Liu Chunlan called again:
"Did you find Lin Wanyi? How is that worthless money-loser?
"She's not dead, is she?"
"Mom!"
Wang Hao almost punched the wall.
"What do you mean by that? No matter what, she is my daughter and your biological granddaughter.
"Why do you always want her to die?
"Mom, what exactly is going on in your head?"
"What are you talking about?"
Liu Chunlan actually got angry.
"She's just a money-losing burden, I don't care about her at all. For all these years, it's because of her that Lin Wanyi absolutely refuses to have a second child and give me a grandson.
"Son, don't tell me you didn't know?
"Let me tell you, don't be soft-hearted. Ten of those worthless girls can't compare to one precious grandson for me.
"Where is Lin Wanyi? Give the phone to her. The police said that as long as Lin Wanyi drops the charges, your older sister can leave."
Wang Hao gripped his phone tightly. He could hear the doctor instructing Lin Wanyi:
"You need to keep a close eye on her, you can't be careless for a second.
"She absolutely cannot have another high fever like the one she had when she came in.
"It really could be fatal."
Liu Chunlan was still yelling:
"Hao Hao, did you hear me? Tell Lin Wanyi to come to the police station."
Wang Hao suddenly felt incredibly annoyed.
He yelled into the phone:
"My daughter was almost killed by Wang Meijuan, and you want my wife to go bail her out?
"Mom, you're dreaming. Tell Wang Meijuan to go to hell.
"I don't have an older sister like her."
"Hao Hao, how can you side with an outsider? She is..."
Without waiting for Liu Chunlan to finish, Wang Hao abruptly hung up the phone.
He continued to look into the hospital room.
Lin Wanyi turned her head and saw him.
Their eyes met. Lin Wanyi didn't look away; instead, she slowly stood up.
Li Suhua shook her head at her, and Liu Renzhi grabbed her sleeve.
Lin Jiajun called out, "Sis, ignore him. Whatever you do, don't go soft on him.
"He's the one who caused all of this. Sis, he's a jerk."
Lin Wanyi said softly:
"I know. Don't worry, I'm just going out to say a few words to him. I'll be fine."
Lin Wanyi opened the door and walked forward, with Wang Hao following behind her.
They walked all the way to the plaza outside the hospital.
Lin Wanyi finally stopped. She turned to look at Wang Hao, her tone very calm:
"Wang Hao, I am really tired.
"Eight years ago, I came here with you, full of expectations for our marriage and a deep longing for happiness.
"At the time, I thought you were a good man, an honest, smart, and driven person.
"I thought I hadn't misjudged you. I thought I would live happily with you for the rest of my life.
"For eight years, I have poured all my heart into this family. I took meticulous care of your parents, and I willingly managed this household.
"I just wanted you to be able to work without any worries at home, and I just wanted my daughter to grow up happy.
"I always believed that as long as I gave my whole heart, I would be rewarded, and I would surely have a happy marriage and a perfect family.
"But I was wrong.
"Wang Hao, as you can see, I was wrong.
"No matter how much I do, no matter how much I sacrifice, our lives are still a chaotic mess.
"Just because I didn't give birth to a son.
"Wang Hao, I am truly exhausted. I really don't want to keep dragging this out anymore.
"And I am telling you clearly, I will not have a second child just to get a son. So, your mother will never get her wish.
"Since things have come to this, is there really any hope left for us?
"For the sake of me moving so far away to marry you. For the sake of me giving up my career for your family.
"For the sake of me working tirelessly as a nanny for eight years.
"Wang Hao, can you just let me go?
"Please?"
Wang Hao's heart ached again.
It had ached time and time again today.
His eyes finally grew red in front of Lin Wanyi:
"Wanyi, I, I..."
He sniffled and took a deep breath:
"You know that I love you too, and just like you, I wanted us to keep going forever.
"But..."
He didn't know what to say, so Lin Wanyi said it for him:
"But you have your parents. You need to be a dutiful son, and you need a son to fulfill your parents' wishes."
Lin Wanyi wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes:
"Wang Hao, let me go. You still have money. Go find a good job and a local woman.
"Go give your mother a grandson.
"I'm begging you, let me go."
Wang Hao's heart clenched in agonizing pain, as if tens of thousands of fine needles were piercing it.
He wanted to hug Lin Wanyi, but she immediately stepped back.
He wanted to wipe her tears, but she retreated even further.
She just kept looking at Wang Hao with those tearful eyes.
Her gaze filled Wang Hao with overwhelming guilt.
Thinking back to the promises he made eight years ago, Wang Hao felt utterly miserable.
After a long silence, he said:
"Go back and look after our daughter first. Let me think about this."
Lin Wanyi turned and walked away. As Wang Hao watched her receding figure, he remembered eight years ago when she was about to go home.
Wang Hao's heart felt empty. He had said:
"I'll go back with you. I'll beg your parents to let you marry me."
Back then, Lin Wanyi had smiled, turned around, and thrown herself into his arms.
But now, she left with absolute resolve, not looking back even once.
Everything had changed. Lin Wanyi would never look back again.
Wang Hao sat on the steps, holding his head in his hands.
Divorce.
Since Lin Wanyi wanted a divorce so badly.
Then they would divorce.
After all, when they got married, he had never intended to hurt her.
He married her back then truly out of love.
And he had genuinely wanted to build a happy family with Lin Wanyi and spend the rest of his life with her.
He thought for a long time. Just as he stood up, ready to go find Lin Wanyi, he looked up and saw Liu Chunlan.
Liu Chunlan saw him too:
"Where is Lin Wanyi? Where is that little bitch?
"Didn't you tell her to go to the police station?"
Wang Hao wouldn't let her enter the hospital. He blocked Liu Chunlan's path:
"What are you doing here? I already told you I'm letting Wang Meijuan go to jail. She has to take responsibility for her own actions."
"What responsibility?"
Liu Chunlan still tried to push past him to find Lin Wanyi:
"Your sister was just standing up for you! Hao Hao, you really can't tell who your real family is.
"In your heart, does your own flesh-and-blood sister really mean less to you than that outsider Lin Wanyi?"
Wang Hao forcefully pushed Liu Chunlan back:
"Mom, haven't you caused enough trouble? What did Lin Wanyi do wrong in this situation?
"Wang Meijuan committed a crime.
"She deserves to go to prison. Go home, and don't come looking for Lin Wanyi again."
Liu Chunlan had come prepared to confront Lin Wanyi, planning to drag her to the police station by force if necessary.
But she hadn't expected to be entirely unable to see her.
She was actually being blocked outside by Wang Hao.
She shouted:
"That's your sister, your biological sister!
"Hao Hao, are you really going to just abandon her?"
"Yes!"
Wang Hao replied without hesitation:
"Mom, for all these years, I've listened to you about everything.
"From the wedding onwards, I did everything you said.
"You said women who work get wild ideas, so I immediately made Lin Wanyi quit her job to focus on the home.
"You said you and Dad were getting old and in poor health, so I immediately had her dedicate all her time to taking care of you.
"You said my older sister was having a hard time, so I reserved a room for her in our new house.
"I always listened to you, always did what you said.
"But you have never once considered my feelings.
"Mom, how could you sabotage your own son like this?
"Will you only be happy when you've completely destroyed my family?"
