"Are you disappointed? Do you think you've misjudged me and wasted all these years raising such a daughter?" He Man's eyes were filled with disdain.
"Manman, if you turn back now, it's not too late. I won't..." Jiang Pinzhen intended to appeal to He Man's emotions.
Unfortunately, He Man now scoffed at her words.
"Turn back? Do you think it's still possible for me?" A mocking smile curled her lips.
"I promise that as long as you let me and Xiaoxi go, I'll never pursue you no matter where you go."
He Man found Jiang Pinzhen's words ridiculous. "Are you bargaining with me now? Since the moment I kidnapped you... Maybe the Jiang family and Xiao Yu already know about this. If I let you go, I'll have no bargaining chips left. Do you think I'm that stupid?"
"What I mean is, I can guarantee your safety. I won't let anyone harm you, and I'll send you wherever you want to go."
A glint of malice flashed in He Man's eyes. "You really think I'm a fool. I'll never believe a single word you say. However... I've come up with a good idea. It's just like what you said, but you have to keep your promise!"
As she said this, He Man leaned closer, relishing the panic that flashed in Jiang Pinzhen's eyes.
Sure enough, Jiang Pinzhen nodded eagerly after she finished speaking. "I'll promise anything you say as long as you let me and Xiaoxi go. Tell me, what do you want me to do?"
"You said it yourself." He Man smiled slyly at her. "If I find out that you're not willing to do as I ask, you won't be able to bear the consequences."
"I'll do as you say. Just tell me your request."
As she spoke, He Man suddenly took a knife from someone beside her and threw it next to Jiang Pinzhen.
The sharp blade glinted menacingly in the dimly lit room. The moment she saw the knife, Jiang Pinzhen's heart sank.
"What on earth do you want me to do?"
He Man still wore a smile on her face. She motioned to the person behind her. "Go, untie Mrs. He's ropes."
Then, someone quickly untied the ropes binding Jiang Pinzhen. After the restraints were removed, Jiang Pinzhen gently moved her hands and feet. Her body had been in one position for too long and was already stiff and numb. There were red marks on her wrists from the ropes.
He Man sat in her wheelchair, looking down at Jiang Pinzhen with a smug expression.
"Now you're untied. Do as I say and pick up that knife!" Her voice was light, as if she could hardly contain her excitement.
Jiang Pinzhen glanced at the knife on the ground and hesitated for a moment before bending down to pick it up. Then she looked at He Man in confusion. "And then?"
A cruel smile curled He Man's lips. She looked down at the scars on her body. Although she had received some treatment during those days, the criss - crossing scars would always remain, especially on her palm where the glass shards had cut through. It looked uneven and hideous. All this was thanks to Chu Beize.
He Man's eyes dimmed. She gently stroked the scabbed scars.
And her legs, which might never walk freely again. She might have to spend the rest of her life in a wheelchair.
If Jiang Pinzhen hadn't locked her up in the Chu family back then, none of this would have happened. It was Jiang Pinzhen who had pushed her into the abyss for Ye Yanxi's sake. How could she not hate?
Since Ye Yanxi's appearance, her life had been turned upside down.
Thinking of this, He Man's face darkened. Her sunken eyes stared at Ye Yanxi with hatred. Her cold voice rang out clearly. "Then use the knife in your hand to stab Ye Yanxi to death. Remember, stab it deep into her heart. That way, she'll suffer less."
"What did you say?" Jiang Pinzhen's hand holding the knife trembled. Her voice suddenly rose sharply. "What do you mean? You want me to kill Xiaoxi? Didn't you promise to let us go?"
"Kill Ye Yanxi and everything will be over. If it weren't for her, our mother - daughter relationship wouldn't have turned into such hatred. We would still be together like before." He Man's eyes were red as she stared at Ye Yanxi. "It's all because of her that you've been so cruel to me."
He Man's words were filled with jealousy and hatred. "Since she appeared, you've left me and gone back to the Jiang family. You've always talked about her. What about me? You raised me for sixteen years, but in the end, you just abandoned me. You've only known her for three months. Why did her appearance take away everything that belonged to me? Isn't our sixteen - year mother - daughter bond worth more than her three - month acquaintance?"
He Man must be crazy.
Jiang Pinzhen held the knife, her hand shaking uncontrollably.
"No, I can't kill Xiaoxi." Jiang Pinzhen was a bit emotional.
"Really?" He Man smiled when she heard this. "But who promised me just now? You're going back on your word so soon. Well, since you won't do it, I'll have someone else do it for you."
Let someone else kill Xiaoxi? No, how could she let Ye Yanxi get hurt even a little bit?
She would never allow anyone to get close to Ye Yanxi. He Man's words completely broke Jiang Pinzhen's heart. At this point, she had no choice but to fight back.
Seeing the person approaching, Jiang Pinzhen took a step back instinctively and tightly grasped the knife. "No, didn't you want me to do it? Then I'll do it myself. I don't need anyone else."
"So, you've finally figured it out?" He Man narrowed her eyes and sneered.
"You just want me to do it myself, right? Fine, I'll fulfill your wish." In an instant, Jiang Pinzhen's eyes were filled with hatred.
At this moment, she finally realized what a vicious person she had raised for sixteen years. This woman was so cruel, and she had always shown mercy.
At the Chu family villa before, she had been soft - hearted and left this disaster behind. And just now, she had actually believed her words. As long as He Man reformed, she wouldn't pursue her past misdeeds and would send her to another place to live a care - free life.
After all, sixteen years of affection had made her soft - hearted.
But at this moment, Jiang Pinzhen was truly disappointed. She would never naively believe a single word He Man said again.
He Man would only go further and further in her attempt to deal with Ye Yanxi. And at this moment, she even wanted to kill her.
Moreover, she wanted her to kill her own daughter with her own hands. This venomous woman was more cruel than anyone else. At this moment, He Man had lost her mind. There was only hatred in her heart.
The cold knife in her hand felt as hot as a branding iron. Jiang Pinzhen really wanted to throw it away.
However, if she threw the knife away, someone might follow He Man's words without hesitation and kill Ye Yanxi.
Ye Yanxi was her daughter. She had already lost her once. Even if she died, she would never let anything happen to Ye Yanxi.
After she had watched Ye Yanxi being kidnapped, she had chased after them without hesitation. She had already made up her mind that she would never let anything happen to Ye Yanxi and the child in her womb.
Who could bear to see their daughter disappear from their sight for a second time? This time, Jiang Pinzhen held the knife in her hand, and her eyes became even more determined.
Her mind raced. She had made a decision the moment He Man said those words.
If she wanted Ye Yanxi to be safe, she could only...
She held the handle of the knife and slowly moved towards Ye Yanxi while keeping a close eye on He Man out of the corner of her eye.
Ye Yanxi could only make a "whimpering" sound. As Jiang Pinzhen approached her step by step with the knife in her hand, she thought she was definitely going to die this time.
But rather than begging He Man for mercy and being humiliated by her, it would be better for Jiang Pinzhen to end her life with one knife. Anyway... her life was given by Jiang Pinzhen, and now it was only fair for her to take it back.
It was just that the child in her womb was so innocent.
It hadn't even had a chance to see the world before it would have to leave with her.
Ye Yanxi took one last look at Jiang Pinzhen. There was no emotion in her eyes. Then she slowly closed her eyes.
Waiting for the knife in Jiang Pinzhen's hand to stab down, she heard Jiang Pinzhen shout emotionally, "I'm going to kill you!"
She thought the knife in Jiang Pinzhen's hand was aimed at her, but after waiting for a while, she didn't feel any pain on her body. Even Jiang Pinzhen had left her side.
What was going on?
When Ye Yanxi opened her eyes, she saw a shocking scene. The knife in Jiang Pinzhen's hand had plunged into He Man's chest.