Just then, Chen Qiao answered a call, her voice filled with agitation. "Dahai, you bastard! Can't you act like an adult for once? If I really betrayed you, you can do whatever you want to me. But the fact is, I've never done anything to对不起 you..."
"Shut the hell up, you slut!" Jiang Dahai's venomous voice came through the phone. "I don't believe a single word you're saying. Send me that lover of yours' phone number right now, or I'll kill your whole family!"
"You..." Chen Qiao trembled with rage.
Ye Long stepped forward and took the phone. "I'm right here. Say what you've got to say!"
"Kid, I don't know how many times you've slept with my wife, but if you want to keep yourself and your family safe, transfer ten million dollars to my account! I've already sent the bank card info to that bitch. You've got one hour to get the money. If it's not in my account by then, you'll regret it!" Jiang Dahai hung up the phone with a snap.
Chen Qiao took back her phone and opened WeChat. Sure enough, she saw a picture of a bank card that Jiang Dahai had just sent. "That son of a bitch..." Weak - kneed, Chen Qiao slumped against the wall.
Ye Long helped her sit down on the sofa. "Xiao Qiao, what was your relationship with your husband like?"
Looking at Ye Long with swollen, tear - filled eyes, Chen Qiao said, "Before this happened, I thought he loved me. But now..." She wasn't sure anymore. She never imagined that without any solid evidence, he'd so readily accuse her of infidelity!
Chen Qiao sighed, tears welling up in her eyes. "Two years ago, after his company with friends failed, he stopped working. I've been the one paying for everything in this family—food, water, electricity, the mortgage, everything. Even though he was down and out, I never once complained. Instead, I kept encouraging him, believing he'd get back on his feet one day. I didn't ask for much in return, just that he wouldn't do anything to hurt me or my family..." Chen Qiao burst into tears, the pent - up pain of the past two years finally spilling over.
Ye Long handed her a tissue. As she wiped her tears, Chen Qiao continued, "For the past two years, all I did was work and then go home to be with him. I've never done anything to betray him. But still, he constantly doubted me, calling to check up on me and going through my phone every day..."
Just then, her phone rang again. Seeing it was her husband, Chen Qiao answered with a stern expression. "Jiang Dahai, I've had enough of this. Let's get a divorce!"
"Divorce?" Jiang Dahai sneered. "Chen Qiao, you bitch! So you've been planning this all along! But if you want me to let you go, transfer five million dollars to my account! And this house, your car—they're all mine! Also, send me all your bank card numbers and passwords within half an hour, or I'll wipe out your entire family!" With that, he hung up again.
Chen Qiao's hand shook as she clutched the phone. She bit her lip hard, trying to hold back her tears, but they flowed freely down her cheeks.
Fury welled up in Ye Long. He stood up and said, "I know where he is. Come with me."
Chen Qiao looked at him. "Don't worry," Ye Long reassured her. "I'm here for you."
It was pitch - dark outside. The two left the neighborhood, and Ye Long drove Chen Qiao's car towards the address Lu Hu had provided. It wasn't far from their place. Soon, they arrived at a rental building.
"Master Ye, are you sure my husband is here?" This was the first time she'd been to such a place, and she was skeptical.
"Follow me." Ye Long headed straight for the stairs. After a moment's hesitation, Chen Qiao followed, trusting that Ye Long wouldn't lead her astray.
In front of Room 416 on the fourth floor, Chen Qiao looked at the door, then at Ye Long, about to double - check if they were in the right place. Just then, a woman's voice came from inside.
"Brother Hai, half an hour is almost up. Do you really think that stupid woman will send you all her bank card numbers and passwords?"
"She will!" a man's voice replied. "She cares too much about her family. She won't risk it."
"Brother Hai, we had a deal. Once you get the money, you'll marry me right away!"
"Baby, the minute I divorce her, I'll marry you..."
Chen Qiao's whole body shook with anger. That voice was unmistakably her husband's. She still couldn't believe he had a mistress!
Just then, Jiang Dahai said, "That bitch still hasn't sent the bank card info. I'll give her a piece of my mind."
As soon as Jiang Dahai made the call, a phone rang at the door. "Who is it?" Jiang Dahai came to the door and opened it. When he saw Chen Qiao standing there, he froze. "Chen Qiao? What are you doing here!"
When he saw Ye Long beside her, Jiang Dahai's anger flared. He was certain Ye Long was behind her sudden appearance. He was shocked they'd managed to track him down, despite his precautions.
"Brother Hai, who is it?" A heavily - made - up woman in a black sheer nightgown emerged. Chen Qiao watched as the woman casually wrapped her arm around her husband's bare arm.
Chen Qiao took a step back, feeling dizzy. The world seemed to spin around her. Just as she was about to collapse, Ye Long caught her.
"You two pieces of trash! I was just about to come for you, and here you are, walking right into the lion's den!" Jiang Dahai rushed into the room and came out brandishing a fruit knife. His eyes were wild with rage as he lunged at Ye Long.
"No!" Chen Qiao leaped in front of Ye Long. Jiang Dahai pointed the knife at Chen Qiao's face, then at Ye Long's. "Kid, transfer the ten million if you don't want to die!"
"Ah!" With a scream, Chen Qiao lunged at Jiang Dahai. He fell heavily to the ground, his head hitting the doorstep. The fruit knife flew out of his hand, and he clutched his head, feeling warm blood seeping from a gash on his scalp.
"You stupid woman! You're courting death!" Huang Xiaomei, the mistress, snarled and rushed forward to slap Chen Qiao. But Ye Long was quicker.
With a loud slap, Huang Xiaomei was sent crashing to the floor. A large handprint bloomed on her cheek, and blood trickled from her lips. She curled up, sobbing and clutching her face.
Chen Qiao got up from the floor. Glaring at the cowering Jiang Dahai, she gritted her teeth, her eyes blazing with fury.
"Jiang Dahai, you scumbag! I must have been blind to marry you! For the past two years, I've slaved away to support this family, paid off the mortgage, and refused every social event. I came straight home to be with you after work every day. And what did you do? You didn't work a single day in two years and had a mistress behind my back..."
At that moment, Chen Qiao finally understood why her husband had been so suspicious of her all these years—because he was the one with a guilty conscience!