Chapter 8: Divorce Her

Zhao Jiagu was the first to see Chen Shuilian step out. The moment he saw her, he immediately plastered a smile on his face and rushed toward her.

“Mother, why are you out here? You should rest inside for now. Let me bring you dinner in a little while.”

His eagerness to please seemed completely at odds with the fact that just a short time ago, he had been hit on the head by Chen Shuilian with a stone pillow.

He acted as though he didn’t care at all that she was still angry. But then again, when had Zhao Jiagu ever had a real fallout with his mother?

Even if she was upset for a moment, a few sweet words would calm her down, and everything would return to normal. He was still her favorite son.

See? Chen Shuilian truly doted on him. It wasn’t an exaggeration to say she had always been heart and soul with him, which was why Zhao Jiagu didn’t feel the slightest hesitation.

“You don’t need to help me. I can walk just fine,” Chen Shuilian said, swatting his hand away with clear distaste.

Zhao Jiagu stared at the hand she had rejected, looking somewhat shocked. Was she still angry?

But that didn’t matter. He knew exactly how to handle her. He understood her weaknesses all too well, and manipulating her was second nature.

Zhao Jiagu quickly adjusted his demeanor and smiled even more brightly. “Mother, why are you still angry with me? I came back today with some great news! If it weren’t for this jealous woman causing trouble and making you bump your head, you’d be smiling by now.”

“Me? Smile?” Chen Shuilian gave a light laugh, then pointed at Liu Hong with a mocking expression. “How could I smile after seeing her?”

Liu Hong was visibly uncomfortable under the intense glare and stomped her foot in frustration.

Zhao Jiagu quickly shot her an apologetic glance, then continued, “Mother, please hear me out. This is Liu Hong. She’s from the county, and now she’s carrying my child. I want to marry her as soon as possible!”

Chen Shuilian immediately put her hands on her hips and began scolding, “Dream on! The Zhao family can’t afford a woman like this. Look at how society has declined. She’s already had the audacity to do something so shameless before marriage. That shows what kind of woman she is—an utterly shameless, loose woman! Who knows what other kinds of disgraceful things she might do in the future? Oh wait, with her licentious nature, she’s bound to continue this behavior!”

“Don’t be so sure that the child in her belly is even yours. Don’t go playing the fool and becoming a ‘sugar daddy’ to someone else’s mess!”

“Mother! How can you say such things?!”

No one likes being unjustly accused, especially Zhao Jiagu. His face turned red with anger as he retorted, “Liu Hong is not as bad as you think! I can assure you, the child in her womb is mine! We’ve been living together for the past six months!”

“Oh, you’re such a good son,” Chen Shuilian mocked. “In these six months, how often have you come home? I guess all your time has been spent with this little tramp, huh? Can you even tell who your real wife is? You don’t even bother to come home and check on your mother, and now you’re running around with this… thing?”

She pointed toward Wang Miaomiao, who was standing alone not far away. “Your wife is a good woman, isn’t she? Kind and virtuous. What’s the matter? Do you think the trash outside tastes better than what’s at home?”

Wang Miaomiao, overhearing this, looked up in shock. She stared at Chen Shuilian in disbelief, unable to comprehend that her mother-in-law was actually speaking up for her. It felt like her heart, which had been tightly wound with anxiety, finally relaxed a little.

But that relief was short-lived.

No, something felt off. This had to be a show for her benefit. Chen Shuilian had never liked her—no matter what Miaomiao did, she always received cold treatment. Her mother-in-law had always adored her son, so why would she suddenly take her side over this? Could it be that she was trying to protect her son’s reputation?

Miaomiao’s unease returned as she listened closely to their exchange.

What truly chilled her heart was seeing Zhao Jiagu, the man she loved, completely unable to tolerate anyone speaking ill of his mother. He straightened his neck and fired back at his mother, “Mother, please calm down. Liu Hong and I truly love each other. She’s not as bad as you think. Besides, didn’t you always want a grandson? Liu Hong and I went to see a specialist, and this baby is definitely a boy. The Zhao family will finally have an heir!”

After finishing his speech, Zhao Jiagu waved his hand. “Come here, Liu Hong, let mother see your belly.”

Liu Hong slowly walked up, and Zhao Jiagu immediately helped her. “Mother, take a look. In just a few months, your grandson will be born.”

Chen Shuilian gave Liu Hong’s belly a cold glance, then turned her eyes back to Zhao Jiagu. She had to admit, this son of hers really knew how to manipulate her. He had learned all her weaknesses, just as he did in the past life.

But Chen Shuilian was no longer the same as she once was. This grandson? She could do without him. Did they really think a child could be used to control her?

It was true that the two of them had raised a spoiled, arrogant child in the past. And she believed, if this child was anything like his parents, their future would be far from peaceful.

Life truly was a cycle of cause and effect…

This life, she vowed to be a better person.

Zhao Jiagu, seeing that Chen Shuilian had remained silent, thought things were settled. He felt a sense of triumph within. He knew that no matter how angry she was, the promise of a grandchild would work in his favor.

After a brief pause, Chen Shuilian finally spoke. Her voice seemed to soften slightly.

“What are your plans? What do you intend to do from here?”

Zhao Jiagu, relieved by her calm demeanor, let go of his previous tension and returned to his usual cheerful self. He even appeared somewhat smug, as if the matter wasn’t as serious as it actually was.

He casually stated, “Since you’ve asked, I’ll be honest with you. I brought Liu Hong back today because I want to marry her as soon as possible. My son! He can’t be born without a father.”

He emphasized the word “son,” making sure to remind Chen Shuilian of the importance of this.

Chen Shuilian responded coldly, “And what about Miaomiao? What are you going to do about her?”

Liu Hong immediately pinched Zhao Jiagu’s waist, signaling him with a subtle gesture. The meaning was clear.

Zhao Jiagu, understanding her signal, responded confidently, “Naturally, I’ll divorce her! Liu Hong doesn’t want to share a husband with another woman.”

When Liu Hong heard this, a satisfied smile finally crossed her face.