Jiang Nanfang felt she had heard the most ridiculous joke in the world.
To have someone do things that disgusted you while also wanting to be friends.
How could such words be spoken?
"Everyone has a scale in their heart. Don't think children are too young to see through you. Sooner or later, you'll face retribution."
"Just like your father. They will hate you too."
Zhan Beijue's heart trembled, the pain making his breathing difficult.
But he remained stubborn.
"I don't care. As long as they are my flesh and blood, Zhan Beijue's, they will acknowledge me as their father for life. I don't care about anything else."
Jiang Nanfang didn't want to talk to him anymore.
His shamelessness disgusted her.
Her luggage was already packed. She rushed to get it and, before leaving, told Zhan Beijue.
"Meet me at the Civil Affairs Bureau at eight tomorrow morning. If you're even a second late, you son of a bitch."
She threw her luggage into the car and sped away.
Zhan Beijue sat in the living room, listening to the sound of the car fading away, as if transported back to the night seven years ago when they divorced.
She had been just as resolute when she left then.
"A Cheng."
A Cheng hurried in from outside the door.
"Follow Madam. Take your men and follow her twenty-four hours a day, never leaving her side."
Ever since she saw the news, Jiang Nanfang had prepared for divorce. She had looked at several property listings.
The first thing she would do after leaving the Zhan family was to buy a house.
Actually, she had no intention of leaving Nancheng, even without Zhan Beijue's threat.
Not to mention the trouble of starting over in a foreign country with four children, Rui Rui and Ge'er had an inseparable affection for Zhan Beijue.
She couldn't bear to see the children sad.
No matter what, the children were conceived due to her own impulsiveness. Since she had given birth to them, she had to be responsible for them.
Regardless of how things developed between her and Zhan Beijue, a father was a father.
With the Zhan family name, at least their lives wouldn't be difficult. Jiang Nanfang had no right to deprive them of this.
She drove directly to the sales center and quickly began looking at houses.
The houses were not developed by the Zhan Group, and the location wasn't ideal, but she didn't care.
Right now, she desperately needed a place to stay. As long as she didn't have to see Zhan Beijue's hypocritical face, anything would do.
The house wasn't large, only a little over 130 square meters, but it was well-furnished and ready to move in. The price was 3.2 million.
Jiang Nanfang had been a wealthy woman with hundreds of millions in savings, but she had squandered most of it.
After buying the house, she would be back to square one.
But these were all her own choices. There was no point in regretting it. So be it.
After visiting three sales centers, she finally chose the first one. She paid on the spot, completed the paperwork, and moved her things in before the children finished school.
The children's clothes, shoes, and various daily necessities were still at the Zhan house. Jiang Nanfang had no intention of going back to get them.
When she picked up the children from school and got into the car, she announced solemnly.
"I plan to divorce Daddy, so I've moved out of that house."
"However, Daddy and I will still be friends. So, you'll stay with me for now."
"If you miss him, or want to visit him, I'll take you back."
"For Mommy, this isn't a sad thing. Life is long, and we'll encounter many more things. So, let's not waste time being sad. You shouldn't take this too seriously either, okay?"
The children had held onto hope yesterday, expecting Daddy to coax Mommy and everything would be fine.
They hadn't expected this.
It was false to say they weren't sad, but seeing Mommy force a smile, they dared not show their feelings.
Only Ge'er was most indignant about Daddy's betrayal.
"Mommy, is Daddy back? Did he not keep you? Did he agree to divorce you?"
"Ge'er, you've watched many TV shows, movies, and fairy tales. You've seen many parents divorce. Really, it's no big deal."
"It's like when you grow up, date a boyfriend who isn't suitable, and feel unhappy, so you break up. It's the same for Mommy."
"Zhan Beijue will always be your daddy, and that won't change because we divorce. We can both face it calmly, so please don't be sad, okay?"
Ge'er reluctantly said, "Alright. Since you've decided, I respect you."
"But I won't forgive Daddy easily. He didn't answer my calls. I want to punish him severely and not answer his calls anymore!"
To celebrate Mommy's return to singlehood, they all went out to eat that day.
After dinner, they shopped at the supermarket for a long time before returning home. A Cheng saw them safely inside before sending his location to Zhan Beijue and reporting her day's itinerary.
"I know," Zhan Beijue replied.
"Your work location will be changed there from now on. Tomorrow, I'll have A Biao buy the apartment across the hall. Be careful with everything."
In the evening, Jiang Nanfang finished reading them their bedtime stories.
Seeing them all obediently close their eyes, she returned to her room alone.
As soon as she left, the children opened their eyes.
They were all curious about what Daddy had done to upset Mommy. They took out their tablets and searched online.
It turned out Daddy was rumored to be involved with another woman!
Tiantian: "Daddy is such a heartless scoundrel, a bad guy! I thought he loved Mommy the most, but he's so hypocritical!"
Ge'er: "We must find that bad woman and teach her a harsh lesson! Let her understand that our Mommy is not to be bullied!"
The next day, Jiang Nanfang woke up early to make them breakfast. After watching them enter school, she drove to the Civil Affairs Bureau.
She arrived ten minutes early.
Sitting in the car, watching the time tick closer to eight, she honestly felt a complex mix of emotions.
She both hoped Zhan Beijue would arrive on time and hoped he wouldn't.
Women are always like this.
Even when telling themselves countless times to stay calm and draw a line with the scumbag, in matters of the heart, they still held a sliver of hope for a turnaround...
At seven fifty-nine, Zhan Beijue's familiar nanny van stopped opposite her.
The driver got out to open the door. He emerged from the car, impeccably dressed in a suit, with a handsome and resolute demeanor.
Watching his tall figure, which once belonged to her, gradually approach the entrance, destined to belong to someone else, Jiang Nanfang took several deep breaths in the car to control her expression.
The clock struck eight precisely, and she gracefully stepped out.
They both walked towards the entrance at the same time. She maintained a horizontal distance of two people from him, looking straight ahead, walking with purpose, avoiding eye contact.
She had dressed up for the occasion.
She wore light makeup, her hair blow-dried into soft curls, and a black knee-length velvet dress with three-centimeter black ankle-strap heels.
She looked playful yet graceful and light on her feet, as if each step was on clouds, like a swan about to dance.
Looking at her elegant retreating figure, Zhan Beijue couldn't help but sigh inwardly again.
She truly knew how to oppose him.
It was as if she was determined not to let him shed tears of regret, always presenting her best self when parting ways.