Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
She put the clothes down. There was a huge basin on the table which used to be placed on the floor. There was no way she could have bent down in her current condition so it was placed on the table instead. She had painstakingly gathered a few pails of water which she poured into the basin. There was no hot water as she was saving every cent she could for her child, no matter how tough it was for her.
After soaking the clothes, she reached into the basin with her swollen hand ridden with blisters. She scrubbed the clothes with one hand; her left hand had no strength at all.
Her left hand was almost crippled.
The cold from the icy water pierced her heart; her face turned paler. However, she continued to wash the clothes in the basin with the same posture. She knew they were sincerely helping her which was why she should do a better job to repay them. She knew very well who had treated her kindly and who hadn’t.
It was already midnight when she finally hung the last piece of clothing. She rubbed her back carefully and put her hand on her face, only putting it on her belly after it was warmer.
“Baby, you have been exceptionally well-behaved today.” She caressed with care as she felt a slight movement from the child inside her, kicking with its hand or foot. She smiled and sat on the worn-out wooden bed.
“I wonder if you are a boy or a girl.”
“Mommy wished you are a boy.” As soon as she finished, the baby started moving in her stomach again. “Haha.” She covered herself with the blanket, her hand remaining on her belly. “Are you angry with Mommy? Actually, Mommy will be happier if you were a girl.”
She shifted her hand to her calf. Her legs were swollen, and she rubbed gently. At times, there would be cramps over a long period of time. When that happened and she was in pain, she would rub her legs to make them feel better.
Being pregnant with a baby was harder than she thought. She had vomited till she was half-dead or went without a meal for days due to inappetence and almost died from a high fever here.
Now, everything was over, and her baby was arriving soon.
She clutched the blanket tight. No matter how tough it was, she was determined to deliver the baby safe and sound. No one could take her baby’s life away, not even her.
Her child was her only ray of hope. Without the baby, Xia Ruoxin could have been dead a long time ago. She knew clearly that she had responsibilities as a mother.
She closed her eyes; she could sleep well. Although the bed was not soft enough and the pillow slightly hard, with her baby around, Xia Ruoxin could also be happy.
The clothes should be dry by tomorrow.
At the same time, in the Chu mansion…
A man stood by the window. His fingertips were almost burnt by the cigarette, and he put it out in a hurry before throwing it away.
He glanced back, and everything looked so different—filled with Li Manni’s favorite colors. She had decorated it in the way she liked.
A set of the day’s newspaper lay on the table. It had deliberately publicized the transnational wedding ceremony. He walked over and put the newspaper on his lap. Time really flew. It was almost a year since that woman left, seemingly vanishing from his world.
She should have seen this—saw how happy he was with another woman. She should be in agony.
That was what he always wanted; her in agony.