Chapter 102: You’ll Never Get Your Way

Liang Yusheng spoke with absolute certainty, his tone and demeanor both exceptionally firm.

Liang Yukang grabbed Lin Wanbai’s hand and said, "Listen to him. Yusheng is Ah Xing’s uncle; they are much closer than he and I, his biological father, are. If you won't believe me, you should at least believe him, right?"

Lin Wanbai looked at him, then at Liang Yusheng. She had no idea what they were up to or why they had suddenly come to tell her these things. Were they trying to convince her to reconcile with Fu Juxing? To continue living as a couple in name only? No, they were simply trying to trick her into returning so she could be placed under house arrest again. They were afraid that using force would ruin their reputations. Once a businessman reaches a certain level of status, he becomes obsessed with his image. Given Liang Yusheng’s current standing, he was even more concerned about his reputation.

She smiled and pulled at Liang Yukang, who was still kneeling on the ground. "Please, get up. I cannot talk to you while you are kneeling like this. If you insist on staying down there, I will have no choice but to leave."

Liang Yusheng said, "Big brother, get up first."

Liang Yukang hesitated for a moment before standing up, and the group sat back down.

Lin Wanbai said, "Setting aside the question of whether or not Fu Juxing loves me, I want to ask you both: what do you think love should look like? Or, if you truly loved someone, how would you treat her and her family?"

Liang Yusheng understood the implication of her question. She was challenging them: if Fu Juxing loved her, why did he persecute her family? If he loved her, would he bear to see her so heartbroken and devastated?

Liang Yusheng pondered for a few seconds and countered, "If a man didn't love you, would he go to such great lengths to please you, even setting aside his work and career?"

Lin Wanbai scoffed. "Please answer my question directly first."

"I apologize, but I cannot answer that. I have never loved anyone, so I have no idea what it would be like if I did."

Lin Wanbai nodded, accepting his answer, and turned to Liang Yukang. "Uncle, you should know, shouldn't you?"

Liang Yukang lowered his eyes. After a moment of silence, he said, "To love someone is to want to give them the best of everything, to hold them in the palm of your hand. When she is happy, I am happy; when she is sad, I am sad..."

"Exactly. That is what I think, too. But what has Fu Juxing done? He watched as my family was destroyed, framed my uncle for prison, disgraced my grandfather and my mother. The entire Lin family is now in ruins. If he loved me even a little, he could never have done these things. Of course, you can make excuses for him, saying he didn't do it himself, that it was Chen Songyuan. But is a bystander not guilty? Even if he didn't hold the knife, he was the one who handed it over! What difference does that make?"

"I actually feel that the more I suffer, the happier he is. Is this love? This is hate! No, there must be love for there to be hate. Perhaps he only did this for profit. With this move, he could easily take over the Lin Corporation while maintaining a good reputation. Stripping away everything I have—is this what you call love? Deep love?" Lin Wanbai laughed, her eyes turning red. "If he had even the slightest bit of affection for me, he wouldn't have let me become what I am today."

"If he had even a shred of love for me, we would be a happy couple today. I loved him—I sincerely and truly loved him for so many years. Didn't he know? He knew. He knew from the very beginning. But what did he do? He used my feelings for him to personally destroy my family and my life. If you still insist on calling that love, I truly have nothing to say. In your eyes, am I so foolish that I can't even tell the difference between love and the lack thereof?"

She pressed her lips together, wiped away her tears, raised her chin slightly, and said with a smile, "As of today, please stop treating me like a fool. Thank you."

Liang Yusheng sighed inwardly. They couldn't refute a single word of what she said. It was indeed contradictory, but to say Fu Juxing didn't love her and only cared about the Lin Corporation didn't hold up either. If it were truly only about profit, Lin Wanbai wouldn't be alive today. When she had a massive hemorrhage during childbirth, there would have been no need for doctors to struggle so hard to pull her back from the gates of death. A truly cold-hearted person driven only by profit wouldn't spend time trying to make her happy, coming home early every day with little gifts, or skipping all his work-related social functions. It didn't make sense.

Liang Yusheng thought for a while and said, "Perhaps... perhaps his way of loving someone is just different from what we imagine?"

"Then I really must thank him for his 'love,'" Lin Wanbai retorted with a sneer, the irony in her eyes deepening.

Liang Yusheng continued, "Given his childhood experiences, no one ever taught him how to love someone. He had no one around him to guide him correctly. He may be using the wrong methods, but you should believe in him. Otherwise, how do you explain why he insisted on saving your life during childbirth? To keep you alive—isn't that just asking for trouble? If he really only wanted the Lin Corporation, you wouldn't have survived."

"If you died, the Lin Corporation would have been completely wiped out, leaving only him. He would have gained both fame and fortune—why wouldn't he want that? As for the effort to save you and bring you home under house arrest, isn't that exhausting and troublesome?"

Liang Yukang chimed in, "Yes, yes, Yusheng is right. Ah Xing never had a good life growing up. He grew up in an abnormal environment without love, so naturally, he doesn't know how to love others. Miss Lin, please give him a chance. Sit down and have a proper talk. Get everything out in the open. You're already married; why let things come to this?"

Before Lin Wanbai could respond, Liang Yusheng added, "Think carefully about what I've said. You should have noticed that public opinion has shifted. A thousand people have a thousand different thoughts; not everyone’s mind follows yours, but people can think for themselves. Your reputation is already tarnished; it will be very difficult to win this battle of public opinion. And honestly, things between the two of you don't have to reach this point."

"Tarnished?" Lin Wanbai quickly caught onto the word. "You use that word so well, Mr. Liang. If you hadn't mentioned it, I would have forgotten. Fu Juxing has played an indispensable role in ruining my reputation. Every move he made, every step of his plan was precise—a true ambush on all sides. Come to think of it, for a small woman like me, he went to such great lengths to design such a massive web... he truly loves me, doesn't he?"

She laughed softly, shaking her head. It was truly laughable.

Seeing that further talk was useless, Liang Yusheng decided not to continue. "I'm afraid you have no appetite to eat while we are here, so we won't disturb you any longer. We've said what we needed to say; the rest is up to you."

With that, Liang Yusheng stood up. Liang Yukang added a few more words before following him out of the restaurant.

The wind chimes swayed, and soon the place returned to silence. An Ning emerged from the kitchen and sat across from her. Chen Fan began serving the dishes, saying, "You came at just the right time today; we have a fresh batch of seafood."

Lin Wanbai curled her lips and said, "Don't go to any trouble. Just make me a bowl of seafood noodles; I don't want anything else."

Chen Fan didn't insist. "That works. I'll make you the most expensive bowl of seafood noodles." He glanced at her before heading back to the kitchen.

Lin Wanbai drank some water and chuckled to herself. "What a fallacy. They treat me like a fool. Do I look like a fool to you? Am I that easy to deceive?" She pointed to her face and looked at An Ning.

An Ning said, "Let them say what they want. You don't have to listen."

Lin Wanbai closed her eyes. She wanted a drink, but she had to hold back. Drinking at a time like this would only complicate things; she had to keep a clear head to deal with any sudden changes. She drank water as if it were wine, cup after cup, until her stomach felt bloated. An Ning pressed her hand down and said, "Stop drinking."

"It's just water, a little bit won't hurt."

"A bloated stomach is quite uncomfortable."

Lin Wanbai set the cup aside and stopped. Before long, Chen Fan brought out two huge bowls of seafood noodles. As he said, it was the most expensive bowl—topped with all kinds of seafood, it looked, smelled, and tasted perfect.

Lin Wanbai’s appetite was piqued. Chen Fan pulled up a chair, sat to her left, rested his elbows on the table, and watched her with a smile. She picked up her chopsticks, plucked a large piece of shrimp, and put it in her mouth; the meat was tender. Chen Fan watched her for a while, then changed his posture, resting his chin on his hand. Lin Wanbai ate with undivided attention, very focused.

Halfway through the meal, her phone, which was resting nearby, vibrated several times. She caught a glimpse of it; a few messages had come in. She freed one hand to unlock the phone and open them.

It was from an unknown number: three photos. One was of Liang Zhixia, one of Lin Zhaowei, and the third was Lin Jingyu. The photos looked ordinary, but Lin Wanbai knew: Fu Juxing was threatening her. In the third photo, only Fu Juxing’s foot was visible, but it was enough to tell her exactly where he was. He was intentionally telling her to come find him herself.

An Ning saw her expression change and asked, "What’s wrong? Who sent the messages?"

Lin Wanbai flipped the phone over, didn't answer, and went back to eating her noodles. *Success or death—I must endure.*

...

The car drove slowly along the road. Liang Yukang said, "Let’s go see Ah Xing."

Liang Yusheng glanced at him and said, "If you want to go, then go."

When they arrived at the hospital, they exited the elevator and saw Fu Juxing smoking on the balcony ahead. They approached him. "Ah Xing."

Fu Juxing glanced over at the sound of their voices, took another drag of his cigarette, and said, "Uncle." He didn't acknowledge Liang Yukang, as if he hadn't even seen him.

Liang Yukang wasn't angry. He stood beside Liang Yusheng and gave him a light nudge, not wanting him to quarrel with Fu Juxing.

Liang Yusheng said, "We just met with Lin Wanbai."

Fu Juxing’s expression froze slightly. He continued smoking as if nothing had happened, responding with a faint, "Hmm."

Liang Yusheng took out a cigarette and leaned against the railing. He held it out, and Fu Juxing clicked his lighter to light it for him. Liang Yusheng took a puff and asked, "Tell me honestly: what is your goal? Is it the person, or the company?"

"Or perhaps, you want both."

Fu Juxing looked into the distance and was silent for a while before saying, "I want both. Didn't you teach me that as long as one's status is high enough, the woman one desires will never escape? My status isn't high enough yet, which is why she was able to escape so easily. I want everyone to know that my woman, Fu Juxing’s woman, is not someone anyone can touch. When that day comes, even if she runs, no one will dare to harbor her, and she will have no choice but to return to my side obediently."

"Without the Lin Corporation, she will have nowhere to run."

Liang Yusheng narrowed his eyes, glancing at him. "So, you’ve done all this just to keep her?"

Fu Juxing didn't answer.

"Ah Xing, do you love her?"

He finished his cigarette, stubbed it out, and flicked it away. He ignored the question and said, "You don't need to worry about this. I won't let you down, and I won't affect the reputation of Zhaosheng. She will return to my side obediently sooner or later. She definitely will."

Liang Yukang stood to the side, watching him with an indescribable feeling. He couldn't help but step forward and say, "Doing this will only push her further away. Even if you get her body, if you don't have her heart, what is the point?"

At these words, Fu Juxing shot a cold look his way.

Liang Yusheng stepped in, placing a hand on Fu Juxing's shoulder. "Your father is right. If you truly love her, you shouldn't do these things. No one can forgive someone who hurts their family. Put yourself in her shoes: if Lin Wanbai had killed your biological parents, what would you think? Would you still love her?"

Fu Juxing’s expression turned colder. After a long silence, he looked at Liang Yusheng. In his dark, deep eyes, a trace of sorrow was hidden. He said, "She won't love me."

He dropped those words and walked away, leaving the two brothers to look at each other.

After a moment, Liang Yukang said, "Ah Xing... could he have some psychological issues? Growing up in that environment, his mindset must be different from a normal person's. Have you taken him to see a psychologist?"

Liang Yusheng chuckled, shook his head, and frowned. "Perhaps we really have all neglected his psychological well-being. Maybe he is aware of it himself, which is why he masks himself so well, so that no one can see his true face."

He let out a long sigh, wanting to curse—to curse the dead old woman Jiang Shuzhi—but feeling a sense of helplessness. It had reached this point; what good would cursing do?

...

Fu Juxing waited at the hospital for three days, but Lin Wanbai didn't come. Instead, she began to focus exclusively on handling matters at the company.

Three days later, while at a dinner meeting, Lin Wanbai received a call from the hospital. They informed her that Lin Jingyu was in critical condition and required a family member's signature; she needed to get to the hospital immediately. After the call, word came from An Ning as well. After verifying the information, Lin Wanbai rushed to the hospital.

Throughout the journey, her heart was suspended in mid-air. She felt both hate and pain—hate that he could be so ruthless, pain that he had no regard for their shared history.

Coming out of the elevator, she saw Fu Juxing standing alone in front of the operating room, his hands behind his back, pacing back and forth. Sensing something, he suddenly stopped and turned to look in her direction.

Lin Wanbai pressed her lips together, her heart rising to her throat. She straightened her clothes and walked over with large strides. When she reached the entrance, she acted as if she didn't see him, looking anxiously into the room.

From the moment she appeared, Fu Juxing’s gaze had been fixed on her, not moving for a second. His stare made her feel like she had thorns on her back; it was extremely uncomfortable. She caught his gaze from the corner of her eye. She didn't look away, instead turning to face him directly.

With a dark expression, she looked at him and said, "It must have been you."

Fu Juxing: "I'm just glad you're back. If you hadn't come, I was afraid you wouldn't see your mother for the last time."

Lin Wanbai couldn't suppress her rising anger and swung a slap at him. "I'm telling you, if my mother dies, I will drag you to the grave with her!"

Fu Juxing immediately seized her wrist, pulled her toward him with a slight tug, and pressed his other hand firmly against her waist. Lin Wanbai struggled, but couldn't break free from his grip. "Let me go!"

Fu Juxing picked her up, carried her to a corner, pinned her against the wall, and without a word, pressed his lips to hers in a forceful kiss. Lin Wanbai resisted violently, exerting all her strength, but she couldn't escape his shackles. Finally, she had to give up, glaring at him.

It wasn't until a nurse came out and interrupted them that Fu Juxing released her. Lin Wanbai pushed him away immediately, wiped her mouth hard, and grabbed the nurse, asking anxiously, "How is my mother?"

"Sign here first. The doctors are doing their best to save her."

Lin Wanbai took a glance; in such a critical moment, she had no choice but to sign. She quickly scrawled her name, and the nurse hurried back inside.

Once the nurse was gone, Lin Wanbai moved a few steps away to keep her distance from Fu Juxing. However, there was nothing Fu Juxing couldn't achieve if he set his mind to it! The person he wanted to keep, he would definitely keep!

Lin Wanbai noticed the surroundings were too quiet, which felt wrong. Just as she took out her phone, Fu Juxing, who had been waiting for the opportunity, snatched it and threw it out the window.

Lin Wanbai’s heart tightened; she took a step back. She glanced toward the elevators, but it was perfectly quiet—not a soul in sight. She had brought bodyguards with her, but she had been so anxious that she hadn't noticed they had disappeared without a trace. She frowned slightly, forcing herself to stay calm. She had called some reporter friends before coming, but there was still no sign of them.

She turned to look at the operating room entrance again. In a daze, Fu Juxing had already approached and wrapped her in his arms again. He pinched her chin and said word for word: "You cannot escape my grasp."

"Lin Wanbai, don't you ever think you'll succeed!"

Lin Wanbai glared at him, her eyes fierce. The next second, she lunged at him and bit down hard on his neck. She bit with all her might, teeth breaking skin, staining her mouth with the metallic taste of blood. Fu Juxing didn't struggle; he simply rested a hand on the back of her head.

If one didn't look closely, it would appear to be an incredibly affectionate couple, hugging each other, inseparable.

At that moment, Fu Juxing’s phone rang. Lin Wanbai didn't intend to let go, still biting down on his flesh, though she lessened the pressure, the pain not as sharp as before. Fu Juxing hadn't intended to answer, but the calls kept coming. Finally, he had to free a hand to check the phone. It was Lei Sen; if he called more than three times, it had to be an emergency. He answered and held the phone to his ear.

Before he could speak, Lei Sen’s voice came through, stuttering, "Mr. Fu, Mr. Lin... he... he's gone."

The sound from the phone wasn't quiet. Lin Wanbai heard it clearly. Her entire body tensed up, and she slowly released her bite. In a blink, she straightened her back, looked at Fu Juxing, and reached out to grab his phone.

Fu Juxing was faster, dodging her and hanging up the call. Her eyes remained fixed on the phone in his hand as she gripped his shirt tightly. "What did he just say?"

Before Fu Juxing could speak, Lin Wanbai roared, "What did he just say!"

Suddenly, she couldn't hold it together anymore. She tore at his clothes, two buttons popping off his shirt. She glared at him, grinding her teeth, and said, "You... you killed my grandfather!"

"No, your grandfather died of natural causes."

She gripped his shirt even tighter, her eyes bloodshot, a tear hanging on the edge of falling. She could barely speak, opening her mouth for a long time before finding her voice. "You dare to say he died of natural causes?"

She turned and grabbed his neck, her fingernails digging into his skin. She used every ounce of her strength; this time, she grabbed the right spot. Fu Juxing pulled her hands away immediately, but the force was so rough that it left three deep claw marks on his neck, which were now bleeding.

Lin Wanbai breathed unevenly, tears falling uncontrollably. Fu Juxing’s phone rang again; he glanced at it, hung up, and turned it off.

Just then, several doctors hurried into the operating room. Their expressions suggested the situation was not optimistic. Lin Wanbai’s heart sank. She closed her eyes, her lips trembling uncontrollably. She wanted to control her emotions, to stop the tears, but she couldn't. She couldn't breathe; her head was buzzing, as if something was hidden inside, screaming and pulling at her nerves.

She felt the pain—it was her fault. She had failed to save her family. It was her mistake, her stubbornness, her refusal to listen to advice that led to this outcome. Her grandfather, Lin Zhouye, and her mother—all of them were harmed by her. And not just them, but others, too!

Liang Yusheng’s words suddenly echoed in her ears: he said Fu Juxing loved her, loved her deeply; he said maybe his way of loving was just different. She suddenly realized that everyone close to her had suffered, yet she remained unscathed. No matter how she hit or cursed him, he never said a harsh word or hurt her in the slightest. During those days she was under house arrest at Yunqi, he bought little trinkets every day to try to cheer her up.

Liang Yusheng said if he only cared about the Lin Corporation, she would never have survived childbirth. It was true. If she had died then, he only needed to bribe a few doctors to tell everyone she died of a hemorrhage, and no one would have suspected a thing. If she were dead, who could have stopped him from getting the Lin Corporation?

She covered her head with both hands, her breathing heavy. Could it be... could he really love her?

She bit her lip and slowly opened her eyes. She was met with his deep, dark gaze, her own face reflected in his pupils. They stared at each other for a long time. Lin Wanbai finally calmed down slowly. She took a deep breath, wiped away her tears, and let go of her defensive stance. Her eyes fell on his disheveled collar. She reached out slowly and gently tried to straighten it. But the shirt was already misshapen; no matter what she did, it wouldn't return to its original state. She could only cover it with her hand.

At this moment, her face was as pale as paper. She slowly raised her eyes to look at him again. Her expression was a bit better than before. She tried to lift the corners of her mouth, opened her lips, and after a long while, tried to make a sound. Her voice trembled, something she couldn't control.

She said, "Take me to see my grandfather. Don't worry, I won't run away again, and I won't play any more tricks. Please, don't hurt anyone else, okay?"

Fu Juxing was silent for a moment and said, "I will take you."

She tried to lift her lips again, her gaze sweeping over his neck. She pulled at her sleeve and helped wipe away the blood, her voice shaking. "I... I'm sorry. I was too impulsive. I shouldn't have... I shouldn't have bitten you. I'm sorry..."

"I don't mind." He took her hand and said calmly, "As long as you are safely by my side."

Lin Wanbai looked at him with an unreadable expression.

Afterward, Fu Juxing had Lei Sen come to watch the door, telling him to cooperate with any request the doctors had and to ensure they did everything in their power to save Lin Jingyu. He then took Lin Wanbai back to Pujiang.

Throughout the drive, Lin Wanbai didn't say another word. She sat quietly, looking out the window, praying that all of this was a lie—that it was just another one of Fu Juxing’s traps to bring her back to Yunqi for house arrest. But the surroundings on the way told her clearly that they were heading to Pujiang, not Yunqi.

The car entered Pujiang, slowed down, drove through the tree-lined path, and pulled up in front of the mansion. Uncle An stood at the door with two black-clad bodyguards. He was in tears. Seeing Lin Wanbai get out of the car, he rushed over, knelt on the ground, and said, "Miss, I'm sorry! It's my fault for not taking better care of the master!"

Lin Wanbai immediately helped him up. Seeing the wound on his face, she couldn't help but frown. She glanced at Fu Juxing, but ultimately said nothing. She helped Uncle An up and said, "It has nothing to do with you. I don't blame you. Maybe it's for the best that Grandfather is gone; if he had woken up to see all of this, he might have been angered to death anyway. At least he doesn't have to see it."

She lowered her eyes, tears falling. She wiped them away quickly and looked toward the house. "Grandfather was already quite old..." She pressed her lips together, her heart full of bitterness. She forced herself to say the words, "It could be considered a peaceful passing."

Uncle An looked at her blankly, then glanced at Fu Juxing, lowered his head, and covered his eyes.

Lin Wanbai didn't pay any more attention to Uncle An; she walked inside with Fu Juxing. The house had been simply prepared. The old man was lying in his own room, his clothes already changed. When Lin Wanbai arrived, he was lying there quietly, dressed neatly.

Her legs went weak, her vision blurred, and she couldn't hold it together. Fu Juxing supported her in time. She felt a wave of disgust but didn't push him away. She simply gripped his hand tightly, stood firm, and walked in step by step. Lin Zhaowei’s appearance became clearer. He was still so dignified and elegant, his bearing undiminished.

Uncle An had cleaned him up well; he looked as if he were just sleeping. Three steps away from the bed, Lin Wanbai bent her knees and knelt heavily on the floor. With a thud, she bowed her forehead directly to the floor.

In her heart, she repeated, *I'm sorry.*

She was sobbing uncontrollably now, full of regret. Fu Juxing knelt down, pulled her into his arms, and held her tightly, his gaze fixed on Lin Zhaowei’s face. He said, "He’s gone. It’s a release."

His words fell on Lin Wanbai’s ears. She clenched her teeth, didn't lash out, but cried even harder, tears streaming down as if she wanted to shed all the tears of her life. She gripped his clothes tightly, crying until her whole body convulsed, crying until she could no longer hear anything. She just thought of her grandfather’s voice and smile, her mind filled with his loving laughter.

From the moment she was born until now, Lin Zhaowei had given her the best of everything. He had truly held her in the palm of his hand, raising her with such care. He always said a daughter should be raised with wealth so she wouldn't be easily deceived.

She was wrong. She had failed his expectations. He was so good, yet she was so stubborn. She should have listened to him; she shouldn't have been so headstrong.

Finally, she cried until she was physically exhausted and fainted. Everything came to a sudden halt.

In her dreams, she was still crying, unable to stop herself. A beam of light shone down, and her grandfather’s voice seemed to pierce through everything, landing in her ears: "Xiaobai."

She slowly stopped crying and lifted her head. A bright light shone in her face, making it hard to open her eyes. She shielded them with her hands. After a moment, the light dimmed slightly. She opened her eyes and, through the gaps between her fingers, saw Lin Zhaowei’s kindly smile. He radiated a warm light, like an angel.

Her tears fell again. She lowered her hand, looking blankly at him, her mouth quivering. After a long while, she said, "I'm sorry."

Grandfather didn't speak; he just watched her with a smile, his eyes filled with reluctance. "You are my best granddaughter. Be happy."

He bent down, touched her face gently, and after saying this, turned and walked away. No matter how Lin Wanbai called out, he didn't look back. The warm light followed him as he left, and the surroundings turned pitch black in an instant.

Lin Wanbai woke up with a start. She sat up, her eyes wide. "Grandfather, don't go!"

Fu Juxing was sitting on the sofa across from the bed. Hearing the sound, he lifted his eyes. Their gazes met. The reluctance in Lin Wanbai’s eyes vanished, and the light in them dissipated in an instant. After a few seconds of pause, she pulled back the covers and got out of bed.

Fu Juxing immediately approached and grabbed her hand. "You need to rest."

"I'm fine. I'm going to stay with Grandfather." She said, then as if remembering something, turned to look at him. "My mother... how is my mother?"

"She's back in the intensive care unit."

She curled her lips, unsure whether she should be happy or cry. She was numb, nodding after a moment. "Okay."

She looked down at her clothes, went to the room to change, and when she came out, she saw Aunt Rong appearing at the top of the stairs, holding Fu Linsheng. Lin Wanbai was slightly stunned, tears falling once more. She wiped them away quickly, walked over, and called out, "Aunt Rong."

Aunt Rong turned, and seeing her, her nose became sore. She nodded and said, "Sheng-sheng is out of the hospital. I thought that the old master hadn't even seen his great-grandson yet, so I brought him over to let him take a look."

Lin Wanbai nodded. "You were very thoughtful. Thank you."

"What's there to thank? He is, after all, the old master's blood."

Fu Linsheng was awake, his dark eyes wandering everywhere. He was very well-behaved in Aunt Rong’s arms. Lin Wanbai leaned in to look, and he happened to give a smile. That smile felt like a hand pinching her heart—it was unbearably painful.

She turned her head immediately, tears streaming down her face, unstoppable.