Kim_Li_0078

#DARK ROMANCE 
Lin Yueyao spent five years of her youth married to Shen Xiao, a man whose heart was as cold as steel. She believed that her gentleness would eventually melt his indifference, but the only thing that melted was her own dignity.

Every night, she endured his cruel touch, his words like blades, and his silent disgust. But no matter how much it hurt, Yueyao clung on – for the sake of their son, Xuanxuan, and for the sliver of hope that someday he might see her.

That hope shattered completely when his first love, Bai Zhi, returned from abroad. The very night Bai Zhi came back, Shen Xiao left Yueyao alone to dine with her. His gaze, once cold and dismissive, turned tender only for Bai Zhi.

Then, just as Yueyao discovered she was pregnant again, Shen Xiao handed her divorce papers. Abandoned while carrying his child, betrayed by her husband, and discarded like a stain on his life, Yueyao’s world collapsed.

Even their son, Xuanxuan – the little boy she’d nearly died giving birth to, the one she raised with unwavering devotion – rejected her, clinging instead to Bai Zhi with innocent adoration.

But fate was crueler still.

Kidnapped straight from her hospital bed by men demanding ransom, Yueyao realised no one was coming to save her. Her husband hadn’t even noticed she was missing. As she lay in that abandoned factory, trembling in pain, all illusions crumbled.

She was done waiting for love from a man who treated her like dirt.

This time, she would save herself. And when she returned, it wouldn’t be as the pitiful Mrs. Shen, but as a woman reborn from ashes – with a heart no longer beating for Shen Xiao.

But will he realise her worth only when it’s too late?

Love After Divorce: Her Second Chance

Her body felt heavy and cold, her head pounding with exhaustion. Every bone in her felt like it had been scraped hollow, leaving only an aching emptiness behind.

She stared blankly at the ornate ceiling above her, her dry lips parted as shallow, ragged breaths escaped her lungs.

Slowly, the crushing reality settled over her like a suffocating shroud.

She couldn't stay here. She couldn't let him keep her like this, caged, broken, and silent.

Her trembling fingers tightened around the duvet before she threw it off and sat up on the edge of the bed, her bare feet pressing against the cold marble floor.

For a long moment, she simply sat there, hunched over with her thin shoulders shaking as silent tears dripped onto her knees.

Then, with a deep, shuddering breath, she stood up on shaking legs and walked to the small dresser.

Hidden beneath the drawer lining was her other secret phone since her phone and laptop were confiscated.

With trembling hands, she turned it on and opened her browser.

She searched for Beijing's best divorce lawyers, her chest heaving with fear and resolve as names scrolled by.

She knew her family lawyer wasn't powerful enough to help her out; she needed a better, powerful lawyer to handle her case – someone capable of going up against Shen Xiao.

The phone rang twice before a calm male voice answered.

"Zhang & Li Law Firm. How can I assist you today?"

"I… I need to file for divorce," she whispered, her voice hoarse and broken, "Please… as fast as possible…"

There was a brief silence on the other end before the man replied professionally, though she could hear a faint note of concern in his tone.

"Of course, ma'am. May I know your name?"

She hesitated. Her chest tightened painfully as she forced out:

She didn't mention Shen Xiao's name. She didn't mention who she was married to. She only wanted the process to begin, quietly, secretly, before he could stop her.

"Thank you, Ms. Li. Do you have any current legal representation or will you require full services from our firm?"

"I… I need everything," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Please… I need this to be discreet…"

"Understood. We value client confidentiality above all else. I will send you an encrypted email with preliminary documents to fill out and instructions for retainer payment. Once we review your documents, we will set up a consultation with our senior divorce team."

"Thank you… thank you so much…"

"Stay strong, Ms. Li. We will be in touch shortly."

For the first time in what felt like forever, Yueyao allowed her tears to fall freely. She pressed her forehead to the cool wooden edge of the dresser, her shoulders shaking with silent sobs.

An hour later, she sat curled up on the edge of the bed, clutching her phone as she typed out every required form, each keystroke chipping away at the iron chains wrapped around her soul. She attached copies of her marriage certificate, identity card, and filled out the case brief, listing her spouse simply as "Shen Xiao," not attaching his business portfolio or status.

She submitted everything and waited.

Half an hour later, her phone pinged with an email notification.

Chapter 46; Dear Ms Li