The Old Madam trembled in rage. "How dare you blame me? How dare you question my methods!? If Xiurang couldn't keep her husband from straying off, then it is her fault that she failed so miserably! She failed in her duties as his wife. That is why he had to go outside to keep a mistress! Xiurang couldn't please him and you dare blame me? Why will I let there be a stain on the family's reputation if it's her fault!?"

  Jiang Xiurang stood frozen on her spot. She felt as if she couldn't breathe. Jiang Fai watched his mother's pale figure turning even more ghastly.

  That frustrated him to no end and he had an urge to punch someone.

  Lihua stared at her, feeling speechless. "That is outright disgusting!"

  Ruomei stepped forward and indignantly said, "Enough Lixue! Are you here to win everybody or sow discord among the family members? There is a limit to your indecency! You are just here to ruin this family!"

  "Shut up you delicate doll!" Lihua threateningly took a step forward and warned her. Ruomei unconsciously took a step back, feeling afraid.

  "You-you…" she pointed her shaking finger at her in disbelief. "What did you call me?"

  "A delicate doll who is ignorant of this world by living in her small tiny shell of bliss. So butt out!"

  She staggered with such humiliation and her face flushed red in embarrassment. Her big orbs were filled with tears.

  Lihua looked back at the Old Madam and put her hands on her waist. "In what age are you living? What do you mean that it's a woman's fault? A man cheated on his wife. You should be supporting your daughter and you are blaming her? What kind of a mother are you!?"

  "You…" The Old Madam's body was quivering akin to a volcano about to erupt.

  "If a man cannot control his horny member in his pants, it's not the wife's fault!"

  Everybody's eyes widened at the use of such crass words. In their family, there was a level of discipline and decorum and saying such words…


  Jiang Fai's mouth twitched and unknown to him, he almost broke into a chuckle. That was savage.

  Only Wei was unaffected. He even nodded his head in agreement.

  "Lixue!" She roared.

  "Stop shouting my name." Lihua didn't back off. "Tell me. You feel that it's Aunt's fault that he cheated on her. Then……hypothetically, if Aunt had cheated on him, would you have said that it was Uncle Li Tingzhe's fault? That he couldn't be a good husband?"

  The Old Madam widened her eyes. "I would have killed her myself if she had dared to have any outside relations!"

  "Hah! So it's Aunt's fault if she got cheated on and it's still her fault if she had cheated too? No matter what happens, Uncle Li Tingzhe will always be innocent? In either case, will it always be the woman's fault?"

  Her sharp words cut through the air, making everyone silent.

  The Old Madam felt as if she would die of anger any moment. "Stop with your nonsense! Don't interfere in matters where you are not supposed to!"

  Lihua put her hands on her waist. "I will. I am the daughter-in-law of this family now. I cannot see any member being treated like trash like this. So, I will stand up for Aunt."

  The Old Madam almost puked blood. "Trash? Xiurang should feel lucky that she can still live in such a luxurious house even after she disappointed me so terribly. This is already more than what she should have got and you say that I treat her as trash?"

  Jiang Xiurang self-deprecatingly smiled. A pang of sadness flickered in her eyes. The nerves on the back of Jiang Fai's hand slowly got visible as he listened to the argument.

  That is right……it is already enough that we have a place to live… Jiang Xiurang thought.

  "Just a place to live is not enough. You should treat her with respect and dignity too!"

  The Old Madam chuckled. "Respect and dignity? So what do you want I should do?"

  Lihua stepped forward and met her gaze straight. For a moment even Jiang Fai's breath got stuck in his throat.

  Lihua smiled. "Aunt should divorce that cheater."

  Jiang Xiurang widened her eyes and her lips parted in a big O. She sharply gasped and covered her mouth.

  In eleven years, nobody had uttered a word about her divorce. Nobody was supposed to talk about it.

  The Old Madam roared, making the staff jolt in fear. "Lixue! Don't cross your line!"

  It was bright and sunny outside, but the Jiang villa was covered in a thick sheet of threat and danger looming on top of it.

  Jiang Fai trembled. He looked at her in a daze, having mixed feelings.

  Ruomei rushed up to the Old Madam's side and supported her as she was trembling in rage. "Lixue, don't be out of your mind. It's for Aunt's own good. You have no idea how much Aunt will have to suffer humiliation if she gets divorced."

  Lihua chuckled. "She will not face any humiliation. In fact, she will be the role model for other women who want to get out of their toxic relationship but cannot gather the courage to do so. Nothing can force a woman to stay in a marriage where she doesn't want to."

  "You-"

  The Old Madam raised her palm. Ruomei immediately kept quiet and took a step back.

  The Old Madam smiled at Lihua. "Who told you that Xiurang wants to get out of her marriage and divorce Li Tingzhe?"

  Lihua suspiciously looked at her.

  The Old Madam turned her head and glanced at her daughter. She squinted her gaze as she took slow steps towards her. Jiang Xiurang jolted and shivered. Her sharp gaze made Jiang Xiurang's knees go weak.

  "Tell me, Xiurang. Do you want to divorce Li Tingzhe?"

  She stiffened. She wondered why she would ask this question after so many years.

  But she knew her mother well. She wasn't asking for her answer or opinion.

  It was a blatant threat to see if she dared to disagree with her.