Chapter 9: Who the Hell Do You Think You Are to Be Mom?

Son!
This is her other son!!

Wen Xuxu was about to rush forward and tell him—*I’m your mommy!*

But then, the man crouched in front of the child suddenly spoke:
“A stranger. That’s enough. Since you don’t want to go to kindergarten today, let Uncle Lin take you down to play and grab something to eat.”

Huo Yun perked up at the mention of food. Nodded.

And just minutes later, Wen Xuxu watched helplessly as the boy was led away by the man’s assistant.

"Huo Sijue! Why did you say I’m a stranger to him? I *am* his mother!"

"Oh? Is that right? Well, what I know is—your mother’s already dead. Her grave’s still in the cemetery."

After the boy left, the man stood, walked over to the wine cabinet, poured himself a glass of red wine, then settled into the living room sofa with effortless grace—like he’d just stepped out of a magazine.

He didn’t even glance at Wen Xuxu.

Her blood boiled. She wanted to scream, to tear him apart—but she had nothing to say.

Because in front of this boy, she *was* dead.

So how could she ask him to call her “mommy”? How could she explain that she hadn’t really died… just abandoned him?

Her face went pale. She bit down hard on her lip until it bled.

Huo Sijue saw it. A slow, cruel smirk curled at the corner of his mouth.

"Remember now? Should I tell him who you are?"

Her knuckles turned white, clenched so tight they trembled.

"What do you *want*, Huo Sijue? If you don’t want your son to recognize me, why bring me here at all? To treat you? I told you—I’ll never touch you, not even if you’re dying!"

She spat the words through gritted teeth.

Then, he let out a cold, dismissive snort.

"You’re delusional. With your amateur skills, I’m not stupid enough to hand my life over to you."

Wen Xuxu froze.

The anger burned so hot it turned to ice.

"...Then what *do* you want from me?"

"What do I want? You don’t even know? Wen Xuxu, you vanished five years ago—just disappeared. Do you have any idea how many sins you’ve piled up? Have you forgotten the people who cared about you? The ones who suffered because of your *fake death*?!"

His voice cracked like a whip.

He stared at her—eyes narrowed, dark, predatory. Like a ghost ready to devour her soul.

Wen Xuxu staggered back, her face drained of color.

How could she forget?

Old Master Huo—she’d once thought he was kinder than anyone else. Even though his son hated her, refused their marriage, Old Master Huo had always treated her with dignity.

And then her aunt’s family—the only ones who’d kept the Wen name alive after the collapse. Her father in prison, her mother broken by grief and dead soon after. It was her aunt who’d held everything together. Who’d sacrificed everything for her.

And what did she repay her with? A fake funeral. A lie.

Wen Xuxu squeezed her eyes shut.

"And *you* think I’m the one to blame?"

"Blame? Ha. Wen Xuxu, you’re good at washing your hands clean. If you hadn’t agreed to this marriage, none of this would’ve happened. You slept with me—fine. I drugged you—okay. But marrying into the Huo family? No one forced you!"

This man wasn’t human. He was a demon.

Five years ago, she’d thought—after seeing her die once—he might finally show some mercy.

But no.

He pulled the knife out again, twisted it deep into her wound.

Before she could even breathe, the pain came roaring back—raw, searing, unbearable.

"Yeah, no one forced me. I was an idiot to marry into your family. Into *you*. A monster. Are you happy now? I ruined my whole life—now I’m neither human nor ghost. Does that make you feel better? Get out! *Get out of my sight!*"

She lost it.

Grabbed the nearest thing—a lamp, a vase, anything—and hurled it at him with every ounce of fury in her body.

Tears welled in her eyes, blurring her vision—but the rage behind them burned crimson.

Huo Sijue blinked.

Stunned.

Apparently, he hadn’t expected her to snap like this.

*Did she have a mental illness?*

Only allowed to scream at him—no right to fight back?

Just as the object flew toward him, he dodged—swift, practiced.

"Wen Xuxu, are you *crazy*? Listen—don’t act out here. Even if you *are* insane, I’ll drag you back. Let them see what a mess you’ve become."

With those words, he turned, stormed out, leaving chaos in his wake.

Wen Xuxu lunged after him—furious, desperate.

But before she reached the door, the black-clad men who’d brought her in earlier reappeared.

This time, they didn’t hesitate.

They drew guns. Aimed them straight at her head.

"..."

"Huo Sijue, you bastard! You monster! Come back! Let me out! *Huo Sijue—*"