Chapter 93 Tensions Rise

Faced with countless astonished gazes, Tao Zhitao was stunned.

"Why are you all looking at me? What does this have to do with me?"

He then glared coldly at the police officer, saying, "What evidence do you have to prove that I'm the mastermind behind this, or did someone teach you to say this? Do you know who I am? Believe me or not, I'll sue you for defamation and slander."

Everyone knows the eldest daughter of the Tao family; the police officers fear those in power, but they understand the rules of officialdom.

At this point, it's impossible to let the mayor be the bad guy.

The policewoman bowed politely to her, then turned and took the file folder from her subordinate.

“Miss Tao, of course we came here after finding conclusive evidence.”

She respectfully handed the bag containing the evidence to Mr. Duan. "We found this phone number by tracing the past call records of the overseas manager of the company. Upon investigation, it was discovered that it was a mobile phone number purchased by a maid of the Tao family six months ago."

Tao Zhitao's expression suddenly hardened, but she remained seated firmly. "Is that all?"

Without giving the police officer a chance to answer, he continued, "Besides, we have dozens of servants inside and outside our house. Does that mean that whatever they do is related to me?"

The police officer, showing tact, lowered his head and took a step back after saying this much.

The mayor then straightened his suit and stood up.

"Mr. Duan, that's roughly the situation. Since it's your family matter, my men and I won't bother you any further. Please take care of yourself."

Duan Hong, a seasoned official, showed no extra emotion from beginning to end. "Xiao Yu, see your Uncle Tang off for me."

Duan Yu was also in turmoil. He suppressed the tremors and sent everyone out of the villa.

"Mayor Tang, were the things they investigated just now true?"

The mayor let out a long sigh and shook his head with a hint of regret.

“My dear nephew, I’ve watched you grow up. This matter involves the Tao family, so I can’t say much, but let’s settle the marriage between our two families as soon as possible.”

After saying this, Tang Gaoshan patted Duan Yu on the shoulder with a meaningful expression and then left with his men.

First his sister got into trouble, then his fiancée was suspected of orchestrating it. Duan Yu is completely bewildered.

The man stood frozen in place for a while. When he returned, he saw Tao Zhitao being fiercely choked by Duan's father.

"Still not telling the truth! Do you think this is in your Tao family? Let me tell you, if you don't explain things clearly today, not even Tao Tiansheng, not even the Heavenly King himself, can save you!"

"Dad!" Duan Yu rushed over and rescued the woman. "She's pregnant, please don't act rashly."

With his face flushed red, Duan's father flung his hand away and turned his back.

Looking at Tao Zhitao, who was lying on the sofa taking a few deep breaths, Duan Yu asked, "Taotao, what exactly happened!"

Tao Zhitao, her face flushed from lack of oxygen, gasped for breath, "I won't say anything until my parents come to pick me up."

Anyone with eyes could understand what he meant. Duan's mother was dumbfounded, stared wide-eyed, and slammed back onto the sofa.

"Did you really do this?"

Tao Zhitao turned her face away.

Silence was the answer. Duan's mother opened her mouth wide in disbelief, her hands trembling as she clutched the clothes at her chest.

"How could you be so vicious! I've treated you so sincerely in the past, and Xi'er has always regarded you as a sister. How could you do this!"

Sisters?

Tao Zhitao laughed, her lips curling into a sneer, "You know nothing."

Duan's mother's eyes widened, "You..."

Duan Yu frowned. "Tao Tao, what are you saying? Mom is an elder."

Tao Zhitao turned to look at him. The quiet and obedient girl from before had become cold and unfamiliar in the blink of an eye.

She sneered, her crimson eyes blazing with hatred. "Anyone can call me vicious, but your Duan family has no right to!"

Looking at Duan's father, who was slowly turning around with his hands behind his back, Tao Zhitao curled her lips.

"You wanted to know who did it? I'll tell you, yes, it was me who posted it. Not only that, I even recorded it myself."

Just as Duan Yu was about to speak, his father stopped him, saying, "Let her continue."

"You want to ask me why I did this, right?"

With a chuckle, Tao Zhitao, who had been lying on the sofa, got up, sat up straight, and slowly tucked the loose hair behind her ear.

"Because I hate Duan Xi'er, because she deserved to die."

Duan's mother was furious, "You!"

She gave her a cold look, and Tao Zhitao's upturned lips revealed a bloodthirsty indifference.

"What am I? This is not enough to quell my hatred. If I ever get another chance, I will skin her alive."

She said this with a smile, which was quite different from her usual sweet and lovely image.

With his eyes lowered and calm, it was as if he had been possessed by someone.

Duan Yu was incredulous; his mind was buzzing.

After a long pause, he dragged his leaden legs forward and said, "How could you have such a wicked thought about Xi'er, such a kind girl?"

Tao Zhitao smiled as she looked at her fiancé, who was wholeheartedly protecting his sister and standing up for her.

In the past, she looked at Feng Manman's ending and laughed at her for being self-righteous and reaping what she sowed. Relying on her family's power to force others to love her, her ending was destined to be one of being battered and bruised, and she didn't deserve any pity.

At this moment, she is laughing at herself.

Laugh at Tao Zhitao, who thought she was different from others, but turned out to be inferior to them.

I laughed so hard I almost cried.

"Kindness?" She wiped away her tears and stood up, sadness welling up in her eyes, her smile bitter.

"She's really kind, isn't she? Kind enough to get revenge on Lu Zhenyu by getting aphrodisiacs for Zheng Yaozong. Kind enough to know he's a beast, yet she still made me deliver the drugs for her. And when Zheng Yaozong kidnapped and raped me, she, the instigator, stood by and did nothing, causing me to get pregnant with that beast's child. You're telling me that's what kindness is?!"

The Duan family of three were stunned on the spot.

"..."

"Don't believe it? Can't believe it? Or do you think it's impossible?"

Tao Zhitao laughed, a laugh tinged with irony.

"See? You're all shocked too, aren't you?"

Duan's mother said, "What nonsense are you spouting! How could our Xi'er..."

The reprimand was interrupted.

The villa's main gate was kicked open, and a group of armed police officers rushed in first.

The Tao couple followed closely behind.

"Tao Tao! Where is my daughter Tao Tao?!"

"Mom, I'm here!"

Seeing the Duan family of three surrounding her daughter, Tao's mother immediately rushed over, pushed aside Duan Yu who was blocking her way, and held her daughter in her arms.

Tao Tiansheng followed closely behind, accompanied by a large entourage of guards.

He stood in front of the mother and daughter, standing separately from Duan Hong.

Duan Hong glanced at the guards surrounding them, his cloudy, pale eyes narrowing slightly. "Brother Tao, what is the meaning of this?"

Tao Tiansheng chuckled, "What do you say, father-in-law?"

"Oh!" Tao's observant mother suddenly exclaimed, pulling open her daughter's collar, "Tao Tao, why is your neck red?"

With her parents' support, Tao Zhitao's eyes reddened. "It was Uncle Duan Hong. He just tried to strangle me."

Tao Tiansheng glared at Duan Hong, "Father-in-law, what is the meaning of this?"

Duan Hong remained expressionless. "What do you say, Brother Tiansheng?"

Mrs. Duan was furious and said, "You two know we're in-laws, so why don't you ask your good daughter what she's done to offend the Duan family!"

"I'm sorry to your Tao family?" Tao's mother shot a cold glare at them. "Wasn't it your wicked little hussy who wronged our Tao Tao first?"

Duan's mother was taken aback and took a long time to process Tao's mother's words.

"You all knew?"

"Do you think our Tao family's upbringing is like yours, where the upper beam is crooked and the lower beam is crooked?" Tao's mother sneered disdainfully. "Tao Tao never hides anything from us."

Mother Duan was so angry her mouth almost twisted out of shape, "Then why did you allow her to marry someone else while pregnant with another man's bastard child?"

The two best friends, who used to hold hands and act like in-laws, are no longer so affectionate.

Tao's mother frowned, scanning the person up and down, and then curled her lips into a disdainful sneer.

With her parents backing her up, Tao Zhitao straightened her back, a sinister smile on her face, and approached Duan Yu, supporting her pregnant belly.

"Were those words just now shocking to you? Well, let me tell you something else that will blow your mind."