Duan Yi felt that her entire life was utterly ridiculous, and all of it was thanks to her—this woman who believed she loved her biological daughter more than anything, this woman who thought she would sacrifice everything for her daughter’s happiness.
Duan Yi suddenly wanted to laugh. She admitted that all of this was retribution, the retribution for Aunt Mao’s wicked schemes. But why did it all have to fall on her?
Why did she have to have such a mother? Why was she so useless, yet so greedy and selfish?
She had once yearned for even a little bit of maternal love, but later stopped hoping, and she didn’t think it was her fault. After all, that wasn’t her real mother. Now, she was being told that the woman who had been too stingy to spare even a shred of love for her was actually her true mother, and that this mother loved her deeply—she had just mistaken someone else for her.
Hahaha!
Duan Yi just wanted to end this absurd life. She wanted this woman to die! She didn’t want to live anymore either.
Of course, she was once again stopped by the bodyguards.
“I’m sorry, cough, I’m sorry, Xiao Yi… I didn’t know, I really didn’t know it would turn out like this. I just wanted to give you the best life possible. I’m sorry, please forgive me. From now on, I’ll treat you well, always treat you well!” Aunt Mao coughed as she pleaded for forgiveness in a pitiful tone.
But Duan Yi just wanted to scream. “Listen to me, in this lifetime, don’t you dare think I’ll ever forgive you. Even in death, don’t expect my forgiveness. What kind of mother are you? You don’t deserve that title! You ruined my life, it was you, only you! I hate you, I hate you! I wish you were dead, dead!”
In truth, Duan Yi had never asked for much. All she had ever wanted was for her mother to care for her a little.
She never needed the life of a wealthy heiress. Never.
Duan Yi’s hatred was so intense it seemed to materialize and torment Aunt Mao, but the tragic scene only elicited sighs from those around them. No one offered much sympathy, as this was their personal feud.
“Enough! This is the Qin Family’s home. Take your drama back to your own house!” Sixth Uncle Qin was now completely unwilling to look at them. “Butler, fire Aunt Mao. From now on, none of them are allowed to set foot near the Qin Family’s property. Escort them out!”
Aunt Mao had once schemed so maliciously against Qin Tiantian, so the Qin Family naturally didn’t want to let her off easily. But for now, calming the household was the priority, and they didn’t want to see any more of this mess.
Soon, the three were sent away. The staff and medical personnel who had come were treated well, especially the head nurse. Sixth Uncle Qin and his wife gave her a large red envelope and promised her a favor, telling her to ask for help whenever she needed it in the future.
The head nurse felt she had only done her duty and didn’t dare take credit.
The Qin Family hadn’t rested well that night, and unlike Sixth Uncle Qin’s household, which was still buzzing with energy, most of them went back to catch up on sleep.
By evening, Qin Tiantian had returned. When Ji Fei came downstairs, she saw everyone gathered around Qin Tiantian, chatting and laughing.
Qin Tiantian’s eyes were still swollen, as if she had cried many times.
It was truly unfortunate. If Ji Fei and Qin Xian had acted sooner and gotten results, perhaps Sixth Uncle Qin’s family wouldn’t have had to go through this ordeal. Even if Duan Yi had appeared unexpectedly, they could have stopped her immediately. But the timing had been just right for this disaster to unfold.
From now on, Sixth Uncle Qin and his wife wouldn’t just spoil Qin Tiantian—they would practically worship her, given how close they had come to losing her.
“I wonder how Duan Yi is doing now?” Qin Tiantian suddenly sighed.
“Why are you still thinking about her?”
“Yeah, even though she’s pitiful, it’s not really your concern.”
Qin Tiantian said, “But I can’t help feeling that what happened to her had something to do with me. It’s like… she became my substitute and suffered the attack. No, that’s not quite it. I can’t explain it well, but I feel really bad about it.”
Everyone told her she was overthinking it and that she was too kind-hearted.
Ji Fei could understand, though. After all, they had once been good friends, so Qin Tiantian couldn’t help but worry.
Ji Fei couldn’t resist looking into what had happened to them.
[After Duan Yi was sent back, she immediately ran away. Aunt Mao chased after her but couldn’t find her. Meanwhile, her stepson, oblivious to what had happened, started yelling at Duan Yi and ordering Aunt Mao to cook. Then… yikes! Aunt Mao stabbed him several times.]
Qin Second’s family, listening to the gossip, was shocked.
Was this a belated attempt to avenge her biological daughter?
But hadn’t she been the one who had ignored her all along?
[He was taken to the hospital and didn’t die, but his injuries were severe. His life was effectively ruined. The stepfather, who had bitten his own throat in the chaos, now had difficulty swallowing and speaking. He also had to shoulder the burden of his son’s massive medical bills, leaving him utterly broken. As for Aunt Mao, after stabbing her stepson, she grabbed a knife and ran into the streets, frantically searching for her daughter. She was eventually taken to the police station and is now in custody, awaiting trial. She keeps begging the police to help find her daughter, saying her daughter is missing. The police, feeling sorry for her, went to her home to search, but…]
Qin Second’s family was now on the edge of their seats, curious to hear more.
Suddenly, Qin Tiantian’s phone buzzed. She picked it up and exclaimed, “It’s Duan Yi!”
Everyone immediately gathered around her.
It was a message from Duan Yi.
“I’m sorry, Qin Tiantian. Thank you for trying to help me back then, even though I was so terrible… I’m leaving now. I’ll always remember that you once considered me a friend.”
Qin Tiantian was terrified. “She’s not thinking of doing something drastic, is she?”
No one knew for sure. It sounded like it, but maybe not.
“She won’t,” Ji Fei suddenly spoke up. “She’s just found her answer. She’s let go of her obsession with maternal love and feels free now, free to leave that mother behind. She probably just wants to start over somewhere new, to live her own life.”
[Duan Yi secretly returned home, took all the money, gathered her identification documents, destroyed everything that belonged to her, and left the city under the cover of night. When the police arrived, they found nothing, even starting to doubt whether the girl had ever lived there. That was until they found a tattered photo—the only family photo of the four of them, and the only picture of Duan Yi and Aunt Mao together. But now, Duan Yi was no longer in it.]
Qin Second’s family was stunned. In just one day, Duan Yi had experienced things most people never go through in a lifetime. It was as if she had decided to cut ties completely, ending everything in one swift motion.
[The police gave the photo to Aunt Mao, who was now desperate to escape prison and find her daughter. Unfortunately, she wouldn’t be getting out anytime soon, and she would never have the chance to make amends with her daughter.]
Qin Second’s family felt that Sixth Uncle Qin didn’t need to lift a finger. Aunt Mao’s every moment from now on would be torture.
The woman who had wanted to pave the perfect future for her daughter had now lost her forever. Every day, she would be haunted by memories of what she had done to her own flesh and blood.
How many times had she ignored her daughter’s cries for help and pleas for a mother’s love? Those memories would now be like daggers, piercing her soul day after day.