She had no say in my affairs

Qiao Hua raised an eyebrow, while Weng Fenghua beside her looked distinctly displeased.

She pushed the door open, and the conversation inside abruptly stopped.

Seeing Weng Fenghua, Gu Wenze frowned. "Mom, what are you doing here?"

Weng Fenghua's gaze swept over Jiang Nan's face before returning to Gu Wenze. Her tone was sharp. "Can't I come unless I need something?"

Gu Wenze's brow twitched, but he said nothing.

Jiang Nan stood up and greeted her first. "Auntie Weng, why didn't you tell us you were coming? Wenze and I could have gone down to meet you."

Weng Fenghua's voice grew colder. "No need. I came with my daughter-in-law."

At the words "daughter-in-law," Jiang Nan's smile froze. Her gaze passed over Weng Fenghua's shoulder, and only then did she notice Qiao Hua behind her.

Beside her, Gu Wenze's dark gaze grew colder. "What are you doing here?"

Weng Fenghua was displeased by his question. "What kind of thing is that to say? Does your wife need your permission to come see you?"

"Besides, if other people can come, why can't she?"

Catching the insinuation in Weng Fenghua's words, Jiang Nan clenched her fingers. "Auntie Weng, you've misunderstood Wenze. He's just a little surprised."

Weng Fenghua glanced at her and gave a faint snort. "You certainly seem to know his every thought."

Jiang Nan bit her lower lip and looked to Gu Wenze for help.

Gu Wenze stepped in front of Jiang Nan, shielding her with his tall frame. He seemed puzzled by Weng Fenghua's hostility. "Mom, what's gotten into you today? Why are you treating Jiang Nan so strangely?"

Jiang Nan tugged at Gu Wenze's sleeve, a hint of hurt in her voice. "I'm fine. I'm sure Auntie Weng didn't mean it."

[That's right, Auntie didn't mean it-she did it on purpose. Wenze, hurry up and stand up for me.]

[I'm just a poor, fragile little thing. What bad intentions could I possibly have?]

Gu Wenze's temples throbbed hard.

After hearing Jiang Nan's words, he had indeed felt a momentary urge to blame his mother.

Was Jiang Nan really trying to drive a wedge between him and his mother?

What he failed to notice was that Weng Fenghua was now looking at Jiang Nan differently, too.

She could only curse herself for having been so blind before. She had never realized how fake and manipulative Jiang Nan was, and now the woman was trying to turn her own son against her.

That vicious woman!

"My daughter-in-law is right here. Should I be nice to an outsider instead?"

Gu Wenze's jaw tightened as he asked pointedly, "Did someone say something to you? Is that why you came to the office?"

As he spoke, his gaze settled on Qiao Hua.

Qiao Hua, inexplicably caught in the crossfire: "?"

What did this have to do with her now?

She hadn't done a thing.

[Suspicion is an illness. Get it treated.]

[Your mom came to the house first thing this morning, took me shopping, then brought me to the office. I'm just along for the ride, okay?]

Sure enough, the next moment, Weng Fenghua said, "I brought Qiao Hua here. She knew nothing about it beforehand."

No emotion showed in Gu Wenze's deep, dark eyes. He didn't seem to believe her.

It wasn't as though Qiao Hua hadn't pulled this sort of thing before.

Weng Fenghua turned to Jiang Nan and said meaningfully, "Jiang Nan, Wenze is a married man. Isn't it a little inappropriate for you to keep coming to see him like this?"

Weng Fenghua's words landed like a slap across Jiang Nan's face, and her expression changed at once.

Jiang Nan bit her lip hard enough to leave faint teeth marks. "Auntie Weng, Wenze and I are just friends."

Weng Fenghua said bluntly, "Even friends need to keep their distance. It wouldn't be good if people got the wrong idea."

There was no mistaking how harsh those words were. Jiang Nan flushed, her nails digging deep into her palms.

What was going on?

Why was Weng Fenghua suddenly so cold toward her, and even taking Qiao Hua's side?

Jiang Nan's eyes reddened on cue, her lashes trembling as she lowered her gaze. "Auntie Weng, you're right. Don't worry. I won't come bother Wenze again."

With that, she picked up her bag and started to leave, only for Gu Wenze to catch her wrist.

Jiang Nan turned her head away, refusing to look at him. Only her faintly trembling voice reached him. "Wenze, Auntie's right. We shouldn't see each other anymore. It wouldn't be right to damage your marriage."

Her fragile appearance softened Gu Wenze's heart, and his voice turned icy. "If she hadn't resorted to such despicable tricks back then, why would I ever have married her?"

Qiao Hua nodded with utter sincerity. "You're right."

Gu Wenze froze for a moment. He had never expected Qiao Hua to admit it.

Every time he had brought it up before, Qiao Hua had insisted she was innocent, but Gu Wenze had never believed her.

Otherwise, how could it have been such a coincidence that the media reported them entering and leaving a hotel together the very next day? It had clearly been planned in advance.

In his eyes, those were all tactics Qiao Hua had used to force him into marriage.

Jiang Nan pressed her lips together. "Whatever happened, you're married now. I shouldn't keep bothering you."

She pulled free of Gu Wenze's grip and hurried out of the office.

Gu Wenze instinctively went after her, glaring viciously at Qiao Hua as he passed.

Qiao Hua: "?"

Was there something wrong with this man?

He could blame her for even this?

The moment the office door opened, the employees outside ducked their heads. Countless pairs of eyes pretended to focus on work while secretly watching the drama.

Then everyone saw Jiang Nan hurry out of the office, sobbing, with Gu Wenze right behind her. He caught hold of her from behind.

"We're just ordinary friends. We've never done anything. There's no need to keep our distance."

"But... Miss Qiao will be upset."

As Jiang Nan spoke, she glanced at Qiao Hua, a barely perceptible challenge in her eyes.

Sure enough, Gu Wenze's voice grew even colder. "She has no say in my affairs."

Weng Fenghua had followed them out, too. Seeing the two of them clinging to each other infuriated her. "Wenze, don't forget who your wife is."

A trace of mockery curled Gu Wenze's lips. "If she hadn't used such despicable tricks, she wouldn't even be worthy of being my wife."

The employees present drew sharp breaths.

They seemed to have stumbled upon some truly explosive gossip.

Gu Wenze looked coldly at Weng Fenghua. "Besides, Mom, didn't you hate Qiao Hua before, too?"

Before Weng Fenghua could respond, Gu Wenze said, "Whatever she did to win you over, I don't acknowledge her as my wife."

The two flirted as though no one else were there, completely ignoring Qiao Hua standing nearby.

Qiao Hua kept her head lowered, her expression hidden, her shoulders trembling slightly.

Everyone could already picture tears streaming down her lovely face.

Qiao Hua fought to suppress the smile tugging at her lips. Her shoulders shook uncontrollably with excitement, and she was ecstatic.

[Hurry, hurry, hurry! Kiss her now, then tell her you love her!]

[Too bad I have to pretend to be heartbroken. Otherwise, I'd really love to watch them kiss.]

[A handsome man and a beautiful woman-they'd be such a treat for the eyes!]

Gu Wenze suddenly choked on his words, a faint irritation settling between his brows.

Did Qiao Hua really want him to be with Jiang Nan?