"You... you child, are you still angry with me?" Mrs. Grace Ge sighed on the phone, saying, "All these old stories, I really didn't want to tell you."
"Mm." Then don't say anything.
What a trouble! Where are you now? Let's talk in person." Mrs. Grace Ge said, "Don't tell me you're too busy. No matter how busy you are, you still have time to eat, right?
Julia Yu knew if she didn't agree today, she'd have no peace for days. Since she had nothing going on, she might as well meet up and see what happens.
"Alright, let's have a meal together then." Julia Yu took a sip of iced water and said, "You pick the place."
"Alright." Mrs. Grace Ge quickly hung up and soon sent Julia Yu the details of where to meet for the meal.
Julia Yu changed into a new outfit: an oversized T-shirt, ripped cropped jeans, and a pair of AJ sneakers.
She slung a backpack over her shoulder, looking clean and fresh—just like a college student.
Mrs. Grace Ge had arrived early.
She was dressed so luxuriously that Julia Yu almost didn't recognize her.
Julia Yu's eyes flickered as she sat down across from Mrs. Grace Ge. "So, what exactly did you want to talk to me about?"
Is it really so important that the ever-distant Mrs. Grace Ge herself would come looking for me?
It can't be something trivial, can it?
Mrs. Grace Ge's gaze flickered as she said, "It's nothing, really. I just wanted to ask how you've been these years. Do you have a boyfriend? What are your plans for the future?"
Julia Yu looked at her in surprise.
Well, that's rare!
She hadn't asked about her for years, and now suddenly she wanted to know how Julia was doing.
When something feels off, it usually is.
Most likely, she came with another agenda, didn't she?
"Mom, thanks for still thinking about me." Julia Yu looked up at Mrs. Grace Ge, her voice calm and steady. "I've been doing alright these past years. I got my law license, interned at a well-known law firm, and now I work for the Mo Family as Mr. Mo's legal advisor. I'm not rich, but I can feed myself. The Mo Family treats me well, with good benefits and a future pension, so when I'm old, I'll be able to live comfortably."
Hearing Julia Yu's answer, Mrs. Grace Ge looked a bit uneasy. "Really? That's good. I heard Mr. Mo has a pair of twins..."
Julia Yu's eyes narrowed instantly.
Why was her mother suddenly bringing up Mo Yu and Mo Shuo? What did she want?
So this really was a trap!
She shouldn't have come!
"Why did you ever decide to sell your eggs back then?" Mrs. Grace Ge's expression grew even more uncomfortable. "But luckily, the buyer was Mr. Mo, and you ended up working with him..."
"Mrs. Grace Ge, what are you really trying to say?" Julia Yu interrupted coldly. "I'm just Mr. Mo's subordinate, and Mo Yu and Mo Shuo have nothing to do with me."
"You child! You are clearly their biological mother! Why can't I say it?" Mrs. Grace Ge blurted out. "I'm your mother, would I ever hurt you?"
Julia Yu leaned back, a mocking smile on her face. "The Ge family sent you, didn't they? Hm? Trying to use me to climb up to the Mo Family? Mrs. Grace Ge, you were never this calculating before!"
Mrs. Grace Ge's face suddenly turned pale. "What are you talking about!"
"When I was of no use, the Ge family saw me as a burden, a nuisance. Now that I'm valuable, you want a convenient daughter? Mrs. Grace Ge, I'm a lawyer. I've memorized more laws than your whole family history. I'm an adult with my own principles. Even if you're my biological mother, I can refuse any unreasonable demand." Julia Yu folded her hands over her stomach, her tone calm. "Weren't you going to tell me about you and Dad? Go ahead, I'm listening."
"Fine, since you want to hear it, I'll tell you. There's nothing to hide." Mrs. Grace Ge sounded angry, almost spiteful. "Back then, I met your father through a blind date. At the time, I was already dating your stepfather, but after a fight and breakup, my family arranged the blind date, so I agreed. I ended up marrying your father without really thinking it through."
"So after you got married, you kept seeing him behind Dad's back? You think Mr. Ge is your true love? So you betrayed our family for love?" Julia Yu asked, seeing right through her.
"That's not it!" Mrs. Grace Ge cried out sharply.
Julia Yu just looked at Mrs. Grace Ge, waiting for her explanation.
An explanation that was years overdue.
"It's not like that," Mrs. Grace Ge said angrily. "Your stepfather was poor back then, couldn't afford the bride price your grandparents wanted, so we fought and broke up. After he left, he threw himself into business, determined to earn enough to marry me. But when he came back, I'd already married your father and had you. He was heartbroken, never married for the rest of his life. Yes, I admit, when I married your dad, I wasn't fully committed, just settling. But your father wasn't a saint either! He married me only because he was in love with his best friend's girlfriend and couldn't have her, so he settled for me."
"Right after you were born, his best friend broke up with his girlfriend. Your father abandoned us and spent years tangled up with that woman. When you were ten, your stepfather found me, stood up for me, and told me to divorce your father and take you away from the man who barely came home once every six months!"
"I asked your father for a divorce, but he wouldn't let me take you. So, for your sake, we kept up the act, pretending to be a loving couple so your studies wouldn't suffer. We did right by you, Julia! After your exams, I finally ended that sham marriage. I heard your father married that woman three days after our divorce! Has he ever cared about you all these years?"
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"I'm your mother! Of course I care about you. But you always act so cold toward your stepfather—how am I supposed to side with you? He's put a lot of effort into you. Even if you don't appreciate it, you shouldn't resent him." Mrs. Grace Ge dabbed at her eyes, clearly upset. "Later, you insisted on earning your own money and refused my help. Did I say anything? You aren't my only child, I have your brother too! You're grown now, can't you think about me once in a while?"
"Think about you? Then tell me, how did you find out about Mo Yu and Mo Shuo? Who told you?" Julia Yu went straight to the point. "It was Mr. Ge, wasn't it?"
"He just wants what's best for you!" Mrs. Grace Ge argued.
"No need!" Julia Yu replied bluntly. "No one gets to decide my life for me."
"I'm not trying to control you, I just want you to think it through. Once Mr. Mo is gone, you'll miss your chance! Since you have children together by fate, why not get married? What's so great about being single? Women are meant to get married! If you don't, what will you do in the future?"
Julia Yu laughed coldly. "The future? You can't even manage your own marriage, and you want to talk about mine? I heard Mr. Ge has plenty of lovers outside besides you, his official wife. Don't tell me you don't know!"
Mrs. Grace Ge's face flushed bright red.
She was furious.
Of course she knew her husband had plenty of women outside.
Otherwise, why would she suddenly want to fix her relationship with her daughter?
As long as her daughter became the Mo Family's young mistress, Mr. Ge would have to treat her with respect and beg for her favor!
All those mistresses outside would eventually be cut off!
Julia Yu had long seen through her mother's schemes, but couldn't help feeling sorry for herself: Her value was just that obvious.
"You don't need to mock me," Mrs. Grace Ge snapped. "Your father isn't any better. Once he finds out about you and Mr. Mo, he'll be rushing to push you into marriage too!"
Julia Yu nodded. "I believe that."
She hadn't kept in touch with that side, but she still knew what was going on.
Julia Yu's father was just an ordinary department manager, not very capable, but he could support a family.
After their divorce, her father gave Julia a few months' living expenses.
But after he had another child, Julia never got pocket money again.
Once, Julia went to his house for living expenses, only to be snubbed and mocked by her stepmother, who finally tossed her three hundred yuan. Julia never went back after that.
Thankfully, she'd already gotten into college and was an adult. Tutoring and handing out flyers was enough to support herself.
Compared to her mother, things with her father were even worse.
Julia Yu lowered her head and said, "You don't need to worry about me. You gave birth to me, so when you have nothing left, I won't just stand by. I'll pay my share of support, not a month less. But that's all. As for my marriage, neither you nor Dad have any right to get involved. And whoever told you about me and Mo Yu and Mo Shuo, this ends here. I don't want to hear about it again. Sorry, I have something to do. I can't join you for lunch today. I've already paid the bill. Enjoy your meal."
With that, Julia grabbed her backpack and left the restaurant without looking back.
Mrs. Grace Ge angrily slammed her chopsticks down.
"Daughters are all debts, nothing but debts!" Tears streamed down Mrs. Grace Ge's face.
She was only doing this for Julia's own good, wasn't she?
Why did Julia never appreciate it?
After leaving the restaurant, Julia Yu's phone rang—it was an unfamiliar number.
Julia answered, "Hello, this is Julia Yu."
There was a moment of silence on the other end, then a stranger's voice spoke: "I'm your father. Do you have time to talk?"
A trace of mockery flashed in Julia Yu's eyes, her lips curled. "You want to talk about me and Mo Zixin, right?"