Too Late to Regret, She’s Now With the Big Boss - Chapter 54

“Alright, take care of yourself. Tianyi will be here shortly to give you a full check-up. We’ll be leaving now.”

After saying this, Lu Jingchen took Ye Qianqian’s hand and walked away without so much as a backward glance, not even sparing the old madam a single glance.

Old Madam Lu stared at the retreating figures of Lu Jingchen and Ye Qianqian, utterly baffled. Why were girls these days so materialistic?

Given the choice between freedom and money, they always chose money, were they that obsessed with wealth?

Besides, that little beast was downright insane, wasn’t she afraid he’d have an episode and strangle her to death?!

With a twisted mind, the old madam thought viciously: I hope that little beast has an episode tonight and chokes her to death!

With a wife-killer charge hanging over him, that little beast would spend the rest of his life being condemned and gossiped about by everyone…

Back in her innocent youth, her parents had secretly sold her off to that old man, claiming it was for her own good.

But she hated it!

She despised all these vulgar things!

Even if she could feast on delicacies every day and wear custom-made clothes, she didn’t want to stay here.

She wanted to eat street food, do as she pleased, and travel freely with the one she loved, breathing in the air of liberty.

But that old man stubbornly refused to divorce her and locked her in a room plastered with banknotes.

Looking down on her, he sneered, “Your parents don’t want you back. Stay with me, and all my money will be yours.”

He even threw money at her, an act that, to her fiercely proud nature, was nothing short of humiliation.

She couldn’t take it anymore. Even if life was harder, she had an education and was willing to work for it.

Her first love had made a good life for himself through his own efforts. Every holiday, he’d take his family traveling and even taunted her with photos.

Most of all, he had loved her to the bone. Because he couldn’t marry her, he went through wife after wife, never satisfied.

Driven to madness by all this, she lashed out wildly, determined to kill that little beast… all just to escape the Lu family!

What had she done wrong?

If her own son died, that old man would be universally condemned and reviled. Then, when he was at his lowest, she’d step forward and play the victim.

At that point, everyone would pity her, and the Lu empire would fall right into the hands of her and her beloved.

“Old woman, even now, you’re still clinging to these delusions?

You spend all day watching those short dramas, haven’t you noticed how they all say white moonlights are scum?

If he really loved you, he wouldn’t have slept around at the very least, he’d have stayed faithful.

Do you really think he’s some kind of genius? His success was entirely built on the Lu family’s backing.

Thank goodness Jingchen is here, or you’d have ended up like those tragic heroines in your dramas, your grave would’ve been overgrown with weeds by now!”

“You… you old bastard! You’ve been spying on me? How shameless!” the old madam shrieked hysterically.

“I’m shameless? I married you with your parents’ consent. If you were truly unwilling, why didn’t you convince them to return the dowry?

I loved you and acted on it, is that shameless? Meanwhile, he just sweet-talked you with empty words and that’s true love?”

The old man leaned back on the sofa, exhausted. After thirty-odd years, he should’ve woken up long ago.

“You old bastard, I despise you. You’re like a sewer rat, a peeping Tom, making baseless, malicious assumptions about me!”

“Who isn’t making baseless, malicious assumptions? Why can you do it, but I can’t? Just because I love you? Don’t even try to claim I’m just lusting after your looks, that I’m some pervert with no morals. That’s rich coming from you.”

To live in this world, one must have some vices so I tolerated your secret flirtations with him. But you went too far by mistreating our son.

Do you realize that without him, the Lu family wouldn’t be where it is today? We’d have lost everything fifteen years ago, just like the Li family!

Your emotions are too unstable. Jingchen found you a psychologist. I’m old now, and I won’t be in your way anymore. From now on, you’ll live on the second floor, and I’ll stay on the first.

The old master finished speaking calmly, then stood up and cast a cold glance at the young wife he had loved for so many years.

“You old bastard! Are you trying to imprison me?” the old madam shrieked hysterically.

“Ruyi, don’t be angry. If you want freedom, I’ll give it to you. We’ll go get a divorce right now.”

“Husband… you’re abandoning me?” The old madam stared at him in disbelief.

“Isn’t this the freedom you’ve always wanted? Name your price, and I’ll have Jingchen give it to you. I thought that over these thirty-two years, I’d given you enough security. Turns out you never valued it at all!”

“Husband, don’t divorce me. Let’s live peacefully from now on, please?”

“No. My time is running short, and I don’t want to see you anymore. You have two choices: divorce, or stay on the second floor and never come down.”

His voice was icy. He almost added, Didn’t you keep telling everyone that my son and I were devils who imprisoned you? Well, now you’ll see what real imprisonment looks like.

“Husband, I won’t choose. I just want to be with you.” She reached for his arm as she always had, but he pulled away.

“Too late. I don’t want you anymore! Guards, take the madam to the second floor.”

“Sir, which second floor should we take her to?” A bodyguard stepped forward, gripping the old madam respectfully.

“The western annex. The main house’s second floor is for the eldest and second sons.” The old master tapped his cane and retreated to his bedroom.

Behind him, the old madam’s furious curses echoed through the hall. The guards didn’t dare silence her.

…

At Li Family Mansion.

The Li patriarch roared, “You ungrateful wretches! Fifty years of my hard work, and you’ve ruined it all?”

“Father, now’s not the time for blame. If we declare bankruptcy now, at least we can keep this house. If we delay any longer-”

“Big Brother is right-” Third Uncle Li tried to agree, but Second Uncle cut him off.

“Right, my ass! If your eldest nephew hadn’t acted recklessly, would the Li family be in this state?”

“Oh, like your daughter never offended the Living King of Hell? If it weren’t for Weiwei, our family wouldn’t have suffered that earlier blow!”

“Exactly! Now that the Li family’s bankrupt, you want to blame our Kai?” Aunt Li chimed in.

“Enough!” The old man’s voice cut through the chaos. “We’ll do as the eldest says, declare bankruptcy immediately. Kai will take his brothers to the neighboring city to start fresh.

The rest of you, tomorrow we go to the Lu family to see the Living King of Hell.”

“Father… do you really think Third Master will see us?” Third Uncle asked nervously. He just wanted to coast through life, living in a mansion was better than ending up on the streets.

“If he refuses, kneel at his doorstep until he agrees. I’m not asking to rebuild the Li empire, just a small company to survive.” The old man sounded exhausted.

“Father, in the past, he might’ve refused. But now that he’s married, he has a weakness. He might just see us!”

“Besides, Qianqian is a kind-hearted person, and she treats her wife very well,” Second Madam Lu said with confidence.

“What are we waiting for then, Auntie? Take Weiwei to see that Qianqian right now,” Fifth Young Master Li urged, shaking his aunt’s arm.

“Little sister, should we announce bankruptcy tomorrow instead?” Elder Brother Li asked, his eyes gleaming as he looked at his younger sister.