Shattered Bonds

Chu Yi's jaw trembled with anger as she had a lot to say, but what came out of her mouth was, "You actually call my dad 'Jiao Jiao'?!"

Lin He found her daughter's reaction rather endearing.

Chu Yi's features resembled her father's, but unlike Jiang Qiao's sharp, chiseled profile, she had a round, youthful face. When surprised, her eyes grew wide, resembling the clueless expression she once had as a child, blowing bubbles with her saliva. 

Before meeting her daughter, Lin He had imagined various scenarios, wondering what she would do if her daughter turned out to be arrogant and unable to distinguish right from wrong.

After meeting Chu Yi, Lin He realized she had been overly judgmental.

The phone call from earlier did not accurately represent the whole picture.

Being stubborn wasn't a flaw, and a little bit of princess-like attitude wasn't a problem either. What Lin He felt most after meeting her daughter was her many positive qualities.

Though Chu Yi hadn't warmed up to her yet, she didn't speak harshly. Her resistance was soft and unaggressive, which showed she wasn't inclined to attack others.

Eyes are the windows to the soul, and the clarity in Chu Yi's gaze, free of malice, made her anger appear almost innocent, as though she could easily be won over.

Regardless of whether Lin He was influenced by a "motherly filter," she felt her daughter was wonderful. As long as her core wasn't broken, everything else could be taught.

"Jiao Jiao really likes that nickname."

Lin He smiled brightly, her affection for her daughter growing with every passing moment.

Just like Jiang An, she was her child.

"You think that smiling at me will make me like you? Who are you to decide how much my dad gives me? As long as I'm here, you'll never be the mistress of the Jiang family!"

Chu Yi believed her harsh words carried weight.

She thought Lin He would turn pale with embarrassment and explain herself, possibly resorting to the typical "I truly love him" speech, playing the role of the innocent, gentle stepmother.

But it didn't work. She wasn't someone easily manipulated! She wasn't the naive, easily fooled girl her friends made her out to be!

"But I already am the mistress of the Jiang family."

Lin He's words struck at the core of Chu Yi's mental defenses.

Arrogant! Too arrogant!

"That's because I haven't made it clear to my dad. If I had, you'd be out of the Jiang family in no time."

While saying this, the car pulled into the Jiang family estate. Lin He remained calm and smiling, unaffected by Chu Yi's words.

"Don't think I'm joking. You know full well who's more important—a daughter with blood ties, or some outsider?" 

"You may have stepped into the Jiang family's gates, but can you truly stand your ground? I'm telling you, you won't."

...

Lin He walked ahead, with Chu Yi chasing after her, talking nonstop.

By the time they reached the study, Chu Yi had talked so much that her mouth was dry. With one last huff, she spoke with finality: "In any case, don't think it will end well!"

As she spoke, she was handed a photo frame.

"Who gave you my mother's picture?!"

Chu Yi snapped, storming over to the cabinet to put the photo back.

When she was little, Chu Yi used to see her mother's photo often. But at some point, her father had hidden it away. She had seen it less and less, though she still remembered the frame—it used to be on the left cabinet in the living room.

"Chu Yi, do you still remember your mother?"

"My mother died when I was two. What could I remember?" 

She paused mid-sentence and shot Lin He a sharp look, muttering, "Why should I tell you anything?"

"Don't ask about my mother. You're not even comparable to her!"

"I'm going to live here every day from now on. Let's see if you can have any peace!"

With that, Chu Yi hopped away, refusing to waste more time talking to Lin He. She would wait for her father to return and confront him then!

Lin He smiled softly, amused by her daughter's antics.

That evening, Jiang Qiao didn't get home until nearly midnight after working late.

Chu Yi didn't even go back to her room. She sat in the living room, watching TV, waiting for her father's return.

Having just flown for seven hours and gone straight to the police station, Chu Yi was exhausted, so when Jiang Qiao returned, he found her curled up asleep on the sofa.

After the TV was turned off, Lin He could still hear her daughter's soft snores.

"Chu Yi, wake up. Go to your room."

Chu Yi groggily sat up, rubbed her eyes, and walked toward her room. Halfway there, she snapped to attention and said, "Dad!"

"Why didn't you tell me you were seeing someone? Everyone at home calls her 'Madam.' Are you married? Have you forgotten about Mom?"

This question was something Jiang Muhua had instructed her to ask.

She was to bring up her mother in comparison to make her father dislike the woman.

Jiang Qiao knew Lin He had chosen to hide her identity for now, but he wasn't sure what she had told their daughter today. He decided to keep quiet and not engage in the conversation, minimizing his responses.

Seeing her father silent, Chu Yi snapped, "She said I won't be allowed to spend money freely anymore. I'll have limits! Dad, now that you have a girlfriend, does that mean I won't even be able to buy the things I like anymore?"

At this point, Chu Yi felt like a poor, helpless child, tears welling up as she felt utterly wronged.

"Your food and clothing won't be lacking," Jiang Qiao said, his tone firm.

This was his tacit agreement.

Chu Yi nearly cried. She hadn't expected things to turn out this way. How could her father side with that woman?

She was his real daughter, wasn't she?!

Though she had never relied on her father much, and their emotional bond hadn't been strong, she now realized the true pain of being sidelined in favor of someone else.

How could he do this to her?

In Chu Yi's memory, her father was a stern man, rarely smiling and speaking with a cold tone. The atmosphere at home had always been serious.

But now, she felt the absence of his love!

"I hate you!"

With that, she ran back to her room, her voice shaking with emotion.

Jiang Qiao remained unfazed by his daughter's outburst, showing no sign of emotional upheaval. It wasn't until he looked up and saw Lin He standing at the top of the stairs that his mood shifted, his expression darkening with concern.

"禾禾, Chu Yi's upset with me."

His tone was one of both complaint and seeking sympathy.

As Lin He walked up to him, reaching for his arms, she softly leaned into him, brushing her forehead against his chin. Without saying anything, her tender touch was enough to soften his heart.

He immediately responded, "Whatever needs to be done, just tell me, I'll do it without hesitation."

After a long wait, Chu Yi, having heard nothing from her father, carefully cracked the door open to see if he was back in his room or standing in the hallway, unsure how to approach her.

She wasn't unwilling to give him a way out!

But as she peered out, she saw her father and the woman, looking intimate at the staircase.

She quietly closed the door, her heart breaking.

Her father was completely captivated by that woman! He didn't even want his own daughter anymore!

Feeling more and more distressed, Chu Yi took out her phone and unblocked Jiang An, sending him a message.

—The position of mom in the house has been taken by someone else!

Jiang An always stood up for their mother. If he knew another woman had entered their lives, he would be furious! He was smart, and together, they could deal with this woman!

For the first time, Chu Yi felt utterly powerless in her own home.