Chapter 15: Breaking Off the Engagement

Gu Fangyu was shocked.

She had no idea.

“It’s all because of you, all because of you!” Gu Yao, still furious, looked at her silence and was even more convinced it was all her fault. She immediately launched into a barrage of punches and kicks at Gu Fangyu.

Snapping back to herself, Gu Fangyu instinctively shielded her lower abdomen.

But knowing Gu Hanchen and the Gu family were all sharp-witted, she realized such small movements couldn’t be concealed.

So, she quietly withdrew her hand from her abdomen.

Just then, as Gu Yao raised her hand again, Gu Fangyu twisted her body slightly and firmly grabbed it.

“You have no ability yourself and blame everything on others. Gu Yao, you really have been spoiled,” she said coldly, her eyes devoid of warmth.

Gu Yao was momentarily stunned and forgot how to respond.

“Since the engagement has been called off, you should look for the reasons in yourself,” Gu Fangyu said, applying a little force to gently push her away. “Don’t blame everything on others.”

Gu Yao lost her footing, and with the push, stumbled backward.

Fortunately, their mother quickly caught her. “Gu Fangyu, is this how you act as an elder sister?”

Gu Fangyu paused in her steps, looking at the woman who always sided with Gu Yao no matter what, feeling bitterly ironic.

To no longer hold expectations for someone—this was what it felt like.

Gu Fangyu realized that though it still hurt, at least it no longer suffocated her with unbearable grief.

After steadying Gu Yao, their mother approached Gu Fangyu. “Do you dare say that Xie Chenhao breaking off the engagement with Yao Yao isn’t because of you?”

Gu Fangyu was speechless.

“If it weren’t for you still entangled with Xie Chenhao, would he still be obsessed with you? And why would he cancel the engagement with Yao Yao?” her mother said firmly.

Gu Fangyu looked incredulous.

How biased must someone be to lose all sense of right and wrong, only willing to believe what they want?

“Mom, do you really think that?” she asked painfully but stubbornly.

Her mother felt no guilt; on the contrary, she was even more certain. “In any case, Yao Yao’s marriage to the Xie family cannot be canceled. If you still care about your role as her sister, go to Xie Chenhao and tell him the wedding will continue. We’ll pretend today never happened.”

Gu Fangyu laughed bitterly.

She raised her hand, pointing at herself. “Me? You think Xie Chenhao would listen to me?”

“He will listen to you,” her mother said confidently.

Before Gu Fangyu could respond, the man who had been silent suddenly spoke, “If she goes, are you sure she won’t mess it up for you? What if the in-laws refuse and you end up as rivals?”

Gu Hanchen strode past the crowd and sat in the living room, his gaze briefly brushing over Gu Fangyu’s cheek before quickly pulling away.

---

Gu Fangyu didn’t understand his meaning, but she knew well his possessiveness.

Right now, whether or not the engagement was canceled didn’t matter to her as much as proving her innocence to Gu Hanchen.

She stepped forward and stood in front of him. “Brother, I haven’t done anything. You know better than anyone that I want Gu Yao and Xie Chenhao’s marriage to succeed.”

“Is that so?” Gu Hanchen raised an eyebrow, half-smiling.

Unsure of his intention, she slowly nodded under his intense gaze. “Yes. Why would I sabotage their relationship?”

“Why not? Gu Fangyu, you have everything no one else in the world has,” Gu Yao said spitefully. “If it weren’t for me, you’d be the one marrying him. If not for Mom and Dad pushing hard, would you have canceled the engagement? So you’re just waiting for Xie Chenhao to dump me so you can get back together with him, right?”

“Crazy,” Gu Fangyu muttered quietly.

“See? I got it right,” Gu Yao stepped forward, eyes sharp with malice.

Gu Fangyu was too tired to argue.

But Gu Yao wouldn’t let up. “Mom, I told you, she’s pregnant. She’s carrying Xie Chenhao’s child. Otherwise, why else would Chenhao insist on breaking off the engagement?”

Gu Fangyu’s heart skipped a beat. This was bad.

She never expected Gu Yao to bring up the pregnancy at such a critical moment.

She had to save herself.

“Gu Yao, use your brain. If I were really pregnant, why wait until today to have Xie Chenhao break off the engagement with you?” Gu Fangyu sneered with disdain. “If I really had his child, what business would you have with him now?”

Gu Fangyu deliberately exaggerated to try to bluff her way out.

Gu Hanchen was too sharp for her.

She looked at the seated man, quietly watching him. From his eyes, she caught a flicker of interest.

His deep eyes shifted subtly, revealing a hidden, unreadable gleam.

“Brother, you have to believe me—Gu Fangyu must be lying to us,” Gu Yao pleaded stubbornly.

Gu Fangyu watched her flirt with Gu Hanchen, her heart fluttering anxiously.

She dared not act recklessly; she couldn’t afford to lose this gamble.

Gu Fangyu remained silent.

After a long pause, the man finally spoke slowly, “This is simple. A hospital check-up will settle it. She has no reason to hide it from you.”

“In that case, let’s bring the check-up forward. Achen, arrange it and inform the hospital,” their mother ordered.

Gu Fangyu’s heart sank completely.

Her mother’s plan was clear: not only move the check-up earlier but have it done at the Gu family’s own hospital.

Now, all her subtle maneuvers were likely useless.

---

In previous years, the Gu family mostly did their check-ups at Jiang’s Hospital.

This sudden change unsettled Gu Fangyu deeply.

At this moment, she felt more than ever like the outsider.

Gu Yao could shamelessly act coquettish with Gu Hanchen and cling to their mother.

They both unconditionally sided with her, regardless of right or wrong.

But she had no one to lean on in this family.

Still, Gu Fangyu clung to hope in Gu Hanchen.

She wished he would refuse.

Even though she knew this hope was slim.

Sensing her gaze, the man looked back at her.

But the next second, his thin lips curled into an amused smile as he said, “Fine.”

Gu Fangyu’s heart died completely.

She curled her lips in derision.

She should have known better than to expect anything from him.

Without lingering downstairs, Gu Fangyu went straight upstairs.

She had to find a way to inform Jiang Qi—the plan had changed.

Back in her room, just as she was calling Jiang Qi, footsteps approached the door.

The moment she heard the doorknob turn, without thinking, she rushed over, pressed herself against the door, and locked it.

Outside, Gu Hanchen twisted the handle twice, realizing it was locked, and laughed in annoyance.

In a rare good mood, he knocked on the door. “Open up.”

Only silence answered him.

He knocked again, “If you want Gu Yao and the others to see me standing outside, you can keep it closed.”

Suddenly, the door opened, and she stood there with a cold expression.