Chen Xiang never expected that the recording she used to control her sugar daddy would be heard by Shen Zhizhong, becoming the final straw that broke her.
"No, this isn't true, I don't know when there was a recording!"
Her face was numb with pain, but her mind was clearer than ever. She knew there was only one way out.
That was to deny everything!
Shen Zhizhong, however, saw through her act. He grabbed her wrist, "Divorce me, and get rid of this bastard child in your belly!"
He stared at her belly, devoid of his previous joy, feeling utterly cuckolded.
Chen Xiang was, of course, unwilling. She retreated with all her might, "No, this child is yours, Zhizhong, you can't abandon him!"
"Bullshit, you slept with someone else, and you say this child is mine? Do you think I'd believe that?"
Shen Zhizhong had no trace of tenderness left for her. He grabbed her and dragged her towards the door. She clung to the doorframe, refusing to move. He began to pry her hands off.
Even hearing Chen Xiang's pained cries, he didn't lessen his grip.
Chen Xiang was desperate. Seeing that she was about to be dragged out, she gritted her teeth and roared, "If you insist on aborting this child, then I'll call the reporters. I'll let everyone know you were cuckolded!"
Shen Zhizhong suddenly released his grip, "What did you say?"
Chen Xiang, having exhausted all her strength struggling with him, slumped to the floor, weak all over. Looking at the man's indifferent expression, her heart ached, but she refused to back down. "I will not abort this child. Shen Zhizhong, if you don't want our family shame to be exposed, don't force me."
"You're good, very good."
Shen Zhizhong was so enraged his eyes were bloodshot. But today, he truly understood the woman he had shared a bed with for years.
Chen Xiang knew better than to confront him head-on. She softened her tone, "Zhizhong, I'm saying this for your own good. If this matter is blown out of proportion, it won't benefit either of us, especially Yaoyao's reputation. Don't you still want her to marry Fu Jingshu?"
If such a scandal broke out, Shen Yaoyao would have no chance.
Shen Zhizhong roared, "Shut up! Do you take me for a fool? If Shen Yaoyao could marry into that family, she would have done so long ago. Why would we be waiting until now?"
Seeing that nothing she said was working, Chen Xiang became anxious, "Fine then, we'll go down together. I'll abort the child and publicize this matter, letting everyone see what kind of woman you, Shen Zhizhong, married."
In the end, it would be him who was disgraced.
Shen Zhizhong realized this. He clenched his fists, his teeth nearly shattering, but her threat held considerable weight. He couldn't let this get out.
He had to endure.
"Who is your sugar daddy?"
He suddenly asked this, and Chen Xiang was taken aback. "It's Diao Kangcheng."
Diao Kangcheng?!
At that moment, Shen Zhizhong wished he could die. He had met Diao Kangcheng a few times before. Because Diao Kangcheng's company and influence were far superior to his own, he had always treated him with utmost respect.
Now, it seemed, Diao Kangcheng might have been secretly mocking him then.
Chen Xiang tentatively asked, "Zhizhong, why are you asking this?"
Shen Zhizhong closed his eyes, suppressing all the humiliation and pain in his heart, and tried to maintain a calm demeanor. "Let me go find him."
Chen Xiang's eyes widened. "Are you crazy?"
Was he going to fight him?
"Zhizhong, don't do this. Diao Kangcheng is a very powerful man, and his methods are ruthless. If you go looking for trouble, you won't get any benefits!"
Seeing her anxious expression, Shen Zhizhong suddenly asked, "Are you worried about me now, or him?"
Chen Xiang stiffened, a look of embarrassment appearing on her face.
"Or perhaps you're worried that if I make a scene, your sugar daddy will abandon you?" Shen Zhizhong stepped forward, cupped her chin, and examined her face, a slight smile playing on his lips. "It's good to be beautiful. Even at your age, you still have men fawning over you."
Chen Xiang bit her lip, tears streaming down her cheeks.
She had always treated Shen Zhizhong like a possession, never imagining that this man would one day treat her the way he treated Xiao Qing.
The next second, the hand on her chin was flung away. She barely managed to stand by holding onto the wall.
"Take me," Shen Zhizhong said, taking a handkerchief from his pocket and meticulously wiping each finger, as if he felt dirty after touching her.
A flash of resentment crossed Chen Xiang's eyes, but she endured it and quietly walked towards the door.
To avoid enraging him further, she decided to take him. But she never expected that the first words Shen Zhizhong would say upon meeting Diao Kangcheng would be spoken calmly.
"I'll divorce her, and you can be with her openly. All you need to do is give me a project, let me earn some money."
Chen Xiang looked at him in disbelief. At this moment, Shen Zhizhong's face seemed so unfamiliar, as if she had never known him.
Diao Kangcheng was also very surprised. "It seems you know everything."
Shen Zhizhong nodded. "How about it? Do you agree?"
Diao Kangcheng glanced at Chen Xiang and said slowly, "You're very strange. Your woman cheated on you, and you're not angry?"
Shen Zhizhong's expression was calm. "I'm not angry. It's her honor to be fancied by Mr. Diao."
"You truly don't care?" Diao Kangcheng found it bizarre. Infidelity involved dignity, and no man could remain unmoved.
But the next moment, he saw Shen Zhizhong's clenched fists and immediately understood.
He was just putting up a front.
Over there, Chen Xiang reacted. She trembled and grabbed Shen Zhizhong's wrist, "Zhizhong, you can't do this to me! I am a person, not merchandise, not a pawn you use to exchange for power!"
"Aren't you?" Shen Zhizhong retorted indifferently.
The coldness and sarcasm in his eyes wounded Chen Xiang. Her hand fell limply, and she staggered back a step.
"You..."
Shen Zhizhong looked at Diao Kangcheng. "Mr. Diao, rest assured, I won't tell anyone about our transaction. Once this is settled, it will be over. I won't make any further unreasonable demands. This transaction is a one-time deal."
Diao Kangcheng raised an eyebrow, surprised. "I didn't expect Mr. Shen to be so open-minded."
"I am a businessman, and businessmen prioritize profit above all else."
Chen Xiang bit her lip fiercely, finally accepting reality. She said coldly to Shen Zhizhong, "If you divorce me, don't regret it!"
She didn't believe she would have nowhere to go. At least Diao Kangcheng was still there, and if she whispered in his ear, she didn't believe Diao Kangcheng would let Shen Zhizhong off the hook!
"Don't worry, I will never regret it!"
Shen Zhizhong's current calm was forced. He absolutely could not continue living with Chen Xiang.
Diao Kangcheng found it amusing that they had settled the matter during their conversation. "Have you two forgotten my opinion?"
They both looked at him.
Chen Xiang knew him better and, seeing his expression, had a bad feeling.
"I do not agree to this transaction," Diao Kangcheng said slowly, his gaze carrying a malicious glint towards Chen Xiang. "She's just a plaything, does she think she's going to marry me?"