Qiao Jing stared at her coldly, his voice like ice. "What were you just doing?"

Hearing his voice, Xiao Xiufang froze. She scrambled up from the ground, her expression guilty. Facing Qiao Jing's questioning gaze, she pointed at Nina Shaw. "It was Nina Shaw—she pushed me just now."

She had no idea when Qiao Jing and the others had arrived; she only knew she could never let him discover what she had actually been thinking.

Just moments ago, hatred had filled her heart—she wanted nothing more than to destroy Nina Shaw. That way, Xavier Quinn would be utterly defeated. But thoughts like these… how could she let Qiao Jing find out?

"I was just worried about her being alone at night, so I came to keep her company. Who knew she'd get angry and push me over…"

She was still busy making excuses, utterly unaware that Qiao Jing had witnessed the whole scene himself.

Tonight, Old Master Qiao and Nina Shaw had set up this whole scenario—it was all so Qiao Jing could finally see what kind of woman Xiao Xiufang truly was.

The more she said, the darker Qiao Jing's expression became.

"Still trying to make excuses!" Qiao Jing roared, his face twisted in disappointment.

Xiao Xiufang was stunned by his outburst. She had no idea what he'd seen and kept defending herself. "I'm not lying! It's all her—they set me up together..."

A sharp slap echoed through the room. Xiao Xiufang, shocked, clutched her face and stared at Qiao Jing in disbelief.

"I saw it all with my own eyes, and you're still spewing nonsense! How can you be so venomous? You'd even harm a pregnant woman!" Qiao Jing glared at her, heartbroken. If he hadn't seen it himself, maybe he never would've believed Xiao Xiufang capable of such a thing.

Old Master Qiao had deliberately arranged all this to show Qiao Jing the truth. For years, he'd tried to warn him, but Qiao Jing never listened—now, seeing it with his own eyes, there could be no doubt.

"Now you can see for yourself what kind of person she is. How you handle this next is up to you," Old Master Qiao said, glancing at Nina Shaw, who was cradled in Xavier Quinn's arms. His voice softened. "Ning Ning, were you frightened just now?"

Nina Shaw shook her head. "No, I'm fine." She had known Xavier Quinn would show up, so she hadn't been afraid.

Qiao Linyue came rushing in from inside the house, saw his mother in tears, and assumed Xavier Quinn had bullied her. Balling his fists, he charged over, ready to fight, but Xavier Quinn easily shoved him aside.

"Xavier Quinn! My mom's always been good to you—why treat her like this?" he growled, brimming with anger.

Xavier Quinn said nothing, just shot him a frosty look.

"If your mom really cared about him, she wouldn't have pushed me," Nina Shaw cut in, exposing the truth. Xiao Xiufang's push was nothing but an attempt to stop her from giving birth safely.

Any accident befalling her would devastate Xavier Quinn completely. And that was what she called 'being good to him'?

Qiao Linyue was stunned. He turned to look at Xiao Xiufang, who was still crying—a hint of doubt flickering on his face, as if silently asking her if what Nina Shaw said was true.

Qiao Jing's face was utterly black now, his voice booming: "Tell me—why did you push Nina Shaw? You've enjoyed every luxury in the Qiao family for years; why can't you be content?"

His chest heaved with anger. Xavier Quinn called for a servant to bring antihypertensive medicine, but Qiao Jing refused, eyes still glued to Xiao Xiufang.

After a moment, Xiao Xiufang looked up and let out a cold laugh, her voice tinged with self-mockery. "Content? You really think I should be content? Lin Yue is a Qiao, but he has nothing! I might appear to live in luxury, but who in this family truly cares for me?"

"Haven't you had enough?" Qiao Jing asked, his tone saturated with disappointment. He had always imagined her as sympathetic and understanding—never did he expect her to harbor such insatiable ambition.

"No! We're both Qiao blood—so why should he get so much, while my son is fated to live out his life in mediocrity?" Her voice was nearly hysterical now, years of pent-up resentment finally spilling forth.

"Because Xavi Quinn's mother was the Qiao family's legal daughter-in-law." Old Master Qiao's voice rang out, full of authority. "Do you remember who you were before? Everything you have now, Qiao Jing gave you. Don't let your greed get the better of you."

Back then, she'd only been a lowly office worker. Thanks to her looks, she latched on to Qiao Jing. After Xavier Quinn's mother died of illness, she smoothly took her place, but Old Master Qiao never let Qiao Jing include her in the Qiao family genealogy.

Xiao Xiufang lowered her head and gave a small, bitter laugh. Yes, she had originally chosen to be with Qiao Jing for wealth and status. But over time, her ambitions kept growing—she wanted her son to inherit the Qiao fortune. But that, she realized, was never going to happen. The Qiaos weren't fools; Old Master Qiao had been onto her for a long time.

Xavier Quinn gave Qiao Linyue a cold, hard look. "You've been secretly funneling money into that overseas company for a while now, haven't you? Planning your escape already?"

Qiao Linyue stiffened—he thought he'd hidden the whole thing perfectly. How did Xavier Quinn find out?

Qiao Jing was livid. He jabbed an accusatory finger at Qiao Linyue. "Well, aren't you two something...? How did I never realize just how cunning you both were?"

He gave a strained, self-deprecating laugh—tone full of regret and exhaustion.

Old Master Qiao gave a weary sigh. "Enough. These matters are yours to handle now; I'm too old to deal with this kind of trouble." With that, he turned and walked away.

Xavier Quinn wrapped Nina Shaw in his arms, holding her protectively as he glanced coldly at Xiao Xiufang and her son, then walked out with her.

Whatever happened next, it was all up to Qiao Jing—who stayed and who left, he would have to decide for himself.

Nina Shaw walked a few steps with Xavier Quinn before suddenly feeling something wrong in her belly. She tightened her grip on his hand.

Xavier Quinn immediately sensed her discomfort and asked anxiously, "Ning, what's wrong?"

A wave of pain hit her, and cold sweat beaded her forehead. "I—I think the baby's coming…"

The baby was due in two weeks, but now it seemed determined to arrive early. The news caught everyone off guard.

Xavier Quinn immediately panicked. He called the driver and rushed Nina Shaw to the hospital.

What followed was a long, nerve-wracking wait.

As soon as the Shaw family learned Nina Shaw was in labor, they immediately boarded a helicopter from Ancheng, flying to her side.

Outside the delivery room, Father and Mother Li waited anxiously, while Xavier Quinn stood nervous, brows furrowed, on edge the whole night.

At exactly 8:08 the next morning, the doctor finally came out with good news.

"Congratulations. Both mother and child are healthy and safe."