Volume 1, Chapter 60: Let's End This Completely Between Us

It was bad enough that she ran off to Country M on her own, but if she were really dragged into some place like Devil's Island, it would simply bring disgrace upon the Shen family. Xiangyi isn't even married yet; if something like this gets out, who would ever dare to marry her? That girl is truly a constant torment to the mind and soul."

Fang Lanru was entirely consumed by her fear for Meng Xiangyi, terrified that I would ruin her reputation.

After all, those elite aristocratic families would never accept a woman with a tainted reputation.

My heart ached as it always did, but the sorrow was gone, replaced by a dull numbness.

Fang Lanru's repeated verbal stabs had long since plunged my heart into hell.

"Things have come to this, and you still have the mind to say such things. Xiangyi is your daughter, but wasn't Zhiyao your daughter too? She genuinely called you Mother for thirteen years, and you raised her with your own hands for thirteen years. Now her life is practically on the line, and all you care about is how she might damage Xiangyi's reputation. Do you even have a conscience left?"

Shen Yikang questioned her in sheer disbelief.

The house was practically on fire, yet Fang Lanru was still worrying about reputation.

Could reputation possibly be more important than a human life?

Fang Lanru flared up in anger. "I have no conscience? You're saying I have no conscience?

"If you ask me, the one without a conscience is you! Shen Yikang, you know very well in your heart, if you hadn't been messing around behind my back all those years ago, would my biological daughter have been swapped at birth? I raised Shen Zhiyao for thirteen years, which was already the greatest grace imaginable. How do you even have the face to blame me?"

When all was said and done, this whole mess was Shen Yikang's fault.

That was why, despite enduring countless harsh scoldings from Fang Lanru over the years, he had always held back and refused to divorce her.

Having his sore spot exposed right in front of a younger generation made Shen Yikang lose quite a bit of face.

He lowered his voice. "Yes, it was my fault back then, but the past is in the past. What we should be worrying about right now is Zhiyao. With her delicate and fragile nature, if she really falls into the hands of those animals, she won't survive!"

Shen Yikang's worry was genuine.

In the past, he would have remained silent in situations like this, but this time he risked incurring Fang Lanru's wrath to speak up, which showed just how deeply concerned he was.

Looking at Shen Yikang, I was suddenly reminded of my childhood when he took me hiking.

Every time, I would throw tantrums and insist I could walk on my own.

Yet after a while, I would cling to his back, demanding to be carried, giggling and kicking my legs as I clung to him.

Even though it left him out of breath, Shen Yikang would still smile and tell me to stop acting up.

Every time we finished a hike, Shen Yikang would be drenched in sweat.

Before Meng Xiangyi came back, they really had treated me very well.

Thinking about it now, it felt as though it had all happened just yesterday.

Fang Lanru's expression didn't change much, but her tone softened slightly. "What's done is done, and panicking won't help. Congnan, you have extensive connections, have you managed to get any news?"

"Yes, we must find Zhiyao. If she really gets taken to that island, I'm afraid she will never make it back."

Meng Xiangyi, who had remained silent all this time, finally spoke up.

She looked deeply concerned.

Yet I knew her worry was entirely on the surface; in truth, she was plotting something else entirely.

I was already dead, reduced to a headless female corpse.

It was completely impossible for me to be on Devil's Island!

Ever since that letter, Meng Xiangyi had been secretly guiding everyone, leading them all to believe that I was in Country M.

I didn't know her precise motive for doing this, but at the very least, it served one distinct purpose.

And that was to conceal the truth of my death.

I had been dead for more than a month and a half, yet neither Bo Congnan nor the Shen family had discovered my demise.

Meng Xiangyi had played a crucial role behind the scenes.

How I longed to know what she was really planning, and what her ultimate goal could possibly be!

Why would she collude with the murderer to deal such a merciless hand against me?

"Rest assured, I have already sent people to investigate. The moment there is any news, I will set off for Country M immediately. No matter the cost, I will bring Zhiyao back!"

Bo Congnan said with absolute certainty.

His words helped steady Shen Yikang's anxious mind a little. "Congnan, you and Zhiyao are husband and wife. Even though she has a spoiled temper, you are husband and wife after all. You must make sure to bring her back safely."

No father could accept the thought of his daughter suffering such humiliation.

Hearing reports from the media about what was happening on Devil's Island had already made his skin crawl; those people had completely lost their humanity.

After waiting for what felt like an eternity, news finally came through from the other side.

"Boss, I contacted underground organizations in Country M and sent them Madam's photograph. They've dispatched people to search everywhere. Just a moment ago, one of the organizations contacted me. They said..."

Bo Congnan held his breath, his heart tightly gripped by dread.

"They said there is indeed a woman on Devil's Island who looks extremely similar to Madam. Word has it she was given as a gift by Titan to a high-ranking official in Country M."

As soon as those words were uttered, Bo Congnan felt as though a basin of ice-cold water had been poured over him from head to toe, causing his entire body to tremble with cold.

He opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

A profound wave of terror and panic engulfed him entirely. It was all his fault... it was all his fault...

If he hadn't been giving Zhiyao the cold shoulder, if he had flown straight to Country M to bring her back, none of this would have happened.

It was all his fault, entirely his fault...

Why did he have to pick a fight with her over nothing? If she threw a minor temper tantrum, why couldn't he just endure it instead of trying to frighten her?

Bo Congnan had never felt such agonizing torture. After a long while, he finally spoke in a soft voice, "Prepare the private jet. I'm leaving for Country M immediately."

"Boss, you're going yourself? That Devil's Island is crawling with armed militias and it's unsafe. If we just go like this, it'll probably be dangerous."

Bo Congnan refused to listen to reason. He had to go personally; he had to go bring Zhiyao home himself.

"Then throw money at it."

He had plenty of money. Hiring a local organization with money wouldn't be difficult.

Even so, danger remained inevitable. After all, bullets had no eyes, and a single misstep meant the difference between life and death.

Yet, he had no other choice now.

The mere thought of Zhiyao still in the hands of those monsters and facing whatever horrors awaited her made him unable to wait a second longer; he wanted to fly to Country M right this instant.

"Should we inform President Bo about this?"

The "President Bo" referred to here was Bo Qindao. Bo Congnan had kept a low profile over the years precisely to build a favorable image in front of his grandfather.

The private jet registered under his name was rarely used; whenever he needed one, he used his old man's.

That way, everyone would view him as a diligent man rather than a profligate playboy wasting his days on frivolous pursuits.

"No need."

Time was of the essence. Because his grandfather had fallen suddenly ill, Bo Qindao had been tied up with company affairs lately.

He probably wouldn't even have the time to deal with this matter.

Bo Congnan stayed a little longer to keep Meng Xiangyi company.

Fang Lanru and Shen Yikang had rushed back home to brew soup for Meng Xiangyi, leaving the two of them entirely alone in the hospital room.

Meng Xiangyi's brows were furrowed with worry. "It's all my fault. If I hadn't been injured, you wouldn't have stayed behind to take care of me instead of going to Country M to pick up Zhiyao. If anything really happens to her, I will never have peace of mind for the rest of my life."

Looking at Meng Xiangyi's face, I found it utterly hypocritical.

She looked up at Bo Congnan, her voice suddenly dropping lower, "Zhiyao is coming back soon. Once she returns, let's make a clean break between us."