Jiang Zhao was furious when he saw Jiang Youli casually discard the apology letter he had painstakingly written all night.
"Do you expect me to kneel before you and write another apology letter? Jiang Youli, don’t overestimate yourself! You just stole the spotlight at last night’s welcome banquet—do you really think we have no choice but to acknowledge you?"
Qin Yulian also couldn’t hold back any longer. "Youli, you’re going too far. Your second brother has already been punished, and last night, in front of so many guests, your father even slapped him. He’s been thoroughly humiliated. Now he’s apologized, so why must you cling to those trivial matters from the past?"
Jiang Yonghe smirked inwardly: Fight, fight! Just like this, keep arguing!
Now they want to mend their relationship with Jiang Youli?
Dream on!
A mocking smile curled at Jiang Youli’s lips. "Look at you—just a little grievance, and you act as if it’s unbearable. Do you have any idea how much suffering I’ve endured over the past twenty years? Your so-called apologies and remorse are nothing but laughable arrogance."
Jiang Zhao lost his patience. "Stop harping on about your past suffering! That was then, and this is now. We can give you a life most people only dream of—you should let go of the past instead of clinging to it!"
Jiang Youli’s eyes, once calm, turned as cold as a frozen lake. She stared at Jiang Zhao and spoke word by word, "Fine. Since that’s how it is, I won’t mince words anymore. The pain I suffered—I will never forget it, not for a single moment. And I will never forgive you for your attitude and what you’ve done."
Her gaze then shifted sharply to Qin Yulian as she continued, "Qin Yulian, I made it clear to you before—I’ve known for a long time that you and Jiang Yangxu were aware I was your biological daughter. Yet, you heartlessly left me adrift, only bringing me back when you needed me to replace your precious adopted daughter, Jiang Yonghe, in marrying the crippled Young Master Qi. So, my only purpose in returning is to destroy everything you’ve ever taken pride in—to make you experience the despair of having nothing, of being trampled upon and helpless!"
Hearing this, Jiang Zhao frowned and snapped, "Jiang Youli, even if you refuse to forgive us, you shouldn’t slander us with baseless accusations! How dare you claim that Mom and Dad knowingly left you out there and deliberately didn’t bring you home!"
Jiang Youli merely scoffed in response. "Whether I’m slandering them or not, they know the truth best. I have no interest in wasting my breath on lies."
Jiang Zhao’s frown deepened as he caught the guilt flickering in his mother’s expression. "Even if it were true, I’d say you deserved to be left out there! With your stubborn, vindictive nature, if you’d been brought back earlier, you’d have been nothing but a disaster for our family!"
Before Jiang Youli could retort, Zhang Susu abruptly stood up and, without warning, slapped Jiang Zhao across the face. "Shut your mouth! Jiang Zhao, have you no conscience? How could you say such monstrous things to your own sister?"
Jiang Zhao clutched his cheek, momentarily stunned.
Even Jiang Youli was taken aback, staring in disbelief at her beautiful stepmother’s outburst.
So, the gentle facade wasn’t so soft after all.
Zhang Susu pointed a trembling finger at Jiang Zhao. "You and your family—you’re all heartless beasts! Get out! Get out of my house right now, and don’t you dare step foot here again! Or I’ll have the bodyguards break your legs!"
Qin Yulian, after a dazed moment, snapped back to reality and flew into a rage. "Zhang Susu, you barren hen! How dare you lay a hand on my son!"
With that, she lunged at Zhang Susu, intent on returning the slap.
But Jiang Youli wouldn’t let her get close. Before Qin Yulian could reach Zhang Susu, a silver needle flew through the air—subtle, unnoticed in the chaos.
Qin Yulian’s movements suddenly froze mid-lunge. Her eyes widened, her mouth working soundlessly before her body crumpled to the ground, convulsing violently.
"Mom! What’s wrong?" Jiang Zhao cried out in panic, dropping to his knees to support her.
Qin Yulian foamed at the mouth, her limbs twitching uncontrollably. "...It... hurts..."
Jiang Youli looked down at her coldly. "Jiang Zhao, it seems your words were so heartless that the heavens struck your mother down in your place."
Jiang Zhao glared up at her. "How can you stand there mocking us? Are you happy seeing Mom like this?"
Jiang Youli didn’t bother hiding her satisfaction. "Absolutely thrilled."
After all, she was the one who had caused Qin Yulian’s suffering.
Jiang Yonghe widened her eyes, feigning panic as her voice trembled. "Second Brother, what do we do? Is Mom going to be okay?"
Tears welled up in her eyes.
Jiang Zhao’s brow furrowed as he suddenly remembered Grandfather’s praise of Jiang Youli’s medical skills at last night’s banquet. He barked at her, "You know medicine, don’t you? Hurry up and help her!"
Seeing his arrogant, commanding tone—as if she were some servant at his beck and call—Jiang Youli only laughed coldly. "Jiang Zhao, even now, you dare order me around? If you beg me properly, I might show mercy and take a look."
Jiang Yonghe pleaded urgently, "Sister Youli, this is an emergency! Can’t you set aside your anger and just help Mom first?"
Jiang Youli remained unmoved, crossing her arms. "Jiang Zhao just called me a disaster—how could I possibly save Aunt Qin? You’d better find someone else."
Zhang Susu, though puzzled by Qin Yulian’s sudden condition, felt no sympathy after Jiang Zhao’s cruel words. She coldly ordered the bodyguards, "Throw them out!"
Jiang Yonghe gasped. "Aunt Susu, how can you be so cruel?"
Zhang Susu’s expression was icy. "Compared to you, I’m nowhere near as heartless. Leave now, before she dies in my house and you miss your chance to save her."
The bodyguards stepped forward.
Jiang Zhao, still supporting his convulsing mother, shot Jiang Youli a venomous glare. "So you really won’t lift a finger to help her?"
