Chapter Twenty: A Woman's Dignity...

The thunder was deafening, and Fei Jing couldn’t catch a single word.

Lu Tian was too tired to waste words. Before the ninety-day countdown ended, there were things she needed to keep hidden.

“Nannann’s sea burial is scheduled for the day after tomorrow. I’m exhausted; I’m going upstairs first.”

As usual, her words were perfunctory.

She stepped up the stairs, and a servant handed her a warm cup of milk.

Perhaps due to the long-term use of painkillers and sleeping aids, even with the milk’s flavor masking it, Lu Tian could still detect that peculiar bitterness.

It was a sleeping pill.

The dosage couldn’t be small...

“What’s wrong? Not very tired? Have some milk first to relax. Tonight, your husband will give you a massage,” Fei Jing said, holding a strawberry tart in his left hand, while his right hand reached out to knead her shoulder invitingly.

Clatter.

Lu Tian reacted with strong resistance, jumping back several steps.

Half the warm milk spilled on the floor.

Fei Jing frowned impatiently, his voice low and reproachful. “Tian Tian, it’s been a while since Nannan passed away. You’ve refused to let me touch you. Fine, out of love I respect that, but do you think it’s appropriate to keep this up?”

Appropriate?

A man who had an affair within the marriage and even brought the mistress to share the wife’s bed—what right did he have to question her?

“See a psychologist. We’re husband and wife, family. Your behavior isn’t normal.” His tone was commanding.

Lu Tian sneered coldly, “So, in Mr. Fei’s eyes, are women who are treated like dolls all day, played with by you, the ‘normal’ ones?”

“Lu Tian, I’m trying to talk to you reasonably; you should make sense!” Fei Jing was genuinely angry.

She shrugged indifferently. “I’ll sleep in the guest room tonight. Don’t bother me unless it’s important. Nannan’s spirit won’t be happy otherwise.”

After saying that, Lu Tian went to the master bedroom, took the urn, and locked the guest room door at the end of the corridor.

That spiked milk was like the soul-whip wielded by the grim reapers—silent, bloodless, yet it shredded the last remnants of her fond memories of this man into tatters, leaving no trace of reluctance.

The storm in Hawaii came swiftly and departed just as fast.

Stars sprinkled across the sky, flickering faintly above the cleansed night.

Buzz.

A message from an unknown number.

— “The sky is still there; why not be a little braver?”

---

Below was a recruitment notice from the Beijing-Hong Kong Air Traffic Control Bureau.

Lu Tian perfectly met every hardware requirement.

After hesitating a moment, she replied: “Bubble Mary mask?”

The message went unanswered.

All night, Lu Tian repeatedly zoomed in on the photo screenshot, several times wanting to contact the number on the business card, to submit a resume.

But in the end, she bitterly tore the card to pieces and threw it in the trash, deleting the photo permanently.

Leaning against the bay window, dawn crept in.

The warm light enveloped her cold body.

But she was too ill; the warmth of the world had long lost its instinct to be felt.

“Lu Tian, Lu Tian, someone on the brink of death has no capital left to pursue the future. Give up; stop longing for things you can never have in a lifetime.”

For example, family affection.

For example, unwavering love...

The sun rose fully.

Outside the door, Lu Youyou’s cheerful laughter rang crisply.

The little girl happily urged, “Sister, brother-in-law and big brother are taking us on a tour around the island. Hurry, hurry, they can’t wait~”

Miss Lu’s coquettishness was habitual—did she not distinguish between genders or ages?

Lu Tian had not slept all night and felt listless.

She refused, “You all go by yourselves; I’m resting in the castle.”

“No, Tian Tian, you come with us. Don’t be so unreasonable,” Fei Jing’s accustomed arrogance made it hard for him to accept anyone’s defiance.

Lu Zhi smirked, “What did I say? Lu Tian is just spoiled by you to be lawless. As a wife, she has no discipline at all.”

“Oh, big brother, brother-in-law, maybe sister really isn’t feeling well? Maybe we should just go,” Lu Youyou said, her every syllable trembling slightly.

She was clearly unwell.

But to please Fei Jing and Lu Zhi, she gritted her teeth and endured it.

Their incessant nagging gave Lu Tian a headache.

With no other choice and seeking some peace, she tidied up simply and went out with them for the island tour.

“Lu Youyou, did you get your period?” To keep some distance from Fei Jing, she deliberately kept her head down, playing on her phone, walking behind them.

When they were about to get in the car, she raised her hand and saw a large bloodstain on Lu Youyou’s pink mini skirt—clearly showing through.

Fei Jing’s face, usually cold and flawless, revealed undisguised disdain and blame.

“Going out without cleaning yourself up, who do you want to embarrass?” The man knew pregnant women didn’t get their periods. Probably because she nearly miscarried before, and they had been too active lately, causing injury.

Lu Zhi tried to defend her but was silenced by Fei Jing’s stern glare.

Lu Youyou covered behind her, ashamed, lowering her head, choking back tears. “I’m sorry, brother-in-law, I just... I didn’t want to ruin your mood, so I... I...”

“Trying to come out and have fun even though you’re unwell?”

Lu Tian cut in, finding it ridiculous.

But basic respect for women, even a mistress had the right to be treated decently.

“Someone, take Miss Lu back to her room to clean up, and...” She grabbed the expensive suit jacket hanging on Lu Zhi’s arm and draped it over Lu Youyou’s shoulders.

Lu Zhi was angry. “Lu Tian, are you crazy? That’s my suit!”

“Isn’t Lu Youyou your most cherished sister? How come now she’s worth less than a piece of clothing?”

“I…”

“Take her back to the castle. No island tour for you today, Lu Youyou.” Fei Jing ordered, and no one dared to argue.

Looking at the little girl again.

She glared viciously at the only person who still treated her like a human—Lu Tian—and bit her lip until it bled, silently cursing, “Old woman, you slut! You’re really good at acting to monopolize Brother Fei!”

Ha.

In this world, being a good person is the hardest thing!

Lu Tian’s expression was indifferent as she was the first to get in the car.

She took the rear seat.

Fei Jing stood next to the driver’s seat, his already gloomy face even darker and harder to read.

Lu Zhi sneered, “What are you pretending? No matter how much Ah Jing likes you, if you act like this, you might end up kicked out with nothing, homeless on the streets!”

“Is that so? But is Lu Young Master really sure the one who will be kicked out, left with nothing, homeless on the streets is me?” Lu Tian’s inscrutable gaze pierced through the car window, barely touching Fei Jing.

The man’s heart clenched sharply.

Since Nannan’s burial, that uncontrollable, impending sense of loss and unrest had haunted him relentlessly.

The Cullinan drove away from the castle.

Fei Jing looked at Lu Tian in the rearview mirror, forcing a strained smile. “Wife, couples don’t fight so seriously. You promised me you’d stay by my side forever and wouldn’t go back on your word, right?”