Chapter 48; She didn't stop

The small suitcase she had packed sat at her feet, its zipper half-open, revealing a few folded clothes, her ID, and a sealed envelope labelled "Final Will."

Her phone lay silent beside her.

She stared blankly at the locked door, her chest rising and falling with shallow, controlled breaths.

Outside, faint murmurs of the household staff filtered through the quiet corridor.

Every now and then, she heard Shen Xuan's childish giggle echo from the living room downstairs, mingling with Bai Zhi's soft, affectionate laughter.

She closed her eyes as bile rose in her throat.

Downstairs

Bai Zhi sat gracefully on the ivory suede couch, peeling an apple for Shen Xuan. Her elegant fingers worked slowly, the blade glinting under the chandelier light.

Shen Xiao sat across from her, reading company reports on his tablet. His brow was furrowed in silent concentration.

Suddenly, Bai Zhi's soft voice broke the calm.