Chapter 7

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

The air was tense. Xu Wan could sense some deep estrangement and hostility between Qiao Chen, Eldest Master Qiao, and Second Master Qiao. After Master Qiao left, the conflict between the brothers became more and more obvious.

She could not help but take a step back, hoping to be left out of the picture—she did not want to be associated with the Qiao family anymore.

Unexpectedly, her body fidgeted a bit. Qiao Chen immediately noticed her. The woman beside Qiao Chen exclaimed coquettishly, “Brother Chen1 , is this Miss Xu? I heard that Miss Xu used to be your fiancée. Did I come at the wrong time today? What if Miss Xu sees me and gets angry?”

Bai Zhen stared at Xu Wan with shining eyes. Although she asked if she should leave first, she grasped Qiao Chen’s arm even more tightly. Her entire body was half-pressed against Qiao Chen’s. She wished everyone would see how intimate she was with Qiao Chen.

Qiao Chen snorted coldly. “She has nothing to do with me now. Second Brother, please remember this clearly in the future. My girlfriend is Bai Zhen. Don’t get me involved with Xu Wan. Both of you better show some respect to Bai Zhen.”

Qiao Chen’s protectiveness was simply off the charts. Bai Zhen instantly gazed at him with admiration and infatuation. The affection shown in her eyes was disgusting.

Xu Wan was standing by the door alone. The cold wind blew in, and her hands and feet were freezing.

Upon hearing Qiao Chen’s words and seeing how intimate he was with Bai Zhen, she felt a chill seeping into her bones.

She really wanted to leave. She didn’t want to see these two at all.

“Little Wan, dinner is almost ready. You should stay for it.”

Out of the blue, Second Master Qiao, who was usually cold to Xu Wan, suddenly called out her name.

Xu Wan looked up and said calmly, “No thank you, I still have something on in school…”

“It won’t take that long. Come, come, come.” Second Master Qiao squeezed out a smile and reached his hand out to pull Xu Wan over. However, his grip was not gentle. Xu Wan hurriedly shielded her abdomen with her hands, as she was afraid that she would fall.

“Second Master, if you have something to say, just say it.” Xu Wan said bluntly. She knew that this meal was definitely not meant to be a treat for her.

Second Young Master Qiao coughed and said in a deep voice, “Well… It’s like this. Last time, Third Brother said that he didn’t want to marry you because he was in a fit of anger. Your elder brother and I didn’t agree with it. We only acknowledge you as our Qiao family’s young mistress! You can move back here with peace of mind. Eldest Brother and Second Brother will help you!”

In the blink of an eye, Second Master Qiao, who had always been indifferent to Xu Wan, actually called himself Xu Wan’s “brother”.

Xu Wan couldn’t believe it.

When Bai Zhen heard that the Qiao family did not acknowledge her, her face instantly turned pale. She shook Qiao Chen’s arm and whined in an aggrieved tone, “Brother Chen…”

Concurrently, she looked daggers at Xu Wan — she thought that this woman had cut off all ties with Qiao Chen. She didn’t expect her to be so cunning that she incited Second Master Qiao to threaten Qiao Chen to marry her!

Qiao Chen looked at his brothers’ determined expressions and sneered.

Wasn’t it just because they couldn’t bear to lose the tens of billions worth of assets?

“Big Brother, Second Brother, you’re wrong. The Qiao family certainly owed Xu Wan’s parents a favor, but raising her for over ten years is enough to repay their debts. In the future, I’ll take responsibility to provide for her expenses for the rest of her life. I’ll support her until she’s old, but I won’t marry her. Forcing me to do so will be futile. Those who dare threaten me, Qiao Chen, will either disappear from my sight or they’ll come kneeling down and apologizing to me.”

Eldest Master Qiao didn’t expect Qiao Chen to turn the tables and threaten him instead. His blood immediately boiled and was so furious that he almost vomited blood. “Third Brother, you’re too presumptuous! Dad just left us, and you disregarded Dad’s last words? You unfilial son!”

“I don’t need you to judge whether I’m filial. Big Brother, if you really want to be filial, why don’t you let Qiao Jie marry Xu Wan?”

Qiao Chen’s lips curved into a smirk. It was perverse and roguish, and brought about a hint of ruthlessness, one that left no room for compromise. He didn’t give Master Qiao any face at all.

Qiao Jie was Master Qiao’s only son. He was 23 years old this year. It would be quite suitable for him to marry Xu Wan if he really wanted.

Eldest Master Qiao was about to faint from rage. His fingers trembled as he pointed at Qiao Chen. “You… you…”

Xu Wan closed her eyes, feeling exhausted. She said in a bitter voice, “Enough!”

Were these people treating her like a toy that could be thrown around?

Everyone despised her. No one wanted her, yet they coveted the dowry that was left for her.

Her dignity had just been trampled on by these people.

Especially Qiao Chen. He was… so heartless.

The fingers that Xu Wan rested on her stomach trembled slightly. Was he the father of her children?

He was intimate with another woman in front of everyone. He even said that he wanted to marry her off to another man.

Qiao Chen, are you heartless?

“I won’t marry Qiao Chen, and I won’t come to the Qiao family anymore. I only want those shops that Uncle Qiao left for me. Qiao Chen, I’ve already signed the agreement with you, so I won’t go back on my word. You don’t have to humiliate me like this. In the future, we…”

“Will have nothing to do with each other.”