Chapter 3

Chapter 3

The air was thick with tension. Lin Zhixia stepped out of the banquet hall, desperately suppressing the tidal wave of emotions surging within her. Her heart felt like it was being torn apart by giant waves; Gu Lan’s betrayal, her mother’s schemes, and Zhou Qi’an’s lies had woven an invisible web that trapped her. As she walked out of the hotel’s main entrance, a cold wind hit her face, like a sliver of light breaking through the gloom, yet that suffocating feeling remained tightly coiled around her heart.

Returning to her empty home, the moment the door locked behind her, Lin Zhixia felt as though she were enveloped in endless darkness. She walked slowly toward the living room, her gaze sweeping over the space that still looked warm and inviting, yet now felt entirely alien to her. Unopened engagement gifts were scattered across the sofa, and the tabletop was covered with photos of her and Zhou Qi’an. Everything served as a reminder that the sweetness she once believed in had burst like a bubble.

She reached out and grabbed a gift box from the table. An unbearable rage surged within her, and with a sharp crack, she hurled it to the floor. The box burst open, sending colorful ribbons and ornaments scattering across the ground like countless shattered dreams.

“Damn it…” Lin Zhixia pressed a hand to her forehead. Facing everything before her, she suddenly felt an unprecedented sense of helplessness and confusion. Fortunately, her fingers were still tightly gripping the USB drive Gu Lan had handed her-it was like a lifeline. She knew that what she was about to face might be an even darker truth.

She looked up, her gaze hardening. She walked to the desk and plugged the USB drive into the computer. The screen lit up instantly, and files began to appear one by one. Each document felt like a summons from the Grim Reaper, making her heart skip a beat. Holding her breath, her heart pounding like a drum, Lin Zhixia clicked on the first file. Dazzling charts unfolded on the screen-they were financial statements from her father’s company that she had never seen before. The data was intricate and complex, revealing a profound and hidden crisis.

“How is this possible?” she gasped, frozen in disbelief. “My father’s company is actually losing money? The cash flow is this tight?” Every piece of data felt like a cold blade cutting into her heart, causing her immense pain. Next, she scrolled to a penalty notice-a warning issued for unclear company accounts. The signature at the bottom belonged to the head of the finance department: her mother, the person she had always found difficult to trust.

A wave of panic washed over her. She couldn’t imagine why her mother would let things reach this point, or how many secrets were hidden within this dark abyss.

She held her breath as she opened the next file. It was a private correspondence between her mother and Zhou Qi’an’s parents. The text was dense, detailing transactions involving interests and shares. More shockingly, one part mentioned: “The relevant agreements must be signed as soon as possible without Zhixia’s knowledge.”

Lin Zhixia slammed the file shut in a rage. The recording she had heard at the banquet echoed in her mind, along with that cold remark: “The house will be in your name; she won’t dare make a scene.” She realized this was all a meticulously planned scam. She had been used as a bargaining chip, with no idea how many people were plotting against her behind her back.

Suddenly, a video appeared on the screen. It was a recording of a private conversation between Gu Lan and her mother. Gu Lan looked pale and haggard, while her mother spoke coldly: “You just need to spend a little more time with Zhixia. She’ll sign the agreement on her own. After that, I’ll give you a formal status.”

Lin Zhixia’s heart felt like it had been struck by a heavy blow. Rage and sorrow intertwined into a tide of despair that nearly suffocated her. She couldn’t believe that her childhood best friend had actually joined this whirlpool of greed and become a tool in her mother’s hands.

“Enough!” she suddenly screamed. Her voice echoed through the empty room, startling even herself. In that moment, her former gentleness and silence were stripped away, replaced by a fury that tore through her boundaries.

She continued to dig deeper. The USB drive was far more complex than she had anticipated, exposing even more terrible things. She felt waves of suffocation followed by shocking anger, accompanied by the fragments of shattered friendship and family ties. This history of concealment and betrayal hung over her soul like a long-standing shadow.

Opening another file, she saw a photo of her mother with several business partners. They looked triumphant, surrounded by financial reports and figures. The slogan behind them was clear: “The key to development is Lin Zhixia.”

“My life has been a transaction from start to finish!” she roared, losing control as the despair in her heart burned more fiercely. She couldn’t take it anymore-the stolen choices, the exploitation. As she finally saw the truth for what it was, the mixture of powerlessness and rage turned into an endless darkness, driving her deeper into desperation.

When the last video finished playing, Lin Zhixia sat helplessly in front of the computer, her legs trembling. Tears finally broke through her restraint and began to fall. Her life was no longer just about love and reliance; it was about facing the filth of these transactions and the blows dealt by those seeking profit.

In the darkness, she finally realized she could no longer remain passive. Every step she took from now on would need to be cautious and firm. From this day forward, no one would control her choices again.

“I will not stay silent anymore,” she said, her voice steady and filled with a new kind of strength. Lin Zhixia slowly stood up, clutching the USB drive in her palm. She understood that this was the beginning of her counterattack. Even if the current pain and despair had nowhere to go, she would still make her own decisions.

The first light of dawn filtered through the gaps in the curtains, dispelling some of the gloom. Lin Zhixia knew that the real challenge had only just begun. She looked out the window; the shimmering morning light seemed to herald a new future. What awaited her was the power and courage to overturn everything.

“I will bring the truth to light,” she vowed to herself, the corners of her mouth curling up slightly. Just then, her phone vibrated. He Xingchuan’s name appeared on the screen. She hesitated for a moment before finally opening the message.

“Is the plan still on?” The words were few, but each one seemed to offer her silent encouragement.

Lin Zhixia clenched her fist, a sudden surge of excitement rising within her. She resolutely typed back: “Yes. We proceed.”

The storm of life was coming, and she was ready to face the challenge.