"Crackling..."

The sound of tearing fabric jolted Xu Chuqing from her slumber.

A chilling sensation crept up her chest as she opened her eyes, only to be forcefully flipped over and pinned to the bed before she could clearly see the man before her.

A familiar scent, mingled with the strong smell of alcohol, assaulted her senses, filling her eyes with tears.

The man entered her from behind, his tall, sturdy figure firmly trapping her before he began to move.

"Song... Ahh... Song Tingchen! Let me go!" Chuqing found herself clutching the sheets, her lips bitten and body trembling slightly.

She knew Tingchen preferred taking her from behind because he didn't want to see her face.

This way, he could imagine she was another woman, the woman he truly desired - Qiao Xue'er.

In the past, she had always catered to his wishes and silently endured the humiliation.

However, recalling the doctor's warnings, Chuqing couldn't help but turn around and begin to resist aggressively.

"Tingchen, snap out of it! Look at me! I'm your wife, Xu Chuqing! I am not Qiao Xue'er! She chose to leave you, and you married me because you couldn't handle the pressure! Now you're blaming everything on me? What right do you have to resent me?"

Chuqing's voice was full of anger and sadness, which sobered Tingchen up a little.

Looking at the emotional woman in front of him, Tingchen narrowed his eyes slightly. He then raised his hand, grabbed her wrist, pulled her away before falling heavily on the bed.

"You were the one who made Xue'er leave! And you know very well how pressured the Song family was to force me to marry you!"

He looked at her condescendingly. His eyes were as cold as ice, and there seemed to be a hint of disgust in them.

It stung Chuqing's heart.

She had always known that he hated her, but she still couldn't help loving him.

She had suffered so much, yet she was willing to harm herself like that. 

Tingchen flung her, and it made her fall hard on the bed. A sharp pain shot up her back. Taking a deep breath, Chuqing's forehead was covered with cold sweat. With a hint of sadness in her tone, she said, "It's been two years. No matter how I explain it, you don't believe me."

She struggled to sit up. Looking at Tingchen's cold and somewhat handsome face, she mocked herself. "You are such a cold and ruthless man. Why would I play tricks just to marry you?"

She wasn't saying that out of anger towards Tingchen. Instead, she was questioning herself in her heart.

She was asking herself why she couldn't get back to her senses. What was so good about marrying Tingchen? Why did she like him so much?

"Oh, really?" Tingchen dragged out his tone, and his eyes were cold and indifferent. He raised his slender fingers to smooth out the wrinkles on his suit jacket. His movements were noble and elegant, but the words that came out of his mouth were so cruel and nonchalant. "In that case, let's get a divorce."

His low and cold voice rang in Chuqing's ears. It was like a bolt from the blue, making her mind go blank.

Staring at Tingchen's handsome face, Chuqing spent a long time realizing what he had just said.

Clutching her stomach tightly, she felt her eyes burning. With a trembling voice, she spat out word by word. "What are you talking about?"

Tingchen's expression did not change at all. His less drunken eyes seemed deep and calm. Then, he said lightly, "She's back."

Once again, those words hit Chuqing's heart like a bomb.

She knew immediately who he was talking about.

Qiao Xue'er was back.

All Chuqing could feel was a scorching sensation engulfing her, burying her in fiery flames.

Every inch of her skin was burning in pain.

"So, you're asking me to step down for her?"

Tingchen did not answer, but his cold eyes had already explained everything.

Xu Chuqing understood.

She then sneered. "What if I refuse?"

Why should she step down?

The person who decided to take the money from the head of the Song family and gave up on Tingchen was Xue'er herself!

That woman even deliberately framed Chuqing's brother, causing him to be sent into jail for r*pe!

Chuqing hated Xue'er so badly. Why should she give up her beloved one for her?

Tingchen always thought that Chuqing took everything from Xue'er, but he had never thought that this position never belonged to Xue'er!

The one engaged to him was Chuqing. She had even saved him, sacrificing so much in the process!

What right did he have to demand a divorce and force her to step down?

However...

Tingchen remained indifferent to all her grievances and resistance.

He lifted his slender fingers to loosen his tie, his movements exuding a palpable hostility.

Then, he snorted dismissively, a sneer playing on his lips.

Narrowing his eyes, he asked, "So, are you ready to give up on Xu Group?"

The Xu family's fortunes had long declined. Since her father's death, Chuqing had been fighting to keep the Xu Group afloat.

The only reason it hadn't completely collapsed was her connection to the Song family.

If they lost the Song family's protection, the Xu family would be defenseless, ripe for takeover.

Tingchen used the Xu Group to threaten her.

She couldn't resist because she couldn't afford to.

Her brother was still in prison, and she was waiting for his release so she could return the Xu Group to him.

She didn't want to give up. She truly didn't.

"It's been two years!" Chuqing gazed at his ruthless face, tears welling in her eyes, her voice trembling as she asked, "Why are you so cruel to me?"