Xiaoling's face was ashen, her hands clutching her stomach tightly as if to protect the baby inside. Her voice trembled as she said, "I...I didn't seduce your father, I just..."
"Just what?" Shen Meiyan interrupted her, her eyes flashing with anger. "Just want to climb the social ladder? Or just want money?"
Xiaoling cried uncontrollably, shaking her head, "No, no. I just... I just love your dad."
"Love?" Shen Meiyan sneered. "Are you kidding me?"
“You’re about my age, and my dad’s probably around the same age as your dad, right?” Shen Meiyan curled her lip in disdain. “You talk about worthless love, but you’re just after my dad’s money. If you had just said you wanted money, I might have respected you a little more.”
Xiaoling's heart was breaking. She knew she couldn't persuade Shen Meiyan. Even if she didn't love Shen Yanshan, she certainly admired him. As a recent college graduate, still quite naive, she had met Shen Yanshan, who seemed quite successful. His gentle approach was irresistible; how could she not be captivated?
So she was still unwilling to give up. "I know I was wrong, I really know I was wrong, I shouldn't have interfered in your family. But please, for the sake of the child, give him a chance to live, okay? He is innocent, he did nothing wrong."
Hearing Xiaoling's pleas, Shen Meiyan's anger remained undiminished. Looking at Xiaoling's tear-streaked face, a strong sense of disgust welled up within her. "Innocent?" she said with a cold laugh. "He's innocent? And you? Are you innocent too? Were you a child when you seduced my father? I can call him innocent, but how dare you claim to be innocent?"
"I'll give you three days to move out of here and abort the child. I can give you some money to leave." Shen Meiyan showed some leniency and coaxed her gently. "Of course, if you refuse to comply and tell my dad about what happened tonight, that's fine too. I'll go to your house and tell everyone how shameless you are to seduce an old man!"
Xiaoling trembled, unable to utter a word, only weeping uncontrollably. Her cries echoed in the silent room, sounding exceptionally desolate.
Seeing Xiaoling's state, Shen Meiyan concluded that she was only trying to seduce Shen Yanshan by feigning pitifulness, and her anger was reignited. She stepped forward and slapped Xiaoling hard across the face, shouting, "Speak! Are you mute?" Her voice was sharp and piercing, making Xiaoling's ears ring.
Just then, Shen Meiyan's phone rang. She frowned, somewhat impatiently taking out her phone to check it. It was Lin Yueshan calling. She took a deep breath, trying to make her voice sound calm, and then walked to the window.
"Mom, what's wrong?" Shen Meiyan tried to make her voice sound as natural as possible.
"Where are you? Why haven't you gone home yet?" Lin Yueshan's voice came through the microphone, sounding somewhat worried.
Shen Meiyan glanced at her watch; the hour hand was already pointing to 10:30 PM. Her heart tightened, but she tried her best to remain calm. "Mom, I'm all grown up now. It's just a gathering with my friends. They'll take me home in a bit."
"Meiyan, tell Mom the truth, where are you?" Lin Yueshan seemed not to believe Shen Meiyan's words.
Shen Meiyan panicked for a moment, but she quickly calmed down. "I already said it was a gathering with friends!" Her tone was a little stiff, even a little impatient.
"Then come back soon. I'll talk to you later. Your dad's home." Lin Yueshan said hurriedly when she heard the door open.
"Okay, Mom, I'll be back in a bit, don't worry." Shen Meiyan finally breathed a sigh of relief. After hanging up the phone, she glanced back at Xiaoling.
Xiaoling continued to sob, her neck hunched over, her swollen belly making her figure appear particularly forlorn in the dim light. A flicker of unease crossed Shen Meiyan's mind, but she quickly suppressed it. She knew she couldn't be soft-hearted, or the consequences would be unimaginable.
"Have you thought it through?" Shen Meiyan's tone was indifferent. "If you haven't thought it through, I'll make the decision for you."
"How much money can you give me?" Seeing that Shen Meiyan was unmoved, Xiaoling pondered for a moment as if she had made up her mind, then looked up at Shen Meiyan and asked.
"One million." Shen Meiyan hesitated for a second, not wanting to give more than that.
"One million?" Xiaoling looked surprised, then couldn't help but laugh. "Does Miss Shen think I'm a fool? You think you can get rid of me with just one million?"
Shen Meiyan's expression changed slightly; she hadn't expected Xiaoling to respond like that. She looked at Xiaoling, a flash of anger in her eyes. "Then how much do you want?" she sneered, her tone revealing provocation and dissatisfaction.
“Add another zero after that,” Xiaoling replied immediately, her voice firm and decisive, as if she had made full preparations.
"In the end, the lure of money outweighs so-called love, but you're asking for the moon." Shen Meiyan laughed sarcastically, her smile revealing disdain and mockery. "Do you think you're worth ten million, or the little bastard in your belly?" Her words were full of contempt for Xiaoling and disdain for the child.
Hearing Shen Meiyan repeatedly insult her child, Xiaoling was immediately enraged. She glared at Shen Meiyan, her voice revealing a firm resolve: "Fine, you don't have to give it to me. Anyway, your father is already showing me a villa in a prime location. Miss Shen, how much do you think it's worth?" Her words were filled with confidence and provocation.
Xiaoling continued, "Besides, once the child is born, your father will definitely treat me even better. So tell me, is all I'll get just this mere ten million?" Her words revealed a sense of anticipation, as if she could already see a bright future ahead.
"A mere ten million?" Shen Meiyan snorted coldly, sizing up Xiaoling. "You really dare to say that? Have you ever seen ten million in your life? You just spout off like that!"
I'm telling you, five million, take it or leave it.
"I..." Xiaoling was about to retort when she was interrupted by Shen Meiyan's approaching figure.
Shen Meiyan curled her lips into a smile, a strange glint in her eyes: "I advise you to quit while you're ahead. Did my father ever tell you that my mother was his second wife? Did you know that his first wife was confined to a mental hospital for over ten years? Did you know that she wasn't insane while she was imprisoned in the mental hospital?"
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