Volume One, Chapter One: Without Me, What Are You Worth!

Lin Zhiwan had stayed in the hospital for a week. On the day she was discharged, she overheard the nurses at the station gossiping.

They said she had undergone an abortion alone, stayed hospitalized for so many days, yet not a single family member came to visit her—it was truly pitiful.

Some even speculated that she was a hidden mistress, caught by the legitimate wife, forced to quietly come to the hospital to terminate the pregnancy and settle matters with money.

Her lowered hand instinctively clenched as she glanced at her abdomen.

The doctor had clearly said she was recovering well, yet why could she still feel that tearing pain deep within her flesh?

She put on her sunglasses to hide the exhaustion in her eyes and left the hospital.

Returning to Imperial View Garden, Lin Zhiwan went straight to the bedroom on the second floor.

The room was just as she had left it, indicating Fu Yanzhou still hadn’t come back.

But she no longer had the strength to care where he was or which woman’s bed he was lingering in.

She was truly exhausted.

After taking a few melatonin pills, she finally fell into a peaceful sleep.

She dreamt again of that day a week ago—blood gushing beneath her and a phone call that could never be answered…

“Baby!”

Lin Zhiwan awoke with a start from the nightmare, opening her eyes to the familiar bedroom.

She stayed still for a long time, staring at the ceiling.

That heart-wrenching pain pierced from her abdomen through her heart and spread throughout her body.

A knock came at the door. Before she could respond, it was pushed open.

“Madam, the master called. He said he’ll be home tonight. You should get up and prepare dinner.”

Lin Zhiwan blinked the tears from her eyes, her voice hoarse.

“I’m not feeling well. Have the kitchen prepare it, please!”

She turned over, facing away.

But the maid was insistent, coming to the bedside.

“That won’t do! Miss loves your cooking the most. Master rarely comes home. He’s only back this once, so you must seize the chance to win the hearts of father and daughter!”

With that, Zhang Ma stepped forward, trying to pull her up.

Lin Zhiwan frowned and brushed the maid’s hand away.

“I said I’m not feeling well!”

She pointed to the door. “Get out!”

The maid hadn’t expected Lin Zhiwan to suddenly lose her temper.

Sulking, she withdrew her hand, muttering,

“What’s the use of getting mad at me? When Master returns, you’ll be clinging to him as always!”

Her voice was loud enough for Lin Zhiwan to hear it all.

Indeed, even the maid knew that once Fu Yanzhou came back, Lin Zhiwan would bustle about, personally arranging everything—from clothes to food and lodging—just to catch his eye.

But that man never looked at her.

This marriage was nothing more than the Fu family needing a wife of suitable background, Fu Yanzhou wanting a beautiful spouse, and Fu Jin Xing needing someone to care for her mother…

Lin Zhiwan curled up, clutching her empty belly tightly.

But today, she only wished to be a woman who had lost her child.

The sleeping pills took effect, and she slipped into a deep sleep once more.

When she woke, she heard rustling nearby.

The man quickly pressed himself against her. His kisses were scorching and forceful, his large hands swiftly stripping off her robe.

He had always been like this, never considering Lin Zhiwan’s feelings.

“No… don’t touch me…”

Lin Zhiwan pushed against his chest.

Fu Yanzhou was caught up in the moment, mistaking her resistance for teasing desire.

He grabbed her slender wrist, raising it above her head, and kissed her soft lips.

Her position was humiliating; she turned her face away, dodging his kiss.

A flicker of displeasure crossed Fu Yanzhou’s eyes. Seeing she truly refused, his enthusiasm faded.

He wasn’t cruel enough to force her.

He rolled off the bed, grabbed a robe nearby, tied it casually around his waist, and sat on the low bench by the window, lighting a cigarette.

The robe she wore was already in shreds. She got up, clumsily tidied her clothes, and spoke.

“Fu Yanzhou, let’s divorce.”

He slowly exhaled a cloud of smoke, his strikingly handsome face darkening with coldness.

“Divorce?”

He laughed as if hearing a joke.

“Without the title of ‘Mrs. Fu,’ what else could you be?”

His cold eyes swept over her, his index finger tapping the ash onto the soft carpet.

“I was just taking the child abroad for a trip. What tantrum are you throwing?

The maid said you were away for a week and just came back today. What, are you threatening me with running away?”

Lin Zhiwan bitterly smiled to herself:

Taking their daughter abroad, was it really necessary to bring along the female secretary too?

If this were before, she would have placed that woman’s social media right in front of Fu Yanzhou and demanded an explanation!

But now, there was no need.

“I was in the hospital this week. I wasn’t feeling well,” Lin Zhiwan said calmly.

She was about to tell Fu Yanzhou about losing the child when the door suddenly opened.

“You’re awake? I want to eat the cookies you make!”

The little girl ran in barefoot wearing a pink nightgown.

Lin Zhiwan bent down and looked at her gently.

“Jinxing, Auntie needs to talk to Daddy about something. How about we bake cookies together tomorrow?”

“No, no! I want to make them now!”

Fu Jinxing had always been spoiled since she was little and wouldn’t obediently leave.

As Lin Zhiwan was about to coax her, the man spoke from beside them.

“We’ll talk about it tomorrow. She’s been asking for cookies all the way here. You should go and bake with her.”

If it were before, Lin Zhiwan would have cheerfully accompanied Jinxing downstairs early on. But having just had surgery, she was too weak to care for a five-year-old.

“I’m not feeling well. Besides, I want to talk to you about our child,” she said.

Fu Yanzhou’s expression instantly changed.

Irritated, he stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray and looked at Lin Zhiwan with eyes like a deep, still pool concealing turbulent currents beneath.

“I told you, I’m not having any more children!

You just need to take good care of Jinxing!

Don’t get any wild ideas!”

He pulled a card from his wallet and tossed it onto the table.

“Take this and stop making trouble.”

Fu Yanzhou left the bedroom.

Jinxing, always thoughtful for her age, took a step back, putting some distance between her and Lin Zhiwan.

“You made Daddy unhappy again!

Let’s see what happens this time!”

The little girl squinted, her cold and proud expression mirroring her father’s perfectly.

She stuck out her tongue at Lin Zhiwan and bounced out of the room.

At last, the bedroom fell silent.

A cold wind blew in through the window; this luxurious room felt like an ice cellar, utterly devoid of warmth.

Lin Zhiwan glanced outside. In the pitch-black night, only a few distant lights flickered.

She pulled out an invitation from her bag. Soon, a grand auction would be held in Kyoto, and the organizers wanted to invite her to be the auctioneer.

She hadn’t immediately accepted because the event was large-scale, and Fu Yanzhou would definitely attend.

He forbade her from working.

Before, she had valued Fu Yanzhou above all else, considering him her everything, giving up the career she once took pride in.

But now...

Lin Zhiwan recalled what Fu Yanzhou had said earlier: without the title of Mrs. Fu, she was nothing.

If that was the case, then she didn’t want that title after all.