"Li Man forced a bitter smile. 'Do you think Mom can forgive Dad for treating her like this?'
Huang Duo Duo fell silent.
Li Man looked at her daughter and spoke seriously, 'He has crossed my bottom line, something I cannot tolerate or forgive.'
'Duo Duo, you must remember that domestic violence has either zero occurrences or countless occurrences. Dad has already hit me more than once, and I can no longer live with him.'
Tears welled up in Huang Duo Duo's eyes, and she sobbed, 'Mom, are you really going to divorce Dad?'
Li Man nodded. 'Yes.'
Upon receiving her mother's affirmative answer, Huang Duo Duo grew even more heartbroken, and her tears kept flowing.
Seeing her daughter cry like this, Li Man felt a pang in her heart. She embraced her daughter and asked, 'After Mom and Dad divorce, who do you want to be with?'
'I don't want to be with anyone. I just want the two of you together!' Huang Duo Duo couldn't help but cry out, 'If you get divorced, I'll become an extra person!'
Li Man's heart ached, and tears streamed down her face. 'No, that won't happen. Mom will always love you.'
'You're lying. You say you love me now, but once you get married, you won't care about me anymore. And if you have another child, your heart won't be with me. I know all about it. Adults never keep their promises!'
Huang Duo Duo cried uncontrollably, deeply saddened.
'It won't happen, it won't,' Li Man comforted her incessantly. 'Mom will never neglect you. I promise you, if you choose to stay with Mom, I won't remarry or have any more children.'
Huang Duo Duo sniffled, 'Really?'
'Really!' Li Man nodded.
Looking at her mother, who was bruised and swollen, Huang Duo Duo accepted this reality.
However, she didn't want to be with her mother; she wanted to be with her father.
'Mom, I don't want to be with you.'
'Why?' Li Man was somewhat surprised. She thought her daughter would choose her.
'Because you don't have money!' Huang Duo Duo said, 'If I'm with Dad, he'll give me money, and I'll save it up to give to you.'
Li Man was deeply moved. She hadn't expected her young daughter to think of so much. 'No need, Mom has a job now. Mom can earn money.'
'Mom, I don't want you to work so hard. Although I'll be with Dad, I'll also come to see you. You'll always be my mom.' Huang Duo Duo said earnestly.
Li Man looked at her daughter, her heart filled with mixed emotions.
Her daughter's maturity made her feel heartache.
'Aren't you afraid that your stepmother will treat you badly?' Li Man wanted to dissuade her daughter from following her father.
'I'm not afraid. I've grown up too, and if she dares to treat me badly, I'll stand up to her. Mom, don't worry, I can take care of myself.' Huang Duo Duo comforted like a little adult.
Although she was still worried, Li Man respected her daughter's choice.
...
After returning to the country, Li Man moved out of the family home, but she didn't go through with the divorce procedures with Huang De Han.
Because she felt it wasn't the right time yet."
After returning from Thailand, Li Man finally understood why Huang De Han had taken her and their daughter abroad. It turned out that not only did the travel agency provide them with insurance, but Huang De Han had also purchased a large accidental insurance policy for them. If anything were to happen to Li Man while they were overseas, he would receive a substantial compensation.
The thought of nearly dying underwater made Li Man shudder in fear.
That's also why Li Man decided to move out of their house. She found Huang De Han too terrifying, capable of doing anything now. She believed that keeping her distance from him would be safer.
She thought that by staying away from Huang De Han, she would be safe, but little did she know that just a week later, she fell ill.
