Chapter 16: Abused!

Wen Xuxu didn’t really want to talk about any of it with her son. She sidestepped the topic, hoping to get him back on the boat as quickly as possible.

The wind here was brutal. Sure, flying a drone wasn’t dangerous—but it was late, the sea air was thick with moisture, and she was worried he’d catch a chill.

But Huo Yin wasn’t listening. When Wen Xuxu didn’t answer his question, he turned on his heel and walked away without another word.

“Don’t bother me! Go grab me a few more batteries!”

“Master Xiao…” The bodyguard’s face twisted into immediate discomfort.

Wen Xuxu saw it too—and panic flared in her chest. She was about to step in again when suddenly, a figure strode across the deck toward them. One look at Huo Yin, and the woman marched straight over.

“Huo Yin, stop playing. You’ve had enough. It’s time to go back—your father will be furious if you don’t.”

Wen Xuxu snapped her head around. In an instant, she recognized the woman: flawless makeup, elegant dress, radiating wealth and poise like she’d stepped out of a high-end magazine.

Gu Xia? She was on this boat too?

A flicker of surprise crossed Wen Xuxu’s face. But then she remembered the woman’s connection to that bastard man—and suddenly, nothing about this felt surprising at all.

“Huo Yin, look at you—your clothes are soaked, your hands are freezing. I told you not to come out. What if you get sick again? Don’t you know how fragile your health is? Stop playing. Put it away right now!”

Gu Xia reached him, scowling. She ran a hand over his jacket and froze when she felt the dampness. Her expression darkened instantly.

But Huo Yin wouldn’t listen. No matter how much she yelled, he ignored her, fingers still locked around the drone controller.

“Huo Yin! Are you deaf? Do you want a beating? Give it to me *now!*”

No one expected what came next.

When the woman saw her son refusing to obey, she didn’t just shout—she *snapped*. She grabbed his wrist, yanked it hard, and dug her nails into his small hand. Then she tried to wrestle the controller from him.

Wen Xuxu’s blood boiled.

Huo Yin was stubborn—deeply, painfully stubborn.

Unlike Mo Bao, who was sweet and adaptable, Huo Yin had been isolated since birth. Sickly, neglected, starved for affection—his personality had hardened into something rigid and unyielding. If you spoke to him calmly, there was a chance he’d listen. But push him? He’d dig in harder, fight back with every ounce of defiance he had.

Now, standing by the window, Wen Xuxu watched helplessly as Gu Xia lunged forward. The boy’s fingers turned white around the controller. His face paled, jaw clenched so tight veins stood out on his temples. He refused to let go—*wouldn’t*.

Gu Xia didn’t hesitate. She gripped his hand and *pried* it open. From where Wen Xuxu stood, she could see the child’s little fingers turning purple under her grip.

*That bitch. Monster.*

Wen Xuxu exploded.

“Gu Xia! What the hell are you doing?! You filthy piece of—let go of him! Who gave you permission to touch him? Get away from him! *Get out!*”

She screamed, voice raw and ragged, fury tearing through her like a storm.

Gu Xia’s face went pale.

*Damn it.* She’d been so focused on disciplining the kid she’d forgotten—there was someone else watching.

Now what?

If this woman told Huo Si Jue… the man’s only weakness was his son. If he found out, Gu Xia knew exactly what would happen. No mercy. No second chances.

Her grip loosened instantly. Her composure cracked. For the first time, fear flickered across her face.

“Gu Xia,” Wen Xuxu spat, trembling with rage, “so this is how you’ve treated him for the past five years? How can your heart be so cruel? He may not be yours by blood—but he’s still Huo Si Jue’s son! You married him. Couldn’t you have shown him *any* kindness? He’s *five years old!* Five! Gu Xia!!”

“Miss Wen,” Gu Xia said coolly, smiling like she’d just heard a joke, “what are you talking about? I don’t understand. What did I do wrong? I was just trying to protect him from catching a cold. Isn’t that what any responsible adult would do?”

Wen Xuxu nearly choked.

In less than a second, the woman had composed herself—calm, collected, even graceful. And now she looked at Wen Xuxu with icy poise.

“You think I’m lying?” Wen Xuxu shot back, pointing at the bodyguard. “You saw it! I saw you twist his fingers, pinch him—*I saw it!* The guard saw it too. You’re not getting away with this!”

But then—something worse happened.

As soon as she mentioned the witness, Gu Xia turned, smiled, and walked straight up to the bodyguard.

“You saw it?” she asked softly.

The man’s face drained of color. A bead of sweat rolled down his temple. His eyes darted nervously between the two women.

“I—I didn’t see anything,” he stammered. “Nothing at all.”

Gu Xia turned back to Wen Xuxu, triumphant.

“Hear that? He says he didn’t see anything. So, Miss Wen—you’re accusing me falsely. Or maybe… you’re just trying to ruin my reputation, regain your place as the mistress of the Huo family? Let me tell you something: forget it. *I’m* the one who belongs here now. I’m Huo Si Jue’s woman.”

“!!!”

Wen Xuxu wanted to scream.

She never thought a woman could be so shameless—so brazenly dishonest. And the worst part? The entire crew—her own people—*obeyed* her.

If she tried to expose Gu Xia now, no one would believe her.

Not a soul.

And Huo Yin—still standing there, silent, fists clenched, eyes burning with quiet fury—was the only one who truly understood what had just happened.

But he couldn’t speak.

And neither could she.