"Put those clothes down right now. Do not sell them to this woman."

The shop assistants froze, uncertain whose orders to follow.

"What, you ask? She's using my grandson's card. I said she can't have them, so she can't."

Apparently, today's drama was turning into a family showdown. The shop assistants reluctantly put the clothes down, their hearts aching for lost commissions.

Cecilia Ye hurried over to steady her grandmother.

Vivian Belle's face drained of color. She never expected to run into the old lady here. So that's why Cecilia Ye was here—it was to shop with her grandmother.

If she’d known Mrs. Fu was present, she would have never used that tone. She’d be looking for ways to please her right now.

Mrs. Bai glanced at the elegant old woman, quickly realizing this was Fu Zhiyé's grandmother.

Her deep red lips curled into a fawning smile. "Oh, so it’s the in-laws! We’re all family here, a real family. Zhiyé is so fond of our Yuzhi—please, don’t be upset."

She tried to get close, only for the old lady to shoot her a glare that sent her right back to her spot.

Tch. Even the grannies of the Fu family are intimidating.

Vivian Belle quickly changed her approach. "Grandma Rivers, it’s me, Vivian Belle! We met at the birthday banquet. Ah Ye said I could pick out something I like!"

"Hah. Funny, just now I thought I heard a stray dog barking. Just because someone's holding a Fu family credit card, she thinks she belongs. Truth be told, in our family, even the drivers have cards. Only those who've never seen the world treat them like treasures."

This wasn’t any ordinary grandmother—she was a matriarch of high society. She’d seen all kinds of women trying to worm their way into the Fu family, and she’d known from the start that Cecilia Ye was special.

As for Vivian Belle, a single glance revealed her true intentions. The old lady wasn't falling for any of Vivian Belle's tricks.

"Grandma Rivers, how could you say that…I… I did save Ah Ye's life after all. You can't treat me like this."

Vivian Belle hadn't thought the old lady would be so blunt. Her pretty face faltered, but she quickly put on a look of aggrieved innocence—the expression she’d perfected.

"You saved our grandson? Never mind whether that’s true or not—even if it is, that doesn’t mean we have to marry you. No matter what you want, the Fu family can afford it."

The old lady stood tall and spoke with cold authority. Each word was final and unyielding.

Vivian Belle was left speechless. Even Mrs. Bai struggled to keep up appearances.

"Come now, madam, you can’t just bully our Yuzhi just because you’re older. We don’t care about your precious card. Our the Belle family might not be as grand as yours, but we can still afford a few dresses."

Mrs. Bai reached for her own wallet, her face turning sour.

The old lady calmly pulled out her phone from her small designer handbag. Unlike Mrs. Bai’s anxious movements, every gesture spoke of elegance.

She dialed a number. "Hello, Xiao Wang? Yes, it’s me."

Whatever was said on the other end wasn’t clear, but from the occasional snippets, it was plain the speaker was showing the utmost respect.

"Yes. Please see to it—the entire mall is not to sell a single thing to Vivian Belle or her mother. Not one item."

"Mm."

She hung up gracefully. Within seconds, the store phone rang. The staff answered and immediately looked nervous.

"Understood, ma’am. Yes, boss!"

She hung up, bowed respectfully to the old lady, and said, "I had no idea you were here, Madam Fu. I’m sorry. I’ll return these clothes to the racks right away."

The assistants quickly put everything back on the hangers.

Once finished, the manager turned and asked, "Madam Fu, would you like us to call security?"

Vivian Belle, watching all this unfold, was so furious she couldn’t speak. Her whole "delicate" act was falling apart.

"Fine, whatever! We don’t want your things. I’ll just have Ah Ye buy me diamonds, buy me jewelry. Hmph!"

She stormed off, dragging Mrs. Bai with her.

The old lady shook her head, massaging her temples. Such nerve, that girl.

She patted Cecilia Ye’s hand. "Don’t worry, dear. Women like that are a dime a dozen in this world. No need to let her upset you."

"I’m not upset, Grandma Rivers," Cecilia Ye replied.

She wasn’t truly mad at Vivian Belle. The truth was, she knew she’d lost—even being this calm in front of Vivian Belle took effort.

Just that one line—Ah Ye spent the whole night with me—was enough to shatter her composure.

The truth she couldn’t bear to admit: it was Fu Zhiyé’s heart she’d lost.

The old lady let out a sigh. She’d lost the urge to keep shopping.

"Let’s go home. Call Fu Zhiyé and tell him to come back right away."

Cecilia Ye hesitated. "Grandma Rivers…"

"Ha! Look how bold these women are, showing up at my doorstep. It seems Fu Zhiyé is really something now."

Today, if she hadn’t been there, who knew how these two-faced women would have bullied her Cecilia.

The ride home was silent, all traces of earlier excitement gone.

Cecilia Ye stared out the window, remembering how Fu Zhiyé looked last night as he left.

See? Vivian Belle gets a tiny scratch and can still go shopping, but Fu Zhiyé spent the whole night tending to her.

She’d hardly ever spent Fu Zhiyé’s money. The card he’d given her sat unused in her drawer.

She used to have no income, but she also never bought luxury goods. The Fu family provided plenty. There was nothing she needed.

Once she learned to paint and earn her own money, she needed it even less.

Only now did she realize how it felt to have another woman flaunting her power right in front of her.

The pain had numbed her to the point of apathy.

Winters in Newbridge (Beijing) are bitterly cold, and this year felt colder than any she could remember.

Back home, Grandma Rivers sat in the living room. Normally, it was Grandpa Rivers who got angry, not her. If Vivian Belle hadn’t gone too far today, Grandma Rivers wouldn’t have bothered.

Cecilia Ye carried her purchases upstairs, then called Fu Zhiyé.

The phone was picked up after a single ring.

"Hello? What’s up?"

It was his voice, so familiar. He was probably still at work—she could hear the keyboard clacking in the background.

"Hi, Zhiyé. Grandma Rivers wants you to come home for a bit."

She was surprised by her own feelings: just a day without hearing his voice, and she already missed him.

That realization only made her feel more desolate.

"Is something wrong?" Fu Zhiyé sounded startled—it was only just past four.

"Grandma Rivers found out about last night. About you staying over with Vivian Belle. You’d better come home, don’t make her angry."

Fu Zhiyé’s tone sharpened. "You told her?"

"..."

Cecilia Ye didn’t know what to say. Did he really think she’d betray him to his grandmother?

She took a slow breath, doing her best to keep steady. "Fu Zhiyé, is that really what you think of me?"

She couldn’t help feeling wronged. She’d always tried to protect him, but in the end, he thought she’d been the one to wreck things.

"I’ve already signed the divorce papers. I’ve moved out. I never meant to interfere with you and Vivian Belle, and I won’t."

"Okay." Perhaps realizing he’d been unfair, Fu Zhiyé’s reply softened. "I’ll be home soon."

It wasn’t long before he arrived. Seeing his grandmother sitting in the living room with a stormy face, his brows knitted together tightly.