Chapter 1

Late one night, the police called. My daughter, Lin Ya, had been arrested—and she was in her third trimester.

When I reached the station, she turned to look at me, one hand supporting her belly, her eyes red.

“Mom! Li He cheated on me. His mistress came to our home to rub it in my face…”

I hurried over. “What about you? Are you hurt?”

Just then, Li He came out of a police office and rolled his eyes at my daughter.

“How could she be hurt? She pushed Qingqing downstairs! Mom, do you realize she nearly killed someone?”

“I’m warning you, Lin Ya! If anything happens to Qingqing, I don’t care if you’re pregnant. I’ll hire the best lawyer I can find and put you behind bars!”

I listened to him threaten my daughter. Her fists were clenched, her face tight with fury.

I took her hand.

“Easy. Your mom’s dealt with this before. Let me handle it.”

……

When I said nothing, Li He actually smiled and came over to tell me what he wanted.

“Mom, the police only let Lin Ya off with a verbal warning because she’s pregnant. But if Qingqing’s examination finds a minor injury, or a light injury, and she presses charges, Lin Ya will be criminally liable. I’m not trying to scare you. That baby could be born without a mother there to look after it. Lin Ya would get at least one to three years!”

Not a trace of guilt or shame over cheating on his wife. He looked positively pleased with himself.

He popped a segment of orange into his mouth. Even its fresh citrus smell couldn’t cover his foul breath as he talked.

He patted my shoulder. “You don’t want your daughter going to jail, do you, Mom?”

I turned to him. “Say what you want. There’s no need to dance around it.”

He held out his hand and rubbed his fingers together.

“A little something to show you’re sorry…”

“Qingqing’s still in the hospital. She needs decent food to help her recover, doesn’t she? Mom, you’d better take good care of her. Then she won’t sue, and your daughter can watch her child grow up!”

Lin Ya’s tears fell onto my hand.

My daughter had been stubborn since she was little—money-minded, ruthless. This was the first time I’d seen her cry.

Perhaps it was the pregnancy hormones. My heart ached for her, and I was about to offer some comfort when she shot to her feet.

“Li He, you fucking piece of shit! Was beating that woman without beating you a mistake? Have you forgotten what I used to do?”

She moved to hit him.

The police officers’ expressions immediately hardened.

I grabbed her. “The baby, sweetheart! Think about the baby! You’re due in less than two months. Get yourself under control!”

Lin Ya craned her neck to look at me. “Mom! You never used to be like this! Have you forgotten how you dealt with Dad?”

Holding her hand, I said earnestly, “That was then. This is now. Your mom has some new tricks. Sit down.”

I practically forced her back into her chair, then turned to Li He with a smile.

“Son-in-law, how about this? Yaya was in the wrong today. You know what her temper is like. Give me that girl’s number, and I’ll go apologize to her in person tomorrow!”

“Mom, don’t think I don’t know you’re up to something,” Li He said. “There’s no way I’m telling you where Qingqing is. Just hand over the money. Pay enough, and your daughter won’t have a mark on her record for the rest of her life. Your choice.”