A second chance with my billionaire husband

Liang Wenwan tightened her grip on the phone, silently thinking that things were bad. Her mother’s odd behavior and Rourou’s disappearance loomed over her like a dark cloud.

Pressing her lips together, she said calmly, "I’ll arrange for a professional lawyer to help with the lawsuit. Let me know immediately if there’s any news about Rourou."

On the other end, Lau Xiang seemed to realize the seriousness of the situation, speaking in a lowered voice, "Miss Liang, Second Miss... Did something happen to her?"

"I’ll take care of it. In the meantime, just focus on what you have to do."

Lau Xiang acknowledged, knowing who her true employer was. Although Liang Wenrou always thought Lau Xiang was recruited by Liang Taisheng, she was actually working for the eldest Miss.

Poor Second Miss always aimed to surpass the eldest Miss, without realizing how vast the gap between them was.

After hanging up the call, Liang Wenwan furrowed her brows. Her first reaction was to call the police, but she stopped dialing just in time.

It wouldn’t do to call the police now; her mother was clearly hiding something.

She tried calling Xiao Wu, but his phone was off. She called his home, and it was Xiao Wu’s soon-to-be-born wife who answered, saying he hadn’t been home for days, sinking Liang Wenwan’s heart to the bottom of the ocean.

With both Xiao Wu and Liang Wenrou missing, Huang Wenqing, what on earth are you up to?

Upstairs, Huang Wenqing took a shower and changed into clean clothes. Looking at her age-worn reflection in the mirror, a shadow of unspeakable malice passed through her eyes.

She sat at her dressing table, picking up the bottles and jars on the table, applying them bit by bit on her face, covering up the sallow complexion and wrinkles under layers of expensive cosmetics.

She then drew her eyebrows, applied lipstick; the makeup was quite vivid, but her complexion looked much better. Despite her age making makeup seem a bit overdone, the opulence she carried gave her an appearance of rich splendor.

Suddenly, her phone on the table vibrated. Huang Wenqing paused in her eyebrow drawing, picked up the phone, and glanced at a newly arrived message from an unknown number.

Seeing the message, she suppressed the urge to throw her phone, clenching her teeth in rage, eyes almost bulging.

Liang Wenwan stood with arms crossed in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, watching the scenery outside with an unreadable expression.

The morning had clear skies, but now a few dark clouds had rolled in, dimming the sunlight, giving the world a somber hue much like her current mood.

Hearing footsteps, Liang Wenwan turned, seeing the meticulously dressed Huang Wenqing descending from the second floor in low heels, carrying a small handbag, as splendid as ever.

Yet the thick makeup couldn’t conceal her exhaustion, making her look much older than before, with lips too red to be natural, and a face so aged that even extravagant cosmetics couldn’t save it.

Liang Wenwan’s lips curled into a mocking smile.

Though Huang Wenqing had spent a fortune maintaining her face, she wasn’t Lady Ruan—true elegance comes from within, and the saying holds truth: a well-read woman is effortlessly charming.

Even in adversity, Lady Ruan faced life’s challenges gracefully, aging slowly while her spirit remained eternal.

And Huang Wenqing? Nothing more than a nouveau riche, flaunting wealth to assert her status, her outward arrogance mirroring her inner insecurities.

Differences among people are determined from birth.

"Wan’er, let’s go."

Liang Wenwan raised an eyebrow, looking at her.

"I heard Lady Ruan is having surgery these days. I plan to visit her. After all, you and Song Xi are about to be married soon. She’s your future mother-in-law, so I should visit her more often to avoid anyone saying our Liang Family lacks etiquette...."

Liang Wenwan narrowed her eyes, wondering why the sudden urge to visit Aunt Ruan?

Liang Wenwan instinctively sensed something was off, possibly related to Xiao Wu and Liang Wenrou’s disappearance.

She lowered her eyes without change in expression, saying lightly, "Didn’t you just visit her?"

"Can’t I visit again? She’s the future in-law, after all, and when you marry into the Ruan Family, you won’t be treated lightly by your mother-in-law...."

Liang Wenwan suddenly laughed, "Alright then."

Huang Wenqing secretly let out a sigh of relief.

"Mom, if there’s anything going on, don’t keep it to yourself. You must tell me, okay?" On the way, Liang Wenwan probed.

Huang Wenqing looked out the window at the passing vibrant cityscape, her fingers secretly tightening on her purse.

"Why would there be anything? Just focus on driving."

Little wretch, I can’t let you off easy. You caused the trouble; you must deal with it.

Liang Wenwan withdrew her gaze from the rearview mirror, pressed her lips, and stepped on the accelerator, the car blending into the sea of vehicles.

Two black-suited bodyguards stood at the hospital room door, stern and unsmiling, intimidating enough to ward off any approach.

The bodyguards simultaneously blocked their way: "Miss Liang, sir has instructed that no one is allowed to visit the madam."

Liang Wenwan raised her brow, glancing at Huang Wenqing: "Mom, you see, we should head back."

"No." Huang Wenqing said coldly, realizing her tone was too harsh once the words were out, quickly softening her voice, "I’ve come this far; how could I go back? Gentlemen, please make an exception. I’m Lady Liang, your madam’s future in-law. Let her know I’m here; she will surely want to see me."

The bodyguards remained unmoved, still standing coldly, "Madam, please don’t make things difficult for us. Please leave."

Despite her anxiety, Huang Wenqing knew she couldn’t rush things now, reluctantly saying, "Alright then, I’ll leave for now." Calling into the room, "Sister, take good care; I’ll visit you when I have time."

There was no response.

Liang Wenwan placed the health supplements she was carrying on the ground, then walked over to support Huang Wenqing, "Mom...."

Huang Wenqing furiously glared at her, shook off her hand, and hurried away.

Liang Wenwan squinted slightly, turned to look at the tightly closed hospital room door, pondering something to herself. When she saw Huang Wenqing nearing the end of the corridor, she quickly followed.

The iron door creaked open, and footsteps sounded heavy on the cement floor, sending a chill down one’s spine in the damp, dark basement.

A girl with hands and feet bound shrank into a corner, blindfolded with a black cloth, a rag stuffed in her mouth, unable to see or even scream for help.

Upon hearing the footsteps, she recoiled further into the corner by instinct.

The footsteps grew closer, and her heart raced faster. Soon, a shadow loomed overhead, and the stench of a man made her nauseous.

The man suddenly removed the blindfold over her eyes, and she instinctively closed them, hearing the man’s vile laughter near her ears.

A cold, coarse hand lifted her chin, like a slimy snake coiling around her. A shiver raced up her spine.