After I was discharged from the hospital, Gu Yanshan was in the living room comforting Duoduo, gently coaxing him.

"Daddy should have been more careful. From now on, I won't let anyone else take you out. It's so dangerous outside. What if you hadn't met your mom and got taken away?"

The "your mom" Gu Yanshan mentioned, of course, wasn't me.

Ever since I married Gu Yanshan, whenever he talked to Duoduo, he always referred to me as "Aunt Tangli."

This was all because of Bai Rui's tearful plea when she and Gu Yanshan broke up.

"Ah Shan, no matter who you marry in the future, please don't let Duoduo call that woman 'mom, ' okay? I'm the only one who is Duoduo's mom, I'm begging you."

I never realized how much Gu Yanshan valued his promises.

He hadn't fulfilled any of the promises he made to me after our marriage.

I was weak and pale, yet Gu Yanshan didn't show a hint of concern—only glared at me with hostility.

"You can't even handle this little thing? Before we got married, you were so attentive in looking after my mom and charming my family. Now you can't even take care of a dog?"

Gu Yanshan casually dismissed what I had done in the past, making me feel small.

I admit, I did put in a lot of effort to marry Gu Yanshan. Besides, my family background was good, and his family elders already favored me.

Bai Rui, an insignificant woman with a mother who was a prostitute, would only disgrace the Gu family if he married her.

But I was only engaging normally with his family elders. Yet in Gu Yanshan's words, I was the scheming woman who would stop at nothing to marry him.

I should have realized long ago who I was sharing my bed with. Unfortunately, it took me six years to truly understand that when the process is wrong, the outcome won't change no matter how genuine or dedicated I am.

I was criticized by Gu Yanshan as being worthless. The matter of the miscarriage had circled my tongue three times, but in the end, I didn't mention it.

Before, I didn't have the chance to say it, and now that we're getting divorced, I feel there's no need to bring it up.

"Tangli, are you really divorcing me over a dog?"

Gu Yanshan repeated, pulling me back to reality, but I remained calm.

"Yes, it's because of the dog."

"Absolutely ridiculous!"

As soon as Gu Yanshan finished speaking, there was a knock on the door. He shot me a fierce look before answering it.

Standing at the door was none other than his ex-girlfriend, Bai Rui. Duoduo, recognizing the familiar scent, wagged his tail excitedly and rushed over.

Gu Yanshan's eyes softened immediately.

"Ruirui, what are you doing here?"

Bai Rui, with a perfectly timed smile and a carefully crafted natural look, wore a white dress, like a storybook heroine.

"Ah Shan, I just came to see Duoduo. If I hadn't passed by the neighborhood, it might have gotten lost. What if it got stolen and sold to a meat shop? I raised Duoduo from a puppy; how could I be at ease?"

After speaking, Bai Rui glanced at me, part challenge, part reproach.

Gu Yanshan seemed to have forgotten that just a moment ago, we were discussing divorce. Bai Rui's added embellishments successfully fueled his anger.

I didn't want to watch this pair of clowns perform in front of me. I hastily packed my essentials from this house and coldly said to Gu Yanshan at the door, "I'll send you the divorce papers.

If it's convenient, just sign them. Let's part ways amicably."

As I closed the door, I heard Bai Rui's feigned surprise inside.

"Did I come at a bad time and cause a misunderstanding? Should I go explain to her?"

Gu Yanshan scoffed.

"She's just trying to make me coax her. I haven't even held her accountable for almost losing Duoduo, and she turns the tables on me. Just ignore her. She'll be back in two days!"

His confident words amused me.

Even without seeing Bai Rui's face, I knew she must be feeling triumphant.

I didn't look back and left the house without expression.

In the past, I indeed would have obediently returned after running away. I loved Gu Yanshan; everyone around us knew. But now, I don't love him anymore. To be precise, I'm exhausted.

You can't teach an old dog new tricks.

The same goes for people.

In Gu Yanshan's mind, it was my presence that tore him and Bai Rui apart. I want to see if, without my interference, the two of them can finally be together.

The next day, I went to the office. My family's business is in the hospitality industry, while Gu Yanshan's family runs a fashion design company.

To be closer to Gu Yanshan, I chose fashion design against my family's wishes.

After years of hard work, I finally secured a position at Gu's company as an acclaimed designer.

However, as soon as I arrived at the office, I noticed people giving me strange looks. Then, the director called me into his office.

Even though I didn't know what had happened, a sense of unease crept over me.

When the director saw me, he had a troubled expression.

"Tang Li, here's the situation. The higher-ups have decided that Bai Rui will be the one to compete this time, and your design drafts will be used by her."

This wasn't the first time something like this had happened.

Bai Rui, an assistant designer, joined the company three years ago. Gu Yanshan had helped her countless times, but each time it was at the expense of my achievements.

Initially, Gu Yanshan patiently explained to me, saying, "Honey, Rui Rui comes from a poor family.

I got involved in their relationship and owe her from when we broke up. Without good opportunities, someone of her background would remain poor forever."

I had indeed intervened back then. My mother-in-law used financial pressure to bring Gu Yanshan and me together.

At first, the two of them believed that love could conquer all, but as time went on, Bai Rui realized that love doesn't pay the bills, and she chose to leave.

I felt guilty toward Bai Rui, so I endured it the first few times.

But later, all the good projects and competition chances were given to Bai Rui, and my designs were handed over to her without my consent, often outright stolen.

Even the most patient person would eventually reach their limit. Despite my guilt, Gu Yanshan shouldn't have treated me this way, so I confronted him in his office.

At that moment, Bai Rui was timidly hiding behind Gu Yanshan, her pitiful appearance only arousing Gu Yanshan's protective instincts.

Faced with my questioning and outburst, Gu Yanshan dropped the pretense and confidently said, "Tang Li, you're in my company.

You should follow my arrangements. You've already achieved so much here. Rui Rui is different from you. Would it really hurt to give her a chance?"

Gu Yanshan always portrayed Bai Rui as the underdog, making me the villain if I didn't give in. But why should the designs I worked on tirelessly become someone else's stepping stone?

I had already repaid any debt I owed. That was the first time I defied Gu Yanshan, clinging to my designs to prevent them from falling into someone else's hands.

Gu Yanshan sneered, "Do you think you're the only one capable of designing? If I want, there are many talented designers out there ready to showcase their work!"

As expected, Gu Yanshan spent a fortune to hire top designers to assist Bai Rui, even staying up late with her to revise her work.

Perhaps it was then that I should have realized that for Gu Yanshan, Bai Rui's matters always took precedence.

Gu Yanshan was up to his old tricks again, and he didn't even care if I divorced him, using my misfortune to boost Bai Rui's success.

I looked at the director, understanding she was just an employee who had to follow orders from above.

Once, Gu Yanshan would personally come to me, but after tolerating him for so long, he felt he could send anyone to convey his wishes, and out of fear of losing him, I would always choose to compromise.

But this time, my entry into the competition was earned through my own merit. Facing numerous competitors, I networked tirelessly and charmed my way to seize the opportunity from other companies.

If I won first place, I would have the chance to go abroad and study under the most renowned designers.

Meanwhile, Bai Rui did nothing and simply sat there, with opportunities handed to her by Gu Yanshan.

Not only did I secure the competition spot, but I also worked tirelessly on the design drafts, sketching day and night. My room was overflowing with discarded paper, and I never gave up, even while dealing with pregnancy symptoms.

"You don't need to worry; I'll speak to Mr. Gu, " I told the director, who had no choice but to let me go to Gu Yanshan's office alone.

As soon as I reached the door, the secretary stopped me.

"Madam, Mr. Gu is... busy. Please come back later."

The secretary's nervous expression made it clear she was lying. I didn't care; these people were all in cahoots, covering for Gu Yanshan countless times.

From the office, Bai Rui's affected voice could be heard, "Ah Shan, am I really that stupid? I can't even manage such a small task. How can I compete?"

From Bai Rui's words, it seemed she already considered the competition spot hers.

While I was drinking myself to sleep on the street for that spot, Bai Rui was luxuriating in a bath at home.

While the organizers were giving me a hard time, Bai Rui was out shopping.

We can't choose our social class, but we can choose how hard we work. Since Bai Rui joined the company, she hadn't put in a day's worth of hard work, and nobody respected her.

I wasn't sure if Bai Rui was inherently shameless or if Gu Yanshan's enabling had become a habit for her. Standing outside the door, I felt nauseated.

The secretary looked at me awkwardly, perhaps afraid I'd explode right then, considering my husband was patiently accompanying a female employee during work hours.

But they didn't know that I was here to seek my own fairness. Regardless of Gu Yanshan and Bai Rui's actions, they no longer stirred any emotion within me.

I kicked the door open, and Gu Yanshan and Bai Rui stared at me in shock.

Once he recovered, Gu Yanshan shouted angrily, "Tang Li, have you lost your mind? This is a company, not a place for your tantrums!"