"Trash will always be trash. Can't she go a single day without throwing herself at some man? Ugh, letting her back in would just dirty my floors!" Qi Lan’s caustic curses seeped through the heavy door. "Please don't be angry, Mrs. Huo," Yun Xinyue's voice was soft, placating. "It was probably just a friend of my sister's, dropping her off because it was late. I mean, it's strange... my sister doesn't really have any male friends. But I trust her, of course." Her words had their intended effect. Qi Lan’s tirade only intensified, each word a vicious attempt to grind Yun An'an into the dirt. Yun An'an’s gaze fell. Giving up on the keypad, she turned and slid down against the door, her pretty face a mask of calm. Leaving now would only fuel Qi Lan’s fury, giving the woman more ammunition to use against her, even though she had done nothing wrong. But not a single person behind that door was on her side. The night was heavy and the air damp. The rain, which had held off for half the day, began to fall again, a steady, miserable drizzle. Exhausted from the day, Yun An'an curled into a ball, her arms wrapped around her knees. She drifted into a half-conscious slumber, looking like a lost puppy abandoned in the rain. This was the scene that greeted Huo Siqing when he returned to the villa, an umbrella held against the downpour. His dark eyes swept over the hem of her dress, soaked through by the rain, and his brow tightened. "Wake up," he said, his voice clipped with impatience. He stepped forward and nudged her shoulder. A light sleeper, Yun An'an woke instantly. For a moment, she stared, lost in the sight of his face—as strikingly handsome and cold as he’d been when they were young, his features softened just slightly with age. "You're... back?" "Mm." Huo Siqing tapped in the code, the door clicking open. His voice was flat, laced with mockery. "What are you doing crouching out here? Planning to get sick so you can make the Huo family a laughingstock for mistreating its daughter-in-law?" Yun An'an’s legs had gone numb from squatting for so long. His words made her freeze, a tight, sharp ache spreading through her chest. "Your mother changed the lock and shut me out. Would you even believe that?" Huo Siqing, already stepping inside, paused. He glanced back at her, his expression cold and distant. The condescending smirk on his lips all but screamed that he thought she was lying again. Seeing no point in arguing, Yun An'an said nothing more and brushed past him, heading for the stairs. At the landing, she ran right into Yun Xinyue, who was just coming out of Huo Siqing’s study with a book in her hand. Yun An'an's expression didn't change as she moved to walk past Yun Xinyue, ignoring her completely. Yun Xinyue’s eyes darted. Then, quick as a flash, she stuck out her foot and tripped Yun An'an hard. Caught off guard, Yun An'an stumbled and crashed to the floor. A sharp pain lanced through her abdomen. It was so intense that a cold sweat broke out on her forehead, and the hand she pressed to her stomach trembled. And then, that absurd thought surfaced in her mind again. "Oh, dear, sister. Can't you even keep your balance? You're so fragile. Perhaps I should share some of the tonic soups Mrs. Huo makes for me? They might build up your strength." Yun Xinyue looked down at the pathetic figure on the floor, her smile a picture of innocent grace. But her eyes were filled with undisguised contempt. If Yun An'an wanted to play games, she would be the one to get destroyed. The pain left Yun An'an almost speechless. She struggled to push herself up, lacking even the strength to confront Yun Xinyue. Trembling, she turned and stumbled back to her room. The sense of unease in her heart grew heavier, more insistent. She shuffled to the edge of the bed and sat down. Gritting her teeth, she placed the trembling fingers of her left hand on her right wrist. Her panting breath hitched and then stopped. Her eyes widened, her disbelieving gaze dropping to her own flat stomach. She was… pregnant?