I thought he’d already left. A question formed in my mind, but I didn't voice it. Once I was in the car, he didn't start the engine. Instead, he rolled up the windows, turning to face me, his expression dark and severe. "Lined up your next man already?" I never expected those to be the first words out of his mouth. A storm churned inside me, and rage surged with it. "You certainly have a wide reach, Mr. Gu. I wonder if all your other women were as lucky as I am—to be remembered so fondly!" His hand shot out, clamping around my wrist, his face a thundercloud. "You slept with him? Hm?" The color drained from my face, a sharp pain seizing my chest. I shoved him away with all my strength. "Yes, I slept with him. And he's far more gentle than you ever were. In fact, I should thank you for your years of 'training,' Mr. Gu. The slightest lift of his hand, the barest furrow of his brow, and I know exactly what position he wants." "Tang Li!" His face turned menacing. A wave of fury rolled off him, so intense it felt suffocating, deadly. I half-expected him to slap me. But after a dead silence, he hissed a single word through clenched teeth: "Get. Out." My breath trembling, I scrambled out of the car, slamming the door behind me. Without a backward glance, I hailed a cab and was gone. After all those years with him, I had always been so careful, so submissive, never daring to defy him. But his words today… every single one was designed to crush me. It was unbearable. Limping my way to the hospital, I had my sprained ankle treated before heading to my brother's room. My mother, worried sick about my father, hadn't been sleeping well for nights. When I entered, she was dozing in a chair. Tang Chen was playing a game on his phone. Seeing me, the little guy quickly hid it under his blanket, a wide grin on his face. "Sis, I wasn't playing. Just checking the time." I played along with his little ruse. The noise woke my mother, and she stretched her stiff neck. "Lili, any news about your father? Are they really going to release him?" I walked up behind her and began kneading her shoulders. "Mom, it's only been a few days. Don't worry. Dad should be out soon." She sighed, her anxiety winning out. "Why don't we go to the police station and ask?" I knew she was just worried and was about to reassure her when my phone rang. It was an unfamiliar number. I answered, "Hello?" A voice on the other end said, "Hello, this is the West District Police Station. Are you a family member of Tang Wenkuan? You can come down tomorrow to sign the papers and pick him up." I froze for a second, then a wave of joy washed over me. "Yes, yes! Thank you!" Putting the phone away, I turned to my mother. "Mom, how about we go bring Dad home tomorrow?" My mother stared, stunned for a moment before it sank in. "He's okay?" I nodded. She threw her arms around me, sobbing with relief. Outside the police station. My father, whom I hadn't seen for days, was escorted slowly out from behind the iron gates. He had aged so much, his hair now mostly gray. My mother, always quick to tears, clung to him, crying like a child. My father, at a loss, patted her on the back. "The children are watching," he murmured. My mother choked out, "How can you say that? You scared me to death. I thought…" She trailed off, leaving the unlucky words unsaid. With my father safe and Tang Chen's chemotherapy going well, it was a rare moment for the whole family to be together. My mother insisted we go out for a meal to celebrate properly. I chose a restaurant with a nice atmosphere. My father, who had worked hard his whole life and was always frugal, looked a little uneasy at such a nice place. Tang Chen had just sat down when he needed to use the restroom. I pointed him in the right direction, but my mother, ever watchful, got up to go with him. After I ordered, I noticed my father seemed to have something on his mind. "What is it, Dad?" He hesitated, his voice tinged with apology. "Lili, you've been through so much trouble because of me." "Dad, what are you talking about?" I said, my voice rising a little. "I'm your daughter. Why would you say something so formal to me?" He sat fidgeting in his chair. "It's because I'm not capable enough that…" He never finished his sentence. A woman's sharp curse cut through the restaurant's chatter. "Are you blind, you little brat? Watch where you're going!" I looked toward the source of the shout and saw Tang Chen held by the collar by one woman, while my mother was crouched down, helping another richly-dressed woman up from the floor. It looked like Tang Chen had knocked someone over. I immediately got up and hurried over to see what was happening.