Jiang Wanyi bit her lower lip. She could not bear to hurt Elder Li, but neither was she willing to swallow her grievances any longer.
Hesitating for two seconds, she raised her head to look at Elder Li, her tone resolute: "Grandfather, I want to divorce Li Jinchuan."
Jiang Wanyi's voice was not loud.
The living room was completely quiet; even Li Cheng'an stopped crying.
Everyone was looking at Jiang Wanyi. Li Jinchuan wore a complex expression, Li Cheng'an looked bewildered, and only Jiang Jiaojiao’s eyes were brimming with concealed delight.
Since it had already been brought before the Elder, this marriage was definitely going to end!
Elder Li said nothing, allowing Jiang Wanyi to support him into the living room. His gaze swept across the wedding photo lying at the feet of Jiang Jiaojiao and Li Cheng'an.
Just a single glance was enough for him to understand the whole story.
"Kneel."
The command fell with a heavy, echoing ring.
Elder Li looked at Li Jinchuan, his expression severe.
"Dad, what does this have to do with Jinchuan? He didn't do anything wrong. It's clearly Jiang Wanyi who is insisting on a divorce—" Guan Yu stepped forward, looking unconvinced.
"This is none of your business. Stand aside!" Elder Li's gaze darkened, frightening Guan Yu into immediate silence.
"What, do you need the old man to invite you?" Elder Li looked at Li Jinchuan, who was standing motionless, his tone growing heavier.
Not daring to argue, knowing the Elder's temper, Li Jinchuan walked up to her and Jiang Wanyi, bent his knees, and knelt on the carpet.
"What did I say? When you and Wanyi got married, I told you to treat her well. She married into our family and carried on the Li Family lineage, yet you rely on the fact that her grandfather has passed away to bully her like this?"
Elder Li struck the floor heavily with his cane, reprimanding his grandson for failing to live up to expectations.
Hearing the word "grandfather," a surge of heat hit Jiang Wanyi's eyes, and she quickly turned her head away to wipe away the tears that threatened to fall.
When her grandfather and Elder Li arranged their childhood betrothal, they surely hoped that the two of them would live in marital harmony, and she had always done her utmost not to let the two old men down.
In her past life, no matter what grievances she suffered, she never once told Elder Li.
So this was what it felt like to have someone backing you up... It felt so good...
"Grandpa Li, this isn't Jinchuan's fault..." Jiang Jiaojiao hastily jumped in, trying to draw attention to herself in front of the Elder.
"This is our family's private business." Elder Li's icy gaze landed on Jiang Jiaojiao's face. "There is no need for outsiders to butt in."
The word "outsiders" felt like a direct slap to Jiang Jiaojiao's face, instantly shattering all the presence she had managed to build up in the Li Family over the past few days.
She bit her lip, feeling unreconciled.
This was a golden opportunity to expose her relationship with Li Jinchuan right in front of the Elder! She could not give it up!
"I know this is a matter between Brother Jinchuan and my sister, but this whole thing started because of me. To take care of me, Brother Jinchuan had me stay here temporarily. My sister must be unhappy because of this, so I will move out immediately. I won't let my sister be angry anymore, and Grandpa, please don't be angry either."
Jiang Wanyi watched coldly as Jiang Jiaojiao tried to take responsibility for everything, letting out a cold scoff.
"Don't try to take credit for everything. You don't carry that much weight."
"I—"
Jiang Jiaojiao's eyes instantly reddened as she looked at Li Jinchuan like a wronged party. Her look of soft, pitiful vulnerability made even Jiang Wanyi's heart ache for a second.
Sure enough, Li Jinchuan's protective instincts flared up, and he stepped in front of Jiang Jiaojiao.
"This has nothing to do with Jiaojiao. It's Jiang Wanyi who is making a fuss out of nothing and demanding a divorce. This woman must have lost her mind."
Otherwise, there was simply no other way to explain how her attitude had suddenly undergone such a earth-shattering change out of nowhere.
"That's right, Grandpa! Auntie Jiaojiao has been very good to me, and I'm very happy when she keeps me company." Li Cheng'an also shielded Jiang Jiaojiao.
Father and son were just like Jiang Jiaojiao's devoted lapdogs, utterly loyal.
Jiang Wanyi's heart no longer felt any pain; she only hated herself for not seeing the truth clearly in her past life.
Looking at his grandson and great-grandson, Elder Li felt even more heartache for Jiang Wanyi.
Just how much grievance must she have suffered in this household?
When it all came down to it, this Jiang Jiaojiao was the root of the problem.
"Mother Wang."
He called the housekeeper and issued a direct order: "Pack her things up and send her back to the Jiang Family. Tell the Jiang Family that a young, unmarried woman living in someone else's house like this needs a proper lesson in discipline."
"Understood, I'll go right now."
"Jiaojiao hasn't fully recovered yet—"
Mother Wang was prompt and decisive, answering only to the Elder. Ignoring Li Jinchuan's obstruction, she went upstairs to pack.
The trace of a triumphant smile that had yet to fully form on Jiang Jiaojiao's lips froze.
She had only wanted to use this opportunity to make her relationship with Li Jinchuan known to the Elder; she had never intended to actually move out of the Li Family!
Squeezing out a few tears, she cast a helpless look at Li Jinchuan.
However, Li Jinchuan could only give her a meaningful look back; he didn't dare to step forward and openly defy the Elder...
Mother Wang quickly finished packing and walked over to Jiang Jiaojiao: "Please."
Jiang Jiaojiao had no choice.
Before leaving, she still had to put on a show of gentle consideration, bowing to the Elder: "I'm leaving. Grandpa, please don't be angry with Brother Jinchuan. Brother Jinchuan, Sister, make sure you take good care of An'an at mealtime."
Looking at her, if one didn't know that Li Cheng'an came out of her own belly, one would have thought Jiang Jiaojiao was his mother.
Jiang Jiaojiao pulled her suitcase and left. A car was waiting at the entrance, and she quickly departed the Li Family estate.
Li Cheng'an finally couldn't hold it in anymore and wailed at the top of his lungs: "I want Auntie Jiaojiao! I want Auntie Jiaojiao! Mommy is a bad person, she chased Auntie Jiaojiao away..."
This offense, too, was instantly pinned on her.
Watching Li Cheng'an throw a tantrum and roll around on the floor, Jiang Wanyi felt not a single ripple in her heart.
She had always been very strict with Li Cheng'an's upbringing. Because of her strictness, he had never dared to throw tantrums or roll on the floor to coerce her, knowing it would be completely useless.
Yet in just a few short days, it had become late-night snacks, being fed by hand, and throwing tantrums.
He was going to be completely ruined at this rate.
Fortunately, it no longer had anything to do with her, and she didn't care in the least.
Guan Yu felt sorry for her grandson and scooped Li Cheng'an up into her arms, carrying him back to his room to coax him. Only Jiang Wanyi, Li Jinchuan, and the Elder remained in the living room.
"The unrelated people are gone now, Wanyi. When can you let go of your anger?" Elder Li asked gently, patting her hand affectionately. "If you have any grievances, just speak up. Grandfather will make decisions for you. A proper family cannot just fall apart."
Jiang Wanyi knew the Elder meant it.
As long as she opened her mouth, he would help her exact justice for every grievance she had suffered in the Li Family.
So what if he did?
Li Jinchuan and Li Cheng'an would only vent their anger on her, believing she was the one who drove Jiang Jiaojiao away.
This place had long ceased to be Jiang Wanyi's home, and her husband and son were no longer her dependents.
The only person she could ever rely on was herself.
Li Jinchuan's gaze also landed on Jiang Wanyi. Things had reached this stage; shouldn't this woman be sensible enough to step down the stairs now that the step had been provided?
To his astonishment, the next second, Jiang Wanyi's crisp and decisive voice rang out:
"Grandpa, there is no longer any husband-and-wife affection left between Li Jinchuan and me. Whether this has anything to do with anyone else doesn't matter anymore. I have made up my mind to divorce him and move out of the Li Family."