.

That's why she wanted to leave.

This place held too many painful memories and people. 

No matter how good Madam Mo, Shen Wan, and An Mi'er were to her, she still wanted to go.