665 A Million Times for You 27 (1/2)

”Don't think this will end just because you abused your authority to make the judge grant you the custody rights.”

”I didn't, I'm not like you. You exploited a young child's innocence and gullibility to manipulate her into telling all sorts of lies. How dare you have the cheek to criticize me when you're so despicable and shameless? Shi Shaochuan, don't think of seeing Bao'er again, not even during the weekends. I won't give you the chance to lead her astray again!”

”We shall wait and see then! You may have Bao'er's custody, but she'll still be closest to me. Jin Qingyue, I bet you don't have the capability to keep her away from me forever!” Shi Shaochuan hollered, glowering at her.

”Sure, I'm not afraid of you!”

Jin Qingyue was filled with frustration after pondering it over. She then glared at Jin Bao'er and asked, ”Why did you say those things during the court trial?”

”I just prefer being with Daddy right from the start, but you insisted that I stay with you. I was just speaking the truth.”

”What I mean is, why did you say that I hit and reprimanded you?”

”Didn't you do that before?”

Jin Qingyue was at a loss for words. Of course she had hit and scolded her before. After all, which parent hasn't punished their child before? In her memory, she had never been able to bring herself to lay a finger on her child. She only ever hit Bao'er when the latter had something wrong that drove Jin Qingyue to her wits' end.

”You want to be with your Daddy so badly but I just won't allow you to. He's led you astray.”

”I think you're the one who's leading me astray! Mommy, why don't you respect my decisions at all? I don't want to live with you at all. I don't want to, I don't want to!” Jin Bao'er snapped in disgruntlement.

Jin Qingyue ignored her and said to the chauffeur, ”Start driving.”

Jin Bao'er had no choice but to bite her lip and warn, ”Mommy, don't regret your choices in the future.”

Jin Qingyue could not help but get goosebumps upon hearing those words from her six-year-old daughter.

”What am I supposed to regret? You don't know any better, foolish child. Will Mommy possibly harm you?” Jin Qingyue questioned.

”I just prefer Daddy. Daddy's not like you at all. Daddy has never brought a woman home. All you do is date other men. Mommy, you're a disgrace to me!”

”I was the one who gave birth to you and raised you single-handedly. Don't I deserve to pursue my own happiness too? You're still young, you won't understand no matter how I explain it to you,” Jin Qingyue snapped angrily.

”Why wouldn't I understand? I understand everything!”

Jin Qingyue ignored her and brought her back to Wei Ni Estate.

She was greatly astonished to see that her daughter had become a complete devil before she even realized. Moreover, it was just the beginning of her evil and wayward behavior.

Just as Jin Qingyue finished preparing dinner and set the dishes onto the table, Ling Ciye returned.

He was not at all surprised to see Jin Bao'er, since he had already expected Jin Qingyue to be granted the rights to her custody.

”Hurry, wash your hands and begin eating.”

Ling Ciye proceeded to wash his hands and sat down on his chair. He looked at the spread on the table before turning to look at Jin Bao'er, who was sitting on the couch. ”Bao'er, why aren't you coming here to eat?” he asked.

”I don't feel like eating.”

Jin Qingyue removed her apron and said, ”Don't bother caring about her. She doesn't want to eat because she's not hungry. She'll eat once she's starved for a few meals.”

Jin Bao'er's anger and resentment toward her mother grew deeper the moment she heard her words.

She stared at the two of them while they tucked into the food, secretly filled with delight.

Ling Ciye caught sight of a peculiar object in the pot of tomato and egg soup when he was trying to scoop some into his bowl. ”Qingyue, what's this?” he asked in bewilderment.

Jin Qingyue took a closer look and brought the pot of soup toward the kitchen without uttering a word.

Ling Ciye could tell what it was even though Jin Qingyue had kept quiet and, thus, instantly lost his appetite.

The object he had scooped up was the carcass of their pet bird, which they kept on the balcony.

Jin Bao'er was the one who'd insisted on rearing that bird.

Ling Ciye had previously agreed to place the bird into a cage, which was to be kept on the balcony. The bird was still alive and well earlier in the day. Yet, it actually appeared in the pot of soup that evening. It was obvious who had killed it.