As the due date crept closer, Lin Ning’s moods had grown more unpredictable. Watching her figure steadily change in the mirror, she couldn’t help but feel a pang of melancholy.

Xavier Quinn had noticed her recent anxiety and often tried to soothe her nerves.

One day, Old Master Qiao called them, asking them to return to the old house for a family dinner. Qiao Jing and Xiao Xiufang were also present.

Lin Ning’s pronounced belly made Xiao Xiufang distinctly uncomfortable, though she kept up the façade of being concerned.

“Lin Ning, you must be due any day now, right?”

Scooting a little closer to Lin Ning, Xiao Xiufang reached out to touch her belly, only to be blocked by Xavier Quinn. His voice was laced with displeasure: “What do you think you’re doing?”

His tone made his disapproval of Xiao Xiufang clear.

Xiao Xiufang’s smile stiffened. She awkwardly withdrew her hand, speaking gently, “Oh, that’s just how I am—seeing you so close to your due date, I got a bit excited and wanted to touch your belly. If you don’t like it, I won’t.”

She glanced up at Qiao Jing, a shadow of disappointment flickering in her eyes.

Qiao Jing, seeing this, chided lightly, “Your Aunt Xiao doesn’t mean any harm. There’s no need for such a strong reaction.”

“Whether she means harm or not, I don’t know. What I do know is that she and I have nothing to do with each other—she doesn’t need to put on a false show in front of me,” Xavier Quinn stated bluntly.

Qiao Jing’s temper flared instantly.

See? It’s all too easy to sow discord between father and son.

Lin Ning watched Xiao Xiufang and noticed the triumphant smile she flashed when no one else was looking. Lin Ning understood at once—Xiao Xiufang was deliberately stirring up trouble.

Given that the relationship between Qiao Jing and his son was already fraught, Xiao Xiufang’s machinations could only push them farther apart.

But in the old master’s presence, Qiao Jing managed to rein in his anger, shooting Xavier Quinn a cold glare before taking a seat on the sofa.

Qiao Linyue arrived late, his clothes reeking of cigarette smoke—a sign that he’d just been out carousing with his gang of loafers.

As he walked past Lin Ning, she wrinkled her brow at the smell.

Old Master Qiao seemed to catch the scent as well, his expression darkening. He barked, “Look at you, wasting your days. All you do is eat, drink, and chase women—you’re a disgrace to the family!”

The old man’s words were a biting rebuke, a clear indication of his disappointment in Qiao Linyue.

Xiao Xiufang hurried to smooth things over, “Linyue has been busy with work lately—he just came back from entertaining a client at lunch.”

She shot Qiao Linyue a look. He scratched his head and played along. “Yeah, I had to drink a bit for work during lunch…”

Old Master Qiao looked at him with thinly veiled contempt.

A lifetime of experience meant he’d seen all kinds of people. He wasn’t fooled, but he also wouldn’t bother to expose them.

Meanwhile, Xavier Quinn gently helped Lin Ning to her seat, his eyes warm and tender. Old Master Qiao nodded approvingly. At last, that rascal of a grandson was coming to his senses—look how he dotes on his wife.

“I’ve gathered you all here today because there’s something I need to announce.” The old master’s tone brimmed with authority. Though age had caught up with him, in the Qiao family, his word was still law.

Everyone turned their attention to him, waiting expectantly.

He exhaled softly. “I’ve decided to hand over all my shares to Xavi Quinn for him to manage. I’m getting old; who knows if I’ll wake up tomorrow?”

A hush fell over the table—a spoon clattered to the floor.

All eyes turned to Xiao Xiufang, who forced a flustered smile. “Sorry, my hand slipped.”

A servant came to pick up the fallen spoon.

Qiao Jing had no objections. As the eldest son, the Qiao family fortune should by rights go to Xavier Quinn. Still, duty demanded that he respond. “Don’t speak like that, Father. You’ll live to a ripe old age!”

Old Master Qiao chuckled, “Whether I do or not isn’t important. What matters is that I’d like to see peace between father and son in my lifetime. Families shouldn’t harbor so many grudges—everything is easier if you just talk it out…”

The more he spoke, the more Xiao Xiufang’s expression soured. Panic crept in—if the relationship between Qiao Jing and Xavier Quinn thawed, then she and Qiao Linyue would have no standing left in the Qiao family.

Her hands clenched tightly under the table at the thought…

After dinner, Old Master Qiao called both Xavier Quinn and Qiao Jing upstairs. Lin Ning, having eaten a bit too much, decided to go for a walk to ease her full stomach.

She hadn’t gone far before she sensed someone following her. Glancing back, she found Xiao Xiufang.

Lin Ning’s gaze instantly darkened.

“Aunt Xiao, why are you following me?” She kept her guard up around Xiao Xiufang—she knew the woman too well to believe her intentions could be good.

Xiao Xiufang maintained her smile, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “I saw you come out alone and thought I’d keep you company.”

She certainly knew how to talk—no wonder she’d kept Qiao Jing wrapped around her finger all these years. She was sharp, that much was clear.

Lin Ning glanced warily around. Earlier, there had been servants in the courtyard—now, there was no one in sight. Only Xiao Xiufang stood before her.

She instinctively stepped back, putting more distance between them.

“Thank you for your concern, Aunt Xiao, but I’ll head back now.” With that, Lin Ning turned to leave.

Xiao Xiufang grabbed her arm, fixing her with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “What’s the rush? You’re almost due—you should be more careful. If something were to happen, it wouldn’t be good for you or the baby.”

There was unmistakable menace in her words. Lin Ning understood exactly what Xiao Xiufang was after. But even here, in the old family home—did she really mean to try something?

“Since you know how dangerous it is if anything happens, Aunt Xiao, why won’t you let me go?” Lin Ning lowered her gaze to the hand gripping her arm, her eyes icy cold.

Xiao Xiufang curled her lips. “I’m just worried you might fall. It’s safer if I support you.”

“Then I thank you for your concern,” Lin Ning replied, pulling her arm free and quickening her pace to leave.

Seeing Lin Ning hurry away, Xiao Xiufang was suddenly filled with inexplicable resentment. Remembering Old Master Qiao’s announcement and seeing Lin Ning’s pregnant belly, anger engulfed her. Acting before she could think, she reached out and tried to push Lin Ning…

But Lin Ning was ready, having kept a close eye on her. When Xiao Xiufang lunged, she swiftly stepped aside—falling straight into a protective embrace.

Caught off balance, Xiao Xiufang crashed to the ground, scraping her skin.

She jerked her head up, ready to lash out—only to find Qiao Jing standing before her.