Su Qingnuan gripped Lin An's pocket watch tightly, and after a long time, summoned the courage to speak.
"I refuse."
"What?"
The two people in the room froze in place, staring at her in disbelief.
A sharp slap shattered the oppressive silence.
Su Qingnuan's face was slapped to the side, the exposed skin rapidly swelling and turning red as waves of burning pain surged through her.
"Are you really going to stand by and watch your sister die! The Fu family's wealth and glory could sustain us for generations—what exactly are you dissatisfied with?"
Su Yuerou stared at her usually timid older sister, utterly incredulous. Her frail figure wavered twice, and just before collapsing, Jiang Liyun hurriedly caught her in her arms.
Seeing her younger daughter's face turn ashen, Jiang Liyun shot a venomous glare at Su Qingnuan. The stress and anxiety of the past days had brought a cluster of painful ulcers to her lips, making her appearance particularly terrifying.
Three days ago, a message had come from the patriarch of the Fu family, offering Su Yuerou in marriage to Fu Yihan, their sole legitimate heir.
The heavens had granted a golden opportunity, and Su Xiong agreed without a second thought. However, discontent erupted yesterday when Su Yuerou caused a scene, trying to swallow a handful of sleeping pills while crying out that Fu Yihan was a cripple—not only lame but notorious for being heartless and cruel.
If she hadn't used illness as an excuse to take refuge in the hospital, her Yuerou would have been forcibly taken away!
Thinking of this, Jiang Liyun shuddered deeply, instinctively tightening her hold on her daughter.
"Sweetheart, don't be afraid, don't be afraid. I won't let them marry you off to that ugly, crippled Fu Yihan. You mustn't do anything rash."
Su Yuerou, consumed by hopelessness, cast a pleading gaze at her sister...
"I won't marry into the Fu family for you. This has nothing to do with money."
Su Qingnuan remained unmoved. After her mother had struck her harshly, her mouth tasted of blood. She wanted to let out a mocking laugh but was cut off midway.
"Shut up!"
"What did I say that was wrong? From the day I was born, I've only ever received whatever scraps Su Yuerou didn't want! You've poured all your care and attention into her, as if I weren't your daughter—as if I were just some stray cat or dog you could toss aside whenever you pleased..."
Smack! Another slap landed heavily, this time on Su Qingnuan's right cheek.
"I've raised you all these years, and that's how you see me, Su Qingnuan!"
"This is the last time I'll ask you—are you going to marry or not?" Jiang Liyun's patience had reached its breaking point, and her final question was almost bitten out through clenched teeth.
"Sister, please listen to me." Before she could answer, Su Yuerou suddenly interrupted: "Actually, I don't want to marry Fu Yihan either, and there's another reason."
She gently placed her hand over her abdomen, her gaze growing resolute.
"I'm already carrying Lin An's child... He promised he would marry me, and I originally planned to delay things a little longer. But the Fu family has made it clear—they'll take me away tonight."
Su Yuerou glanced nervously at the stunned Su Qingnuan before continuing hesitantly: "I had no choice but to resort to this plan."
Su Qingnuan fell silent the moment Shen Lin'an's name was mentioned. Her fingers abruptly slackened, and the warm pocket watch slipped from her grasp.
Just like her heart... plunging suddenly into the abyss.
To the side, Jiang Liyun continued to fuss over Su Yuerou, affectionate and concerned—a stark contrast to the violence she had shown moments earlier during the slap.
Watching them, Su Qingnuan's vision blurred, and she suddenly clutched her chest tightly with both hands, her trembling fingers betraying her increasingly labored breathing.
In her struggle, she kicked over a teapot, jolting the other two occupants of the room back to their senses as they frantically called for a doctor.
Su Qingnuan stretched her hand outward, as if seeking one last plea from Jiang Liyun. But her consciousness wavered—one moment clear, the next foggy—before she finally slipped into a silent void.