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Lu Zhaolin was standing in front of his first wife, An Qinyan. It wasn’t the first time he was seeing her after she returned to the country and it was most definitely not the last time he would meet her either.
“Congratulations, Miss An for winning the case, “The lawyer shook hands with An Qinyan while her gaze was stuck on her ex husband. She had won the case of Lu Xuan’s custody battle. Actually, it wasn’t a custody case. It was a case over papers signed by the Lu family sixteen years ago that they were now calling invalid.
When An Qinyan had divorced her husband, his mother had made her sign the document where she was forced to give up Lu Xuan’s custody. She was unemployed and thus she could lose An Xiulan too if she didn’t sign the papers.
The main reason why she signed those papers was because Lu Xuan was born with a weak immune system, he was always sick and he needed constant medical care that she would not be able to provide at that time.
She needed money to give medical care to her son and she was a housewife, Lu Zhaolin’s mother didn’t want a working woman for his son.
Old Madam knew that Song Yifei was not capable of giving birth to a child as the latter’s womb was too weak to carry a baby. She couldn’t let An Qinyan walk away with the heir of the family. Lu Xuan was a boy and she had a weak spot for make her first grandson.
Therefore, in order to not sound so callous and cruel, she persuaded Lu Zhaolin to add a clause in those papers that said if Song Yifei would ever have a son, An Qinyan could claim back the custody of her son.
This was done to make Lu family sound not so inhumane.
When Song Yifei suggested her husband have a baby through surrogacy, Old Madam wasn’t pleased and never forgot to taunt her daughter-in-law for thinking about sending Lu Xuan away.
Song Yifei knew that she wasn’t cut out for being a mother. She loved her sons but she knew that she would never be able to become one like those perfect mothers. She had so many shortcomings and she was ready to accept it. She always knew that Lu Xuan wasn’t her son no matter how much she wanted him to be, the name of mother on his birthday certificate was An Qinyan’s, not hers.
An Qinyan never left their life even when she started her own life in a different continent.
“I hope you will not regret your decision, “Lu Zhaolin said as he approached An Qinyan. His forehead twitches when he saw Gu Yanxi draping an arm around her shoulder. Seeing the man’s cocky face, he was reminded of the happenings of sixteen years ago once again.
By one way or other Gu Yanxi was responsible for breaking their home.
An Qinyan sighed inwardly. Did these men think she was interested in a battle between who had more testosterone?
Come on, she had more important work to do. Like earning another millions of dollars.
“Mr Lu, the court has given the verdict,”An Qinyan said with a smile. “I hope you will respect the court’s decision or no one else knows better than you what a contempt of court is?”
“An Qinyan, if you can snatch Lu Xuan from me, I can do the same too, “Lu Zhaolin boomed. The son he had raised and loved for sixteen years was snatched just like this, how could he accept it?
“Lu Zhaolin! I never refused you to visit Xiulan. It was you who never visited. If I could cross seven oceans to meet my son every month, you can do the same but you never bothered to. So, don’t give me empty threats,”An Qinyan replied. She was seething at this moment. Her babygirl never made any demands to see her father who never wanted to meet her bit she understood the heart of a child.
“Empty threats? I raised Xuan. What did you do? What rights do you have to take him away from us? Where are your morals?” Lu Zhaolin asked her with a scowl?
Look who was talking about morals?
“I might not be a good mother to Ah Xuan but atleast I did a pretty good job raising Xiulan. I know I tried my best with Ah Xuan too. He loved me but your mother turned him against me. He hates me now,”An Qinyan said. Taking a pause, she went on, “But you know what? He hates you too. And Lu Zhaolin, what did you say you raised him?”
An Qinyan had an urge to laugh at his claim.
“A child didn’t just need food and shelter. He needs love, care and acceptance too. If you have given him with all those things then why is our son staying at someone else’s place to hide his bruises and pain from you?” An Qinyan asked. That day when the bodyguards saw Lu Xuan, they had sent him a complete report on him. “Why is he doesn’t value his life? Do you know what? He is at a juncture of life where if he dies, he will be accepting the death with a smile.”
What could scare a mother’s heart than this thing that her son was ready to give away his life for a mere thrill? Why couldn’t Lu Zhaolin see the pain behind Lu Xuan’s rebellion? The boy was begging to be seen but no one could see his predicament.
“You did a pretty good job raising him now please let me make an effort in saving him,” An Qinyan sarcastically said. “For the love of god, just keep your mother away from him. Let me make an effort this time.”
She didn’t wait for him to retort because she knew he had nothing to say in his favour. An Xiulan was right, he was a scumbag. He was left staring at her back as she left with Gu Yanxi.
….
As she exited the court, she found Lu Xuan sitting on the bench, his head covered with his black hoodie and she could only see his hair not face. She silently took a seat beside him. ρꪖꪕᦔꪖꪕꪫꪣꫀꪶ
“Can you adults stop controlling my fucking life?” Lu Xuan growled, his eyes still on his feet.
“Yes as soon as you turn eighteen and we can give you semi control of your life once you flush your potty mouth.”
“This is not funny.”
“You Are right. Cursing is not funny.”
“I don’t want to go with you.”
“Oh, I know. That’s why I came prepared.” An Qinyan talked like a proper business woman.
“I don’t like my parents.”
“I know they suck at parentings.”
“Why is it so difficult to talk to you?”
“Because we have same attitude. You infuriate me . I infuriate you.”
“I want to stay at my friend’s house for a week before coming arriving at a decision.”
“Sure, I will come to pick you from Wang Yuxi’s home next week.”
“I didn’t tell you about Wang Yuxi.”
“You did on the last meeting.”
Lu Xuan narrowed his eyes at her. In the last meeting, he didn’t talk to her. They were in same room like ervytime and he ignored her and spentenyire taime talking to Wang Yuxi and his game buddies . How did she know?
“I am not staying at Wang Yuxi’s.”
“You can’t stay at Song Sueyun’s house. Her parents are home and you won’t stay there.”
“You think you have me all figured out.”
“Nope, if I have you all figured. Wouldn’t i be taking you home with me?”
“I won’t stay under the same roof as your daughter.”
“You won’t stay under the same roof as my daughter. Her room is on second floor and yours will be on ground floor. You aren’t sharing the same roof.”
“You can’t entangle me in your web of words.”
“Of course, I know. You are better than that.”
“You know what?” Lu Xuan said as he removd his hoodie cap and let her have a look at him. “It’s futile to talk to my parents. Both of them are nuts.”
A smile bloomed on her lips. Atleast he recognises her as his parent.
“Shawn!”
“Yes, Madam.”
“You will be protecting Young Master. It is your duty to take him wherever he wants to stay. You and the team of bodyguards prepared for Young Master will stay with him all the time. Don’t follow him to close. Give him space to breathe.”
Lu Xuan huffed and puffed.
“You are my son. You are coming home with me soon. I am a rich woman. I don’t want someone to harm you because of me. They are not there to notify me your whereabouts all the time but to keep you safe. I already lost Xiulan because of my negligence once…i cant afford to lose u too.”