Jiayi had been shocked by the scene and took a while before glancing at the man beside her, this was more than just watching a drama, it was watching a spectacle.

Gamblers lose their humanity; they have no sense of family.

Failing to gain advantage from Mu Qingran, Mu Derun was desperately frenzied. It didn’t matter to him whether he exposed his daughter’s past scandals or even sold her off.

Just when she was stunned, Huo Zhenyang had already tightly grasped her hand, ready to leave first.

The order was somewhat chaotic now, and he was afraid she might get accidentally hurt.

At this moment, Mu Qingran snapped out of her horror. Watching the once lively and luxurious atmosphere empty out, with only disdainful whispers around her, she exploded like an enraged tigress and turned to Mu Derun:

"Why, why are you doing this to me! I’m your own daughter! You’ve ruined me, can you get any money? Have you gone mad?"

Mu Derun sneered, "I may be mad, but not as mad as you, plotting to kill your own father. You drove me to do this!"

Mu Qingran was dumbfounded. What did he mean by that? When had she ever sent someone to run him over?

She loathed Mu Derun and wished him dead, but she had never acted on it.

She went through everything in her mind—

Why did Huo Zhenxuan know she had added metolazone to the red wine?

Why did Mu Derun find out about her marriage so quickly? Why had he turned against her?

How did he manage to sneak into the hotel today?

He was clearly tied up by security, so how did he manage to come out and expose her at the banquet? 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

Clearly, someone was manipulating everything behind the scenes, stirring it all up!

She turned her head and met Jiayi’s gaze. She understood then!

It was Jiayi! It was Jiayi and Huo Zhenyang!

This wretch, came back just to make her look bad!

She wouldn’t dare lash out at Huo Zhenyang, but with a fierce roar, she swung her hand toward Jiayi’s face: "It’s you! You ruined me!"

Mu Qingran’s hand was still in the air, not yet touching the girl’s delicate face when it was caught by a steel-like grip of the man beside her, causing her bones to crack and she screamed in pain: "Ah, my hand... it hurts! My hand is going to break..."

Huo Zhenyang had already stepped forward, shielding Jiayi, his handsome face thunderous with rage that horrified Mu Qingran, sparing no strength in his hand: "You must have a death wish."

In his presence, to think of harming his woman, did Mu Qingran believe herself to be a cat with nine lives?

Mu Qingran trembled with fear until the man relaxed his fingertips, and she slipped away from his iron grasp, retreating several steps.

Huo Zhenyang glanced toward the Huo Family’s bodyguards.

The bodyguards got the message, ready to drag Mu Qingran away, but Jiayi stepped forward and tugged gently at Huo Zhenyang, shaking her head silently.

Seeing Mu Qingran in her current state, was there any need for the bodyguards to make a move?

Huo Zhenyang furrowed his brows, but he took the girl’s soft hand and raised an eyebrow, then finally signaled the bodyguards to stand down.

Mu Qingran didn’t dare to step forward again.

The chill and fury on the man’s face had clearly told her—not to say harming Jiayi, but even if she touched her again, he would make her life miserable, with no peace in death.

Mu Qingran’s eyelashes suddenly gathered tears, trembling as she spoke, "Did you arrange all of this, Zhenyang? I can’t marry you anymore, so why are you still hurting me like this? We have been together in the past, even if there is no affection now, you must have loved me at least a little back when we were together, right?"

Huo Zhenyang leaned in and held her gaze but did not let go of Jiayi’s intertwined fingers beside him, his lips releasing a cool breath as he said,

"No, I have never loved you, not even a little bit of affection, and even when I was with you, it was with disgust. When I agreed to be with you upon Yao Zhenru’s introduction, it was just to see how Yao Zhenru planned to use you to scheme against me. I never expected her measures to be so mediocre. Letting you steal the bidding documents was because I was tired of that game, and I intentionally allowed you to steal them so I could find an excuse to break up with you, and so you could turn against Yao Zhenru as well... Otherwise, how do you think I could have turned around such a big business without the bidding documents? I had already prepared for that. So, how about it, was this game fun for you?"

Jiayi suddenly felt a chill, looking towards the man beside her.

She had originally thought that when he was with Mu Qingran years ago, there must have been love, and it was only because of Mu Qingran’s betrayal that he was hurt, which was why he despised Mu Qingran now.

She hadn’t expected that his past with Mu Qingran was nothing but a ploy to test his stepmother.

The depth of Huo Zhenyang’s thoughts made her feel a chill throughout her body, and even... terrified.

As detestable as Mu Qingran was, she truly seemed somewhat pitiful!

From the beginning to the end, she was nothing but a pawn used in the secret power struggle between Yao Zhenru and Huo Zhenyang as mother and son.

This man, does he even have feelings?

Are all feelings, in his eyes, just pawns in the game of power and favoritism?

Meanwhile, Mu Qingran’s face turned ghastly white.

The truth of many years spilled from the man’s lips like stars in the wintry sky, piercing and chilling Mu Qingran’s heart completely.

Although Huo Zhenyang had been avoiding her, Mu Qingran could comfort herself with the sweetness of their past, telling herself that this man had once cared for her, had once loved her.

But now, she realized from the start to the breakup, it was all a manipulation controlled by this man’s whims!

Mu Qingran’s body slumped to the ground.

Huo Zhenyang, like an emperor who had just witnessed an entertaining play, stood tall and proud, took a step forward, pulling Jiayi with him, and left with long strides.

Watching the man’s retreating figure, Mu Qingran felt complete despair.

This man, she had utterly lost him, no, not lost for she had never truly had him.

And her future—ruined as well.

Her gaze shifted, falling on Mu Derun, who was trying to sneak away, anger rising again!

She struggled to her feet, caught up with her father, raised her arms, and began to pound on him in a frenzy, "You lousy gambler! Why are you so foolish! Why do you fall so easily into others’ traps! My whole life has been ruined by your hands!"

Mu Derun was tremendously angry, trying to shake off his daughter’s grasp.

Using too much force, Mu Qingran was violently thrown to the ground, feeling a sharp pain in her lower abdomen, she clutched her stomach and started to roll on the floor, "Ow... it hurts... ah... my child... my child..."

Female guests who hadn’t managed to leave the scene screamed upon seeing the blood on the floor, "Ah... Her water broke, she looks like she’s about to give birth..."

Although Huo Tianpei was extremely angry at the moment, hearing that his grandchild was about to be born, he still felt a stir in his heart. Despite loathing Mu Qingran, he couldn’t just ignore his grandchild.

He momentarily suppressed his anger towards Mu Qingran, his face grim, "Take her to the hospital!"

At the same time, Huo Zhenyang led Jiayi by the hand, exiting the Shenghua Grand Hotel.

Just then, George had already driven the car to the front door.