In the hospital room, Xiao Pei sat by the bed, her back turned to the door.
Hearing someone enter, she gave a cold snort and sneered, "Didn't I tell you to get lost? What are you still doing here?"
"He already left."
At the sound of the voice, Xiao Pei turned around and saw that it was Lauren Shaw who had come in. She gave a self-deprecating smile, and tears slipped down her cheeks, though even she didn’t know if she was crying for Zhu Xun’s departure, or because she felt so foolish and naïve.
Lauren Shaw was also wearing a hospital gown, though her condition seemed much better than Xiao Pei’s.
Xiao Pei had been rushed to the hospital last night for surgery, but the baby in her womb could not be saved. For a moment, she didn’t know whether to feel relieved or heartbroken.
It wasn’t until Zhu Xun had shown up just now that she finally thought perhaps losing the child was for the best.
"You're here to laugh at me, aren't you?" Xiao Pei jeered, but the old hostility in her gaze toward Lauren Shaw was gone.
"If I wanted to laugh at you, I'd have stayed outside the door and told those looky-loos all about your so-called exploits."
She knew Xiao Pei’s past, but Lauren Shaw had no intention of mocking her. She’d come simply out of a sense of solidarity between women.
Suddenly, Xiao Pei broke down in tears, covering her face with both hands, her shoulders trembling with sobs.
Lauren Shaw said nothing, just sat down on a stool.
After Xiao Pei had cried her fill, she finally looked up at Lauren Shaw.
"Do you know what Zhu Xun said to me?"
Lauren Shaw stayed quiet, waiting for her to go on.
"That bastard—he told me not to press charges over this kidnapping. He said I could have however much money I wanted, as long as I let it drop. What do you think that means? My child is gone, and he still wants me to walk away..."
Lauren Shaw had already guessed why Zhu Xun had come.
Having poured her heart out, Xiao Pei grew even more frustrated at Lauren Shaw’s calm, "Why aren’t you saying anything? You were a victim in this kidnapping too! Doesn’t it make you angry, what he said?"
Lauren Shaw shrugged, unconcerned. "What’s the point of being angry? The real target this time was you. I was just collateral—it was dumb luck I got caught up in it. If I were really mad, I wouldn’t be here checking on you."
Xiao Pei wiped her tears with a tissue. "You always used to seem so aloof—I thought you thought you were better than everyone, so I never liked you. But if it weren’t for you, I might be dead and buried somewhere, and nobody would even know."
Lauren Shaw stayed silent.
Xiao Pei continued, "Thank you, Lauren Shaw. I was wrong before, about a lot of things, and I apologize to you."
After everything that happened, she finally understood what truly mattered in life, and who was worth treating sincerely.
Seeing the earnestness in Xiao Pei’s face, Lauren Shaw waved it off frankly, "Come on, let’s not dwell on the past. All those things you tried against me never worked anyway—you only ended up hurting yourself. I never really held it against you."
At that, Xiao Pei awkwardly rubbed her nose. "I used to wonder why everyone liked you so much—I guess I was just jealous, always trying to go against you. Looking back, it was all just petty nonsense."
"So let's get along from now on," Lauren Shaw suggested, extending her hand. Overwhelmed, Xiao Pei wiped away happy tears and reached out too—the two of them finally making peace, hand in hand.
Still, Xiao Pei touched her belly, looking dejected.
Lauren Shaw noticed her mood, patted her on the shoulder, and offered comfort. "There will be chances in the future—don’t let this get you down."
Xiao Pei shook her head. "I keep thinking maybe this is my punishment. I’ve done so many wrong things in the past, maybe fate wants me to go through this to pay for them."
She spoke in a low voice, full of remorse.
Lauren Shaw considered for a moment. "Do you know who planned this whole kidnapping?"
Xiao Pei shook her head.
"It was Zhu Xun's daughter—Zhu Yurou."
Xiao Pei stared at her in astonishment. "No wonder Zhu Xun came to see me. I thought maybe he’d finally grown a conscience, but it turns out it was for his daughter..."
All the memories of the past ran through her mind like a reel of film. In the end, it was all karma coming back around.
—
Outside the hospital room, Yancy Shaw stood by the door, his tall, elegant figure drawing glances from passing nurses, who greeted him with shy smiles. He responded with a polite nod, every gesture exuding an air of quiet nobility.
When he looked up, he spotted Lauren Shaw standing in the doorway.
He strode over, his tone gentle as he asked, "Are you hungry? Let me take you for something good to eat."
Lauren Shaw raised her eyes to him, a gentle smile lighting up her whole face. "Alright. I really want congee from that breakfast place on West Street."
"Let’s go."
Leaning into his embrace, Lauren Shaw let herself be guided away. Their two silhouettes receded down the corridor—Xiao Pei stood at the door, unable to hide the envy on her face. Love like theirs was beautiful, but it was something she might never have again.
Wanrui Group.
Xue Qiang slammed the file on his desk, his face contorted with anger. "What the hell is going on? Why were banned substances found in the company's shipments?"
He glared at Mandy Snow with menace, looking ready to tear her apart.
Mandy Snow sat calmly in her swivel chair, blinking in confusion at his accusation. "You’re asking me? I wasn’t in charge of that shipment—how would I know anything about it?"
Xue Qiang’s fury bubbled over. The loss of Eva Snow had hit him hard, and now this scandal was threatening to push him over the edge.
"You should be grateful, Second Brother," Mandy Snow said with meaning, "because if you’d been responsible for this shipment, you’d be the one answering questions at the police station right now."
Xue Qiang opened his mouth to argue but fell silent—she had a point. He’d been too busy with Eva Snow’s funeral these past few days, leaving operations to Yvonne Sung. He never imagined something like this would happen.
"Do you think this could have something to do with Yvonne Sung?"
Mandy Snow deliberately tried to steer suspicion toward Yvonne Sung; after all, they needed someone to take the fall, or else the police wouldn’t stop digging. If that happened, neither she nor Mo Fan would escape blame.
"Impossible. I know Yuche pretty well—he would never do something illegal like this." Xue Qiang recalled that Eva Snow had married Yvonne Sung under duress, but regardless, Yvonne Sung was now his brother-in-law, not someone he wanted to push into the fire.
Mandy Snow kept fanning the flames. "Don’t you think it’s strange, though? This never happened when you were in charge. The moment Yvonne Sung takes over, there’s this big scandal? It just doesn’t add up."
Xue Qiang’s face went from disbelief to suspicion.