The word hit her like a two tonne bus, running over her with wheels and crushing her bones to powder. It shocked her even though she had a feeling that it was coming. If Mo Liang did not ask for the divorce, she would have asked for one herself.
"Fine, divorce that is easy to do, I would not stay married to filth like you anymore." Mei-Mei got over feeling sorry for herself and barked back at him. "Marrying you is the worst mistake that I have ever made in my life. You have the courage to throw it in my face that I am a former heiress, let's dig into our history and find the answer as to why that is."
They all knew why, it was because she insisted on marrying Mo Liang and her mother refused. She gave her an ultimatum, choose Mo Liang or the family and her inheritance. Foolish in love, Mei-Mei had chosen Mo Liang. She had rejected a life of wealth and settled for a hard life with him, supporting him and his mother by working odd jobs until he became a space pilot, one of the best in the country.
"You make it sound as if I forced you to marry me, you did it willingly." Mo Liang reminded her in a cruel taunting voice.
Mei-Mei scoffed, "Who is it the knelt outside Phoenix group for three days and nights, begging for my mother to approve the marriage. Mo Liang, should I play you footage of your three day one man strike. You acted so devoted that I actually believed in you." She looked up at the skies and moaned, "I should have known better."
Mo Liang clenched his hands into fists, getting angrier and angrier by the second. That footage was like the bane of his existence, a dark mark on his image. It reminded him of how powerless he had been in the past, so much so that he had to grovel in order to marry Mei-Mei. After marrying her, her family cut her off so he did not even benefit much from the marriage.
She called it the biggest mistake of her life, well it was the same for him. It was time to end the sham of a marriage and build his happy family.
He opened the black bag which he had come carrying from the airport and brought out divorce papers that he thrust at Mei-Mei. "I have already signed, all that is required is for you to sign as well. I want to give Yue and Hao a proper status as soon as possible. As for other things like division of property and custody we can fight them out after divorcing."
"Mingzhu is mine." Mei-Mei snapped. "I will not let you get your filthy hands on my daughter."
To Mei-Mei's greatest surprise, Mo Liang laughed in a sinister way. He looked nothing like the kind young man she had met many years ago. "Mingzhu, I don't want her. However, if you make things difficult for me, I will fight you for her and when I get her, I will sell her to someone in the mountains to be a child bride."
Mei-Mei's mouth dropped open, even Mrs. Sun was surprised by her son's ruthlessness.
Mo Liang sat down and Yue planted herself next to him with one arm wrapped around him like a vine. Their son Hao was already touching Mingzhu's toys that had been left on the table, throwing them down.
"I will make this simple for you to understand." He said, "Even though I want a divorce, I cannot announce it just yet to the world. I am seen as a hero right now, I have to first build my reputation and settle my affairs. People need to get used to seeing me and Yue together, we will come out slowly as a couple that is inspirational."
Mei-Mei snorted, she found Mo Liang to be even more disgusting than before.
"Hao is the country's first child to be born on an international space station. The emperor wants to use him in promoting space exploration and immigration in future. He is a special child." Mo Liang added between Mrs. Sun's happy squeals. "If we announce a divorce right now, Hao's image will also be affected."
He pulled his son and patted his head affectionately. "Let's not forget the fact that I saved your life Mei-Mei, I walked through broken glass and fire for you. You promised me that you would pay me back even if it cost you an arm and a leg. This is the arm and leg I want you to pay.
After the divorce, you have to stay here under the same roof with us. You must not let your family know for at least a year that we have separated. After a year, I will sign the documents giving you Mingzhu's custody completely. You can even change her name when the time comes, I don't care."
"Mo Liang, you beast..." Mei-Mei.
"I will be a beast if you don't do as I want." he growled out. "If you think that selling her to the mountains is not bad enough, I can find other ways to use her to make you bend."
Mo Liang was smug, he knew that he had her by the throat, her weakness was her daughter. Mei-Mei valued her daughter Mingzhu the most.
Mei-Mei felt invincible handcuffs going around her arms. "You would hurt your own daughter, for a mistress. Mo Liang, I will not let you have your way, you and your mistress...."
Out of the blue, Yue fell to her knees and grabbed onto the hem of Mei-Mei's skirt. She yanked on it with strength on purpose like she was trying to pull it down.
In a small sad tear filled voice she cried out, "Mei-Mei, sister, we have known each other for so long. You have known me since I was a baby, we grew up like sisters. This is all my fault, I am the one to blame for all this not Ayang . Sister, if you want to beat me up, I am willing to..."
Mei-Mei raised her right leg and kicked Yue on the chest before she could complete her sentence. "Very well, since you have asked for it, see if I don't kick you to death today."
She descended on Yue immediately, slapping every part of her that she could access. This beating did not last five seconds, Mo Liang pulled Mei-Mei away from Yue.
As Mei-Mei was getting back onto her feet, Mo Hao rushed out and shoved her back.
"Bad woman, you are the mistress, you don't want my mommy and daddy to be together." the child accused.
As Mei-Mei stumbled backwards and lost her footing, Mo Hao shoved her a second time and she went down, her head hit the coffee table and she passed out.
It took a moment for those that were in the living room to process what had just happened. Mei-Mei was laying on the floor, her body was rigid. Blood was pooling around he head. It looked like she was not breathing.
Mo hao was frightened, he run and hid behind his mother for protection.
"Is...is she dead?" Yue asked nervously.
Mrs. Sun screamed loudly, scared out of her mind. "Ayang, Ayang...hurry up and call for a doctor, no hospital, we need a hospital."
"No." Mo Liang rejected to do so decisively and quickly.