Despite the back office entrance being a secluded spot, Fan Ruyin's kneeling quickly drew a crowd, their whispers and gestures fueling her growing embarrassment and resentment.
Her emotions churned within her, oscillating between fury and frustration. She hadn't anticipated this outcome; her brother's indifference cut her deeply.
Upon receiving the unexpected report, Qiao Xuan summoned Fan Ruyin, expressing surprise at her apparent sincerity.
"Rare indeed! I hadn't expected such earnestness from Mrs. Bai," Qiao Xuan remarked, her tone measured.
Yet, beneath the surface, skepticism lingered. Fan Ruyin's abrupt change of heart seemed suspicious. Was her family pressuring her? First Madam Fan and the others were certainly capable of such manipulation.
To Fan Ruyin, Qiao Xuan's words felt like a taunt, a reminder of her defeat at the hands of her adversaries.
The urge to lash out surged within her, but she swallowed it back, recalling her brother's aloof demeanor and icy words.
