Chapter 43 I Hate Daddy!

What the hell did she do?

What the actual hell just happened?

Everyone was stunned—until Chen Ma stopped convulsing on the floor. Only then did they look again, and what they saw made their blood run cold: a long, silver needle jutting out from her neck.

My God…

A wave of icy dread swept through the room. Gu Xia was so terrified she turned pale as a ghost, trembling uncontrollably, unable to speak.

“Wen Xuxu! What the hell are you doing?! Are you insane?! You can’t just kill someone here! Do you have a death wish or something?!"

Huo Sijue snapped back to his senses. He stared down at the lifeless maid on the ground, rage boiling in his chest. His voice cracked with fury.

She’s gone mad. She really is insane!

Does she even know what she’s doing? That’s a person—not some animal! She just… killed her like it was nothing! Is her brain full of water now? When did she become this violent? This cruel?!

For the first time in his life, Huo Sijue felt so furious his mind went blank.

But the woman didn’t flinch. Not even when he screamed at her. She just stared at him, eyes cold as ice, and slowly, dangerously, smiled.

“What’s wrong? Scared? Then remember this, Huo Sijue—don’t ever test my limits.”

Her voice slithered through the air like smoke, each word deliberate, chilling. Then she turned—without another word—and walked away, her heels clicking against the marble like a ghost retreating into silence.

Huo Sijue: …
Mo Bao: …
Gu Xia: …

In that massive mansion, she left without a single soul thinking to stop her. It wasn’t until she reached the front gate, her silhouette fading into the distance, that Gu Xia finally snapped awake.

“Stop her! Stop her right now! She just murdered someone! How can she just walk away like that?! Come on—grab her! Catch her! Now!”

She shrieked, her facade finally shattered. No more sweet, composed lady. Her eyes burned with venom, twisted with hatred—she wanted to tear Wen Xuxu apart, limb by limb.

Too bad her wish would never come true.

Because just as Wen Xuxu stepped outside, the body of Chen Ma—still sprawled on the dining room floor—let out a gurgle deep in her throat. Then, almost instantly, a long, shuddering breath escaped her chest.

*Cough… cough… cough…*

“Ah… Miss Gu… I’ve… I’ve finally… caught my breath…”

Silence.

The entire dining room froze again—stunned, speechless, utterly paralyzed.

—

Old District, rented apartment.

Huo Yin got the call from Mo Bao just past four in the afternoon. At the time, he was sitting beside his little sister in the living room, pretending to watch cartoons. He hated them—but Mama had told him to stay close and keep an eye on her, so he sat there, stiff and bored, playing the good brother.

He picked up the phone.

“Hello?”

“Huo Yin,” Mo Bao said the moment she answered, “has Mama come home yet?”

Mama?

Huo Yin glanced around the empty house—the two of them alone. He frowned. “No… why? Isn’t she still with you?”

Mo Bao’s face darkened instantly.

It had been days since she’d left First Imperial Court. And still no return. That idiot Mama must’ve slipped off somewhere again—probably hiding in that same quiet corner where she always went when she was hurt. Back when they were overseas, whenever she took a hit emotionally, she’d disappear for hours, crying alone, waiting until she felt strong enough to come back. Never wanting to worry them.

Mo Bao wanted to teleport home right then—to find that foolish Mama and drag her back by the collar.

“Huo Yin,” she said, voice tight, “can we switch back now?”

“Wait… what?” Huo Yin blinked. “Now? But we said tomorrow, right?”

After lunch, he’d started to actually enjoy being with Mama. He didn’t want to go back to that cold, silent mansion.

But Mo Bao exploded over the line.

“No! I can’t take it anymore! This place—it’s unbearable! I can’t stand one more second in this godforsaken house!”

“Why? What’s wrong?”

“Because of that *dumb* dad!” Mo Bao spat. “Huo Yin, tell me—what kind of woman is Gu Xia? Why does she act so badly, and Dad just pretends not to see it? Instead, he blames Mama! Is Dad’s brain full of water? Can’t he tell right from wrong?!”

Silence.

Then, after a long pause, Huo Yin finally spoke—his tone icy, disgusted.

“She’s Dad’s girlfriend.”

“What? Girlfriend?” Mo Bao’s voice cracked. “So… she might end up becoming your stepmom?!”

Huo Yin shook his head. “I don’t know. Maybe. But I don’t like her. And I sure as hell don’t want her to be my stepmom.”

He made his feelings crystal clear.

Hearing that, Mo Bao exhaled—just slightly relieved.

“Huo Yin, I’m glad you feel that way. Honestly, when I first found out about our real identities, I actually wanted to bring Dad and Mama together. But today… today I saw everything. I’m so angry I could scream. Dad has let me down. He broke my heart. I’ve never seen such a *disgusting* man before.”

The last words came out like a roar. And as a son, he didn’t hold back—he used the word “asshole” with brutal honesty.

The damage done by what happened at noon had cut deeper than anyone could imagine.