The two exchanged a few words and Jiayi watched Anya enter the room, then went downstairs.

When Huo Zhenyang saw her coming down alone, his brows slightly furrowed, just as he was about to speak, Jiayi had already started, "Let’s go."

Huo Zhenyang raised his eyebrow: "Go?"

She nodded: "Anya has decided to stay until she gives birth to the baby."

Huo Zhenyang said no more. The person involved had already made a decision.

Si Yuheng’s voice was cold as he said, "Escort Mr. Huo and Miss Jiayi."

~

Walking outside the villa, it was already early in the morning.

The night in the suburbs was thick and sticky, with few street lights for illumination, and the surrounding lush trees made it so dark that you couldn’t see your own hand.

Jiayi had taken a few steps when she felt his large hand grip hers, as if fearing she might fall.

Without thinking, she did not resist, her mind elsewhere, quietly letting him lead her to the side of the Bentley.

It wasn’t until he opened the passenger door that she came to her senses, gently removing her hand from his palm: "Thank you for tonight. There’s nothing else, I won’t trouble you further. I’ll go back on my own."

A frost seemed to form over Huo Zhenyang’s face: "Go back by yourself? Do you mean to walk back to the city on foot?"

She was startled for a moment, surveying the surroundings.

In the early morning suburbs, there wasn’t a taxi in sight.

Walking to a place where there might be vehicles would probably take until midnight.

She was still hesitating, but he had already opened the car door impatiently: "Get in."

She had no choice but to bend over and get into the car.

As the car drove away, Jiayi watched the villa in the night through the window.

Although she didn’t bring Anya back today, she felt somewhat relieved by Anya’s own decision.

Huo Zhenyang’s hand rested on the steering wheel, driving steadily forward, his peripheral gaze catching the young woman in the mirror still looking back, he spoke in a deep voice: "Still worried about Liang Anya?"

She collected her thoughts, withdrew her gaze, sat up straight, shaking her head: "No."

"Is that so." He turned the steering wheel, his expression unconvinced, "Then why do you still look so preoccupied?"

Women always say one thing but mean another, this young woman was not an exception.

If she was still worried about Liang Anya, and said something, he would send someone tomorrow to continue dealing with Si Yuheng to bring Liang Anya back.

Jiayi paused, preoccupied? Perhaps.

Had she worn her emotions so visibly on her face...

Perhaps seeing Anya finally decided not to have an abortion, and willing to have the child, she was poignantly reminded of her own child that had died young.

If that child had lived, it might have been born around the same time as Anya’s.

Now, Anya’s baby would be born in just over three months, but her own baby was gone forever.

Her eyelashes trembled lightly, drooping down.

Ever since she learned of Anya’s pregnancy, she had been making soups and delicious meals for Anya, not only because of their relationship but also due to an indescribable reason...

Having just lost a child herself, while Anya had a new life, perhaps it was fate?

In this transference of feelings, she placed onto Anya’s child what she had lost, as if to make up for her own child’s loss.

It feels like there’s always a voice whispering in the depths of my heart, baby, it’s because daddy and mummy didn’t take good care of you, we were too careless, that you never had the chance to see the sunlight.

Seeing Anya finally making a decision tonight, she inevitably stirred up the scars from a few months ago.

Sometimes it is just like that.

Things that happened a long time ago, maybe under the influence of a small incident, can abruptly burst forth like a river overturning the seas.

It was a while later that she managed to control the torrent of emotions in her heart and calmly replied: "Nothing. I don’t have any worries. I am very relieved about Anya."

The light inside the car was dim, but Huo Zhenyang could still see that her complexion had lost all its color, turning extremely pale.

Looking from the side, there was even a misty dampness on her long eyelashes.

If the matter has been resolved, why this reaction?

His expression slightly shifted, and he accelerated the speed of the car.

The tires rolled over the ground, and the Bentley sped along the quiet and empty streets in the early morning.

Jiayi’s mood hadn’t fully recovered yet, and she hadn’t paid much attention to the direction of the car, but when her mood stabilized, she looked out the window and realized they had already driven back to Disheng.

She wasn’t particularly concerned, since Zaizai was still here; anyway, she had to pick up Zaizai before returning to Green Island Garden.

Upon entering Huo Mansion, the Bentley parked, and Jiayi unbuckled her seatbelt and got out of the car.

Walking into the villa, she saw Zaizai sleeping on the couch like a little pig.

He must have been watching cartoons while waiting for her and fell asleep watching them.

She walked over, picked up Little Baozi, greeted Auntie Li, and headed for the door, but right in the entranceway, she bumped into Huo Zhenyang who had just parked the car and come inside.

She stopped for a moment and greeted: "I’m going home first."

After speaking, as she was about to pass by him, he stretched out his long arm, blocking her path: "This is your home, where else are you thinking of going?"

She was afraid he would take advantage of the inch given because he had helped her tonight and then make some excessive demands, and sure enough, he did.

She should not have believed this man would be so kindly charitable.

"Mr. Huo, thanks again for tonight. I have done what you wanted previously, and for any other demands, please restrain yourself," she said, holding Zaizai and stepping back.

"Just sitting on my lap and hugging me and that’s it? So my personal intervention is this cheap?" he raised his hand, "Auntie Li, take the young master upstairs to sleep."

Jiayi backed away alertly: "Mr. Huo, please remember the terms of your divorce agreement, I have the custody of Zaizai! You can’t do this!"

"But the terms also say I have the right to see him periodically, right? It’s too late tonight, I don’t want my son out in the cold night air; staying over for one night, what’s the problem?" he said resolutely.

A surge of indignation flushed Jiayi’s cheeks; of course, she knew he was preparing to use Zaizai to hold her back.

If Zaizai stayed, of course, she wouldn’t feel at ease, and she would stay as well.

Saying it’s just for tonight, who knows what excuse this man will come up with tomorrow?

She insisted: "No, I’ve driven here, he won’t be exposed to the wind."

While they were in a deadlock, there came a lazy yawning voice from upstairs: "Hey... in the dead of night, what are you making noise about, can’t you let people sleep in peace?"

The awakened Qiao Yongyong, wearing a silk pajama, walked out from the guest room, leaned on the railing, and gazed down with sleepy, attractive eyes.

Seeing Qiao Yongyong, Jiayi’s eyes darkened further, and her lips curled up in a cynical smile: "Zaizai and I are inconvenient here, and might disrupt Mr. Huo’s private life."

Huo Zhenyang glared fiercely at Qiao Yongyong on the stairs with a murderous look, cursing why she had to come out in the middle of the night.

She’s ruining his plan!

He turned to Jiayi: "She is just a guest, what’s the inconvenience?"