’Hah! Let’s see if you can refute !’
Gladys purposedly brought up the ti when Charlene was found pregnant out-of-wedlock. After all, she was aware her cousin was not a loose woman.
Previously in high school, Gladys spread rumors of Charlene sleeping around with rich elderly n. She was imnsely satisfied when no one believed Charlene when the latter tried to defend herself.
But...
Everything was a lie! A huge lie!
A resourceful man like Calix could easily disprove of the made-up claims of Charlene hooking up with wealthy older n. Thus, Gladys had no choice but to find sothing with concrete evidence.
Fortunately, the only issue with factual proof could easily ruin the husband and wife’s good relationship.
Gladys thanked the heavens for this imnse luck on her side. Charlene could do nothing when Calix dug up the truth behind her secret pregnancy.
Snickering, Gladys raised her eyebrows in glee, "Why are you quiet? Cat got your tongue, Charlene?"
Old Madam Li shook her head in helplessness, appearing more exhausted than before.
The elderly woman didn’t want to prolong this issue but, she didn’t feel as bad as she initially thought about Gladys bringing up one of their family’s secrets.
Rowan and Bianca’s faces sank further while Irene restrained herself from lashing out at Gladys. Geoffrey and Deena sighed but, they didn’t reprimand Gladys for what she had just done.
As for Calix and Leslie... they were inwardly applauding Gladys for falling into their trap.
Everyone no longer touched the remaining dishes on the table, leaving them cold.
Sensing her lips trembling, Leslie held back from bursting into laughter. She took a mont to recompose herself before throwing a question to Gladys.
"You’ve been waiting to bring up my... secret pregnancy, isn’t it?"
Gladys blinked. She hurriedly shook her head, denying Leslie’s allegation disguised as a question.
"Don’t bla . You’re the one who insisted I list out your bad deeds. Instead of wasting my ti reciting them one by one, I better expose your most heinous act."
Old Madam Li butted in as soon as Gladys finished talking. She didn’t want to give Leslie a chance to protect herself after the latter tried saring mud on their family’s reputation.
"You don’t have anyone else to bla but yourself, Charlene. You dare to orchestrate such a humiliating thing tonight. Gladys is just trying to defend our family’s honor."
Old Madam Li didn’t know what kind of sin she had committed in her past life. Her eldest granddaughter had never made her proud. The latter’s timid behavior also brought her sha.
Gladys widened her smile as she listened to Old Madam Li scolding Leslie. Unwilling to waste this chance, she told Calix.
"I’m not lying at all, Brother Calix. Charlene carried a bastard child before. You can check the hospital records. We have other docunted proofs too."
Which man could stand such a betrayal?
Even though the pregnancy happened years before they got married, hiding such a fact was unforgivable. It was enough to destroy their marriage.
But...
"Pff! Haha... hahaha!"
Leslie finally erupted into laughter. The echoes of her giggles rose above the strained atmosphere in the dining room.
"W-why are you laughing?" Gladys was taken aback by Leslie’s reaction. Frowning, she slamd the table once, "Do you think it’s funny?!"
"Hehe... I just thought how you’d never disappoint ," Leslie rubbed her teary eyes. Laughter still bubbled up from her lips, "You brought up the issue I wanted to talk... about the most."
"...what?"
Unable to comprehend what was going on in Leslie’s mind, Gladys was left speechless. She blankly stared at the forr.
Old Madam Li’s expression changed as she shared the sa thinking as Gladys. Geoffrey, Deena, Rowan and Bianca also wondered what made Leslie act in this way. As for Irene, she silently cheered for Leslie.
"Let’s get back to business..."
Leslie crossed both arms over her chest. Carving her lips into a smirk, she loudly exclaid. Each of her words was clear.
"You exposed my secret pregnancy, Gladys. So, why don’t I reveal the ti you tried to seduce my husband... right on his first ti visiting the ancestral ho?"
Frozen in shock, Gladys’ eyes almost popped out of her sockets. Blood was drained from her body.
Geoffrey and Deena unconsciously straightened their posture while the rest were too shocked to speak.
Not allowing Gladys or anyone to react, Leslie brought up another topic.
"How about the ti you purposely told Miss Belinda Qin... about my pregnancy? You did that because you knew how close her cousin is with my husband."
Snapping out of shock, Gladys abruptly denied Leslie’s claims.
"W-Wrong! I never did that!"
Leslie chuckled. Turning to look at Calix, she sweetened her voice as she asked, "Hubby~ You still have the video, isn’t it? The one from that night?"
"I do," Calix stifled his laughter. Mockery glinted in his eyes as they drifted to Geoffrey and Deena, "She dressed so inappropriately and ca to my room at night. She even claid she’s a better choice than you."
Gladys stood up, frightened tears rolling down her cheeks, "S-stop! Don’t make up lies!"
Calix’s smile vanished. He looked pointedly at Gladys, "Should I tell your parents to show the video to everyone here? Or, I can do it myself. They might have deleted it."
"...urgh! No! It’s not my fault!"
Turning around, Gladys hurriedly ran out of the room. She almost stumbled on the carpeted floor before disappearing behind the door.
"Gladys!"
Deena abruptly stood up. Without wasting ti, she ran after her eldest daughter. Her footsteps quickly faded in the hallway outside the private dining room.
Old Madam Li’s widened eyes looked from the door back to Leslie. Her initial rage was replaced by puzzlent. What had just happened earlier muddled her head.
"What did just..."
"I’ve had enough of the toxicity of this family. I wanted to leave after you took my child away from but, you continued to confine . Now, our relationship ends here."
Cutting off Old Madam Li mid-sentence, Leslie’s frosty voice rang in the room, her voice firr. She pressed her thumb on Calix’s palm.
Receiving a signal from Leslie, Calix rose to his feet. He glanced at Mr. Wei before saying, "Our family attorney will handle this issue from now. You better cooperate well if you don’t want us to air more of your family’s dirt."
No one said a word until they realized Calix pushing Leslie away from the table. The husband and wife headed to the door without sparing them another glance.
"W-wait... Where are you going?"
Old Madam Li stood up. Her mind was still in chaos from the sudden changes of events.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you."
Calix stopped right in front of the open door. Looking behind his shoulders, he spoke, "The baby you abandoned at the orphanage years ago is our biological child. For what you have done, the Xu family is now your archenemy."
Once Calix finished his piece, he swiftly brought Leslie out of the room, ignoring the stunned silence they left behind.
The finality of their decision lingered in the air, further cented by how resolutely they walked away from the Li family.
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