Chapter 8

Chapter 8

“Your father’s condition has become critical. The hospital needs to take action immediately.” When I heard the news, my heart felt as if it had been struck by a heavy hammer, vibrating with a shock that left me unable to move. My fingers gripped my phone tightly, the glow of the screen stinging my eyes.

The atmosphere in the room froze like ice. A flicker of triumph crossed Lu Jingchuan’s face. “See, Xu Nianhe? Just as I said, I can control everything at any time.” As he spoke, a cold smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, as if everything I had done was exactly the outcome he had anticipated.

“Don’t get ahead of yourself.” I suppressed the panic in my heart, forcing my voice to sound firm. “I will make you pay the price. I will never be your puppet again.” I brushed past him toward the seats where my relatives and friends were, my mind on my father. At this moment, everything involved a web of conflicting interests far more complex than I had imagined.

While I was trying to stay calm, Cheng Xubai approached me. “I can help you arrange a hospital transfer,” he said in a low voice, his gaze burning with a reassuring weight.

“I need time. I can’t stop now,” I said. The emotions surging within me were hard to settle; from the moment the truth was revealed, everything seemed to have spiraled out of control. I looked across the room. In the blink of an eye, several shocked faces blurred past like flickering lights, their expressions a mess of confusion. Everyone was constantly posting updates on their phones; my name was already flashing across the internet, and the tide of public opinion was about to stir up an even greater wave.

Lu Jingchuan realized the situation was turning against him, and the panic in his heart began to surface. He forced down the fear in his voice, fighting against the emotional turbulence to stabilize the situation. “Doing this is only pushing yourself into an abyss. In the end, the only victim will be you.” He shook his head dismissively, though a flash of obvious anxiety darted through his eyes.

“I will no longer be under your control! I decided all of this long ago!” I responded loudly, my tone saturated with anger and determination. Just as I was preparing to present the evidence again, a sudden commotion reached my ears. Several blurred figures walked toward me, their eyes filled with confusion and concern.

“Are you alright?” Lin Qingyue’s face looked extremely distressed among the crowd, a mix of tears and terror. “Can we talk calmly? This wedding was supposed to be your moment of happiness!”

“How is that possible? I will never live my life according to the script you and he designed together.” I found her sudden demand absurd. My anger poured out like a volcano; no one could stop my rebellion this time.

“You know I didn’t mean it that way. Please, listen to me! I’m willing to face Lu Jingchuan with you.” She tried to get close to me, but I coldly pushed her away.

“Your choices have made it impossible for me to trust you again.” With a forceful wave of my hand, I cut her off. Lin Qingyue’s expression turned solemn. I turned to Cheng Xubai and said, “He must have come prepared. We need a more detailed plan to expose all of Lu Jingchuan’s crimes, no matter the cost.”

Cheng Xubai nodded, his gaze as sharp as a blade, exuding a continuous stream of decisiveness. “As we prepare, we must remain highly vigilant. Any release of evidence must be handled with caution.”

“I’ve already uploaded the necessary materials to the cloud; they can be accessed at any time,” Cheng Xubai whispered. “As soon as you’re ready, I’ll help you bring all the secrets to light.” His words gave me a spark of strength, and a powerful longing surged through my heart.

But at that moment, Lu Jingchuan’s threat pierced my heart like a blade. Every word he spoke was dripping with vitriol. “Your father doesn’t have much time for surgery. Don’t take things too far. After all, you know that the tighter the time, the greater the potential risk.”

“As if I don’t know that? But this is not a choice I can compromise on.” I didn’t respond to his threat, focusing instead on what I had to do. Facing the gaze of the crowd, my voice rang out clearly, like a sharp blade cutting through the gloom of silence. “Today’s wedding is no longer a moment where I am the passive party; it is the moment I set my own rules.”

At that exact moment, my phone rang again. it was an urgent update from the hospital, informing me that my father needed surgery immediately.

“Don’t touch my family!” I couldn’t help my fury, my gaze stabbing directly at Lu Jingchuan. He, however, looked like a hunter enjoying his victory, the smile on his face becoming even more arrogant.

“Regrettably, that’s just how marriage is-it’s a game of transactions.” He leaned in close, his voice sinister. “And I am always the superior player.”

“Watch, the truth will illuminate this darkness.” My voice was firm despite my anger. I lifted my head with righteous indignation, as the focus of the room converged on the faces staring at Lu Jingchuan, as if everyone was waiting for a true judgment. “Push all of it to WeChat. This is the final chance I’m fighting for on behalf of my father!”

The situation became instantly tense. Lu Jingchuan, having his secrets snatched away, flew into a rage again. “You’re just bringing this on yourself! Utterly foolish!” But his words carried no weight now.

The boiling pressure felt as if it were about to explode. The audience was spinning through their keyboards and the internet, while Lu Jingchuan’s face gradually turned pale and hideous.

And my heart had never been closer to total control. My fingers swiped rapidly across the screen, and the evidence appeared one by one, just like opening the door to a long-planned counterattack.

“A wedding that should have been a blessing has now become a stage for judgment. And you, Lu Jingchuan, will finally be unable to suppress the days of your crimes.” I scanned the surroundings, wanting to etch this moment into eternity.

But just when everything seemed to be going smoothly, I suddenly saw Lin Qingyue’s gaze turn cold, as if she were secretly contemplating something. A light of resolve flickered in her eyes. “Xu Nianhe, do you really think you’re going to win?”

That taunt was like a bolt from the blue. My heart sank. Was she going to strike back? I was about to shout to stop her, but I was struck by the urgency in her eyes, and a tidal wave of fear and unease followed.

“I will dedicate myself to dismantling every part of this marriage.” Her words were like a sudden hammer blow, shattering my mental defenses. The entire banquet hall fell into silence once more, and even the air seemed to stagnate.

In this tense situation, the only person I could trust was myself. The impending unease was like a hidden tide, yet it only strengthened the resolve and conviction in my heart.

At this moment, I will take complete control of my destiny!