Little Miss Witch: Revenge of the Tainted Angel

Chapter 23 - How Much Of Your Life Are You Willing To Sacrifice?

Li Xiuying was busy with her paperwork when Hou Chen arrived in her office with more documents that needed her approval. She could feel Hou Chen's gaze set on her as she placed the files on her desk. 

"Is there something you want to tell me, Hou Chen?" She asked without breaking her focus over her work. She wasn't oblivious to her friend's displeasure over her decision to not divorce Mu Jianyu yet.

"Ying, are you sure you want to continue dragging this problem? Can't you just divorce him and let yourself start anew? Even if he comes back to you, there's no assurance that he wouldn't betray your trust again. At least do it for your child's sake." Hou Chen said solemnly. She couldn't bear seeing her friend like this while the adulterers live in happiness. 

Adultery wasn't just a crime in the eyes of the spouse. In some cases, cheating in marriage was against the law, punishable by a heavy fine and some even had to face jail time. If Li Xiuying wanted to, she could easily destroy her husband's life and humiliate the mistress but she wouldn't. 

The majority of women in high-profile marriages seem to stay with their husbands even after they're caught cheating. Why? Was it a power thing? A comfort thing? Money, perhaps? Or, could it be the fear of being left alone? 

Hou Chen couldn't understand any of it. Li Xiuying certainly didn't need Mu Jianyu's money. If she may be bold to say, Mu Jianyu's net worth was incomparable to Ying. Her fear of being alone was also baseless. One doesn't even need half a brain to see that the Young Master of the Shen family had been head over heels for her for years!

Li Xiuying's fingers stopped moving over the keyboard of her computer, her eyes lowered as she tried to hide the bitterness on it. 

"Is it really that easy to give up on someone, Hou Chen?" She asked back. "When you've made one grave mistake, should you be cut off for good without being given a chance to redeem yourself?" 

No wonder the rise of divorce was so high in this era. So many people wouldn't even try to work out their marriage and would drop it for convenience. Was it really that simple to throw a relationship and memories you shared together over the years? 

"It might sound ordinary for a woman to find out her husband's cheating on her, but not if you're the woman and it's your husband… Hou Chen, what if it is you in my place? Could you really tell me how I should feel and react over this?" 

Most women react blindly when they find out their husbands were having an affair. They let fear, anger, hurt, or a desire for revenge compel them to do things they would later come to regret — things that make it difficult or impossible to mend later. 

Lu Xiuying wasn't that type of person but her twin sister would be different. 

Hou Chen couldn't stop herself from voicing her opinion to her boss. Li Xiuying was too kind, too kind that people would take advantage of her. If it was another woman, hell hath no fury like a woman scorned once she uncovers her husband's betrayal. 

"But Ying, this is different! If you've caught your man having a full-blown affair, is staying together always a good idea? I don't think so!" She countered, "if your husband cheated on you and you found out about it, there's a really good chance it wasn't his first time — and there's an even better chance that it won't be his last." 

Song Zexiu who was listening between them nodded her head. She was glad that Hou Chen was brave enough to voice out their opinions to their Miss! 

She'd seen enough drama to know what could happen to Li Xiuying if she keeps turning a blind eye on Mu Jianyu's affair. The man himself wasn't even aware that his affair was already discovered by his wife. Infidelity can rock even the most stable marriage.

You know those stories of love triangles gone wrong, where the faithful spouse is always the one who ends up hurt? They don't just happen on the news and in movies. 

"Your husband is a coward. There's no doubt about that. From his actions, he's already demonstrated that he doesn't have the courage to be open about his feelings and issues with you and instead, took the easy way and acted out. He didn't even consider working things out with you." Hou Chen continued. 

 "Let me make this crystal clear for you: it's not your fault. You did not make your husband sleep with another woman. Your husband chose to do it. Don't let him put the blame on you. He needs to take responsibility for his actions and own them."

"Miss Ying, I'm so sorry but I agree with Hou Chen over this matter. You cannot prolong this problem. You have to think of what's best for your baby." Song Zexi interjected. 

"Even you, Song Zexi?" Li Xiuying lifted her head only to see Song Zexi fidgeting in her place. 

"Yes, Miss. Even Su Ling thinks the same…" she mumbled but it was enough for Li Xiuying to hear her. 

Her boss seemed to understand what she was saying and she hoped that Li Xiuying would listen to her this time. Over time, the emotions Li Xiuying had over her husband's infidelity could make her feel stressed, anxious, and depressed. 

Her emotional health will take a toll on her physical health and pregnancy. At this critical time, it's important to protect her well-being and stay healthy. The longer she waited, the harder it was to make big changes. 

"Miss, why must you stay with an unfaithful husband, thinking he'll eventually come to his senses. How much of your life are you willing to sacrifice to see if that actually happens?" 

Li Xiuying shut her eyes and sighed. What her assistant and bodyguard said weren't wrong. Both of them had a point she needed to reconsider. Maybe she was really too kind and naive to believe that her husband would one day come to his senses. 

The man he was right now wasn't the man she married years ago. She wasn't sure what were his reasons for betraying her but she was willing to believe that Mu Jianyu would remember his promises to her but if he really decided to divorce her…

Maybe she was really delusional to think that he'll come to her at this rate when it's clear that he'd already made his choice and it wasn't her. She was really the foolish one to believe that this was just a bad episode in their marriage life and can put all these behind them and start anew. What more reason did she need to sign those divorce papers? 

"Ying, if you change your mind, just call me anytime if you want to sign the divorce papers. There's no need for you to see him in court. You can separate amicably. There's no need for you to ask for alimony.. Whether he wants to be involved with your child, it would be his choice but would it really matter?" Hou Chen said before leaving her in a turbulent state.