She was already ruined. Her future was gone. She and Zach Zhao would part ways sooner or later—this phone call was just bringing that day forward.
Cecilia Gu fought back tears and a choking sob as she spoke into the phone, "I understand. I will do as you wish."
Satisfied with Cecilia Gu's answer, the person on the other end finally hung up.
After hanging up, Cecilia Gu stood under the scorching sun, tilting her head back, desperately trying to hold back the tears in her eyes.
She felt cold—colder than she had ever felt before.
The sun was blazing overhead, but her heart was frozen.
With one thing after another happening, Cecilia Gu could no longer force herself to live with composure.
She took leave from work, her body exhausted and her heart shattered, and boarded a long-distance bus back to her hometown.
She had thought that returning home would give her at least a little comfort.
But the moment she opened the door, she knew that was just wishful thinking.
"A slut can only raise another little slut! Look at your precious daughter—so young, and already sneaking off to a hotel with a man!"
Mom was kneeling on the floor when Grandma threw a pile of photos right in her face.
Mom looked like she was about to collapse, clearly having knelt for a long time. Her face was bruised, and there was a visible bump on her forehead—obviously from banging her head against the floor.
Grandma was bullying Mom again, but this time, I had no idea why.
"Mom—" Cecilia dropped her bag to the floor and rushed over, kneeling beside Grandma. "Grandma, what did Mom do wrong this time? Why do you have to hit her like this?"
Grandma looked at her with contempt, suddenly grabbed a photo from the table, and slapped it hard across Cecilia's face.
"You dare ask what she did wrong? Your mom can't even give birth to a proper child—that's her biggest mistake! And this adopted bastard isn't any better!" Grandma shot us both a disgusted look, her eyes full of contempt. "Today, someone delivered these photos to our house! Said you went to a hotel with some random man? Shameless brat, you disgrace the Gu family!"
Hearing Grandma's words, Cecilia felt all the blood drain from her face. She grabbed a photo off the floor and saw—sure enough—it was her and that man tangled up in bed!
She flung the photo far away! What was this? How could there be such pictures?!
And... how did Grandma get these photos?!
"Grandma..." Cecilia opened her mouth to explain, but no words came out—because everything in those photos was true.
Mom tried to speak up: "Mom, Cecilia..."
Before Mom could finish, Grandma slammed her hand on the table, shouting, "How dare you argue! The photos are right here—are you saying someone framed your daughter? The older one can't have kids, and the younger one is no good either! What did our Gu family do to deserve such shameless women?"
Grandma grabbed a teacup and hurled it at Mom's forehead.
Cecilia saw Grandma about to throw something again, so she spun around and hugged Mom tightly.
Bang—a teacup smashed into Cecilia's back, shattering on the floor.
A burning pain shot through Cecilia's back, so intense it felt like her body wasn't her own.
"Cecilia..." Mom's eyes filled with tears when she saw Cecilia take the blow for her. "Does it hurt?"
Cecilia shook her head lightly, her own eyes turning red.
What's a little pain like this?
Mom has endured far worse pain than this over the years.
Grandma snorted coldly. She couldn't stand to see the two of them putting on a mother-daughter act.
Just then, the endless stream of commercials on TV finally ended, cutting to a news segment. Photo after photo flashed across the screen.
"This morning, Charles Yin, heir to the Yin family conglomerate, was caught checking into a hotel with a woman. As you can see from the photos, the room was a mess, clothes scattered everywhere..."
Grandma saw Cecilia's photo on the TV and flew into a rage. She grabbed her cane and started swinging it at the mother and daughter.
"What a disgrace! Our family's scandal is on TV now! How could the Gu family raise someone like you? Get out! Both of you, get out!"
Cecilia never imagined the story would make it onto TV, but she didn't have time to think about the news. She clung to Mom, gritting her teeth, holding back, afraid to fight back, even more afraid to step outside this house.
Because if she stepped out that door, she'd never be able to come back.
Just then, someone burst in from outside, shouting, "Mom..."
Cecilia heard the voice, and hope sparked in her eyes—it was Dad!
She looked at Dad with pleading eyes, hoping he would speak up for Mom.