When Janessa arrived at the old house, she realized that Rayan wasn't home yet.
She attempted to contact him, but he either sent her to voice mail or hung up the call.
Was it that difficult for him to answer one of her calls? The moment Janessa entered the hall, she
noticed that most of the elders of the Lu family were gathered in the formal living room.
Were they here to criticize her? Janessa couldn't help but brace herself for what was to come.
It was the first time she had ever seen this many members of the Lu family since she got married.
However, now that she had to deal with them alone, without Rayan by her side.
Her fingertips trembled ever so slightly, but she managed to walk towards them calmly.
"Janessa, come and sit down," Rayan's mother, Sarah, ordered.
"Yes, mom," Janessa answered obediently.
She quickly took a seat on the sofa.
All of the people in the room turned their gazes toward her.
The moment she sat down, Rayan's aunt, Wendy, glanced at her freshly manicured nails with a bored
look.
Then, she said in a sarcastic voice, "What an ungrateful and malicious woman! I'm sure you're aware
that your family's business is getting better now.That must be why you're determined to get rid of
us.You bribed someone to post that photo of Rayan, didn't you?"
Wendy had never been particularly pleasant to Janessa, but it was the first time she bared her claws
like this.
Were they aware of all the things Rayan had done to the Qiu family? When Janessa failed to answer,
Wendy continued, "Why aren't you saying anything? Who do you think you are? You're lucky you
managed to get a job in the Lu Group.Instead of minding your own business and working hard, you're
playing little tricks on everybody.It's pathetic!"
Wendy's husband, Glen, tugged at her clothes and gave her a warning look.
Janessa didn't attempt to explain herself because she knew it wouldn't make a difference.People like
them only believed what they wanted to believe.The only people she was concerned about were her
parents-in-law.
She wanted them to believe her.However, her parents-in-law hadn't said a word since she entered the
room.
They had been waiting patiently for Rayan to come back, so he could clarify what had happened.
An hour later, Rayan finally arrived.
The woman in the photo, Gracie, also walked in by his side.
On their way to the old house, Rayan promised Gracie that he would protect her and wouldn't allow her
to be bullied.
When Sarah noticed Gracie come in, her usually kind eyes immediately burned with anger.
"Rayan, ask Gracie to go back to her parent's house first.We have something important to discuss with
you."
This was the first time Gracie had walked into the Lu family's old house under Rayan's protection.
She was once forced to leave, but this time around, they wouldn't be able to get rid of her so quickly.
Sooner or later, she would marry into the Lu family.
Upon hearing Sarah's words, Gracie's brows furrowed, but she obediently released Rayan's hand.
"I haven't seen my parents in a long time.I should go and visit them.You guys should talk."
Before she left, she gave Rayan a small sad smile.
Rayan's brows furrowed as he watched her walk away.
"Everyone's finally here.Rayan, please explain to us what on earth happened!"
Rayan's father, Donald, was seated on the sofa with a stern look on his face.
His fist slammed onto the wooden table the moment Rayan walked in.
"What you see is what you get.Janessa and I have divorced.I'm in a relationship with Gracie now,"
Rayan explained in a calm voice.
When he mentioned Janessa, he pointed towards her, and there was a look of warning in his eyes.
Janessa turned away from him, indicating that she wasn't interested in cooperating with his plans.
Wendy was pleased when she heard the news of their divorce.
After that, she glanced at Janessa before she said, "I can understand now.It turns out that the two of
you have been divorced for some time now.What's going to happen to you now?” Glen pulled his wife
aside and whispered a warning to her in a low voice.
Wendy wasn't keen on restraining herself today.
"Do you have any idea how much today's scandal has affected the Lu Group's stock price? Why wasn't
I informed that you divorced Janessa? Do you not consider me as your father anymore?"
Donald slammed his fist on the table a second time.
He was furious with Rayan.
"Janessa, please tell me.When did the two of you get divorced?"
Donald turned to Janessa and asked.
His question had caught Janessa by surprise.
The last thing she expected was for him to address her directly."We finalized our divorce about a month
ago,"
she announced.
A satisfied smile teased the corners of her lips.
There was no longer any need to hide anything from these people.
She felt as if a heavy burden was eased off her shoulders.
Everyone was surprised by the news.
Even after they had divorced, Janessa continued to work in the Lu Group, and the Qiu Group remained
in business.
What was going on between Janessa and Ryan? Why were they doing this? What was their motive?
"It's none of your business.Get out!"
Rayan spoke to her as if he were driving a dog away.
His voice sounded cold, and his brows were furrowed in anger.Although they hadn't stayed married for
a long time, Janessa had still been his wife for some time.
How could he speak to her like this?
"How dare you to speak like that in this house! Shut your mouth!"
Sarah screamed at Rayan as she held Janessa's hand.
This was not how Rayan had expected this situation to go.
"I've told you before that you can marry anyone you want, except for Gracie.You cannot be with that
woman.It would be best for you to give it up,"
Donald said as he pointed angrily at Rayan.
Many women would kill to be with him, but Rayan only had eyes for Gracie.
Janessa's background and temperament were much better than Gracie's.
Why couldn't Rayan admit to himself and accept that he had been married to a good woman? "I
brought Gracie all the way here.I think that's clear enough.If you can't find it in yourself to welcome her,
then you won't see me again."
When Rayan finished speaking, he walked out without another word.
However, his mother's words made him stop.
"Do you think things will be that easy? Do you even know where she is right now? Even if you find her
now, do you really think you two can walk out of here?"
Sarah asked with a cold smile on her face.
Rayan turned back to look at her with a stern face.
"Don't look at me like that.Janessa is the only daughter- in-law I will recognize in this lifetime.If you
refuse to make her my daughter-in-law, then you will not be allowed to marry again.You'll be single your
entire life."
Their discussion had reached a boiling point.
Rayan knew that his parents were capable of hiding Gracie in a place where he would never find her.
Even if there were more than a dozen people seated in the hall, the hall was so quiet that they could
barely hear the sound of each other's breaths.
The atmosphere in the room became suffocating.
"Let me ask you one more time.Do you have to marry Gracie?"
Rayan answered without hesitation, "Yes.I do."
"Atlas, hand me my whip."
Donald was also determined.
Atlas couldn't bring himself to go upstairs to retrieve the whip.
Last time, Rayan was severely beaten because of Gracie.
Now, history would repeat itself.
He would be punished for wanting to marry the woman of his choice.
Janessa lowered her head and smiled bitterly to herself.
Whether she loved Rayan or not, there was a huge gap between them that they couldn't overcome.
Atlas soon fetched the whip, but he hesitated before giving it to Donald.
"Ms.Janessa, please try talk to Mr.Donald! Or Mr.Rayan will get seriously beaten for this!" he pleaded.
Even they had got divorced, Janessa didn't really want to see Rayan suffer, so she stepped up.
"Dad, please let him go.We'll be holding a press conference this afternoon.Everything will calm down
once we make our divorce public."
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