Chapter 1427 - 1444: I Am Not the Xia Xiaonuan I Used to Be

Chapter 1427: Chapter 1444: I Am Not the Xia Xiaonuan I Used to Be

Xia Xiaonuan hadn’t expected Nangong Jinlie to say this, and when she thought of that time, waves rose in her heart as well.

Time had passed and things had changed; she never would have imagined that the grandfather who had always silently stood behind her back then would one day force her to leave in such a way.

Yet she couldn’t even say clearly whether it was Nangong Jinlie who betrayed her, or she who had betrayed Nangong Jinlie.

Nangong Jinlie went on, "I know you love Ling’er very much, but you have to understand: loving someone doesn’t necessarily mean possessing them. If you truly care about Ling’er, then you have to do as I say."

Xia Xiaonuan’s whole body trembled slightly.

"Grandpa, is it all because of Nangong Zhongli? Just because of her, you’re going to cruelly tear Nangong Yaoling and me apart like this?"

The housekeeper standing in the corner nearby changed expression, a sheen of cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.

At her words, Nangong Jinlie’s gaze flickered.

He became cold and stern. "Xiaonuan, the you from before would never speak to me like this."

"But you know perfectly well I’m not the old Xia Xiaonuan anymore!" she said stubbornly.

"Everything that child Zhong Li went through today is what she deserved. So it’s not because of her. I simply don’t want you staying in the Nangong Family and bringing an unprecedented disaster down on the entire family."

"Disaster..." Xia Xiaonuan repeated Nangong Jinlie’s word, her eyes turning faintly red. He’d used the word disaster, making her shiver all over again. Her hands and feet were cold, yet she forced herself to suppress the turmoil in her chest and said, "Grandpa, what exactly do you mean?"

"Ever since you ’woke up with amnesia,’ your parents, your sister, the entire Xia Family have met with misfortune one after another. Now it’s Zhong Li’s turn, so I don’t know if Ling’er will be next!"

When Xia Xiaonuan heard this, her brain buzzed; she let out a bitter little laugh. "Grandpa, do you really think all of that is my fault? If you don’t believe me, you can ask Yaoling... None of this is what I wanted to happen!"

Nangong Jinlie rubbed the armrest of his chair with one hand as he spoke. "I’ve already understood the whole story from beginning to end. Maybe this isn’t what you wished for, but everything that’s happened is still inseparable from you."

Xiaonuan closed her eyes briefly.

"So just because of that, you want me to leave Nangong Yaoling? I’m sorry, Grandpa... I don’t think I can do it. And I won’t let anyone hurt Nangong Yaoling." As Xia Xiaonuan spoke, she slowly rose to her feet.

"Grandpa, if you don’t have anything else, I’ll take my leave."

Nangong Jinlie fixed his gaze on her. "Maybe you don’t intend to hurt him, but can you guarantee that others won’t? I’m old now; I won’t just stand by and watch our Nangong Group end up ruined in the hands of a woman!"

Xia Xiaonuan’s body shuddered faintly.

She looked at Nangong Jinlie, hurt and bewildered.

"Grandpa, I’ve always respected you. I thought you were someone who understood reason, but the way you’re acting now really surprises me. Surely you don’t genuinely believe Nangong Yaoling would be stupid enough to be controlled by any random woman?

His intelligence and wisdom are beyond what ordinary people can reach, and I’m the same. I just want to stay quietly by his side as his wife. Why can’t you just let us be together?"

Nangong Jinlie’s face had gone a bit pale.

At that moment, the housekeeper hurried forward, nervously pouring tea for Nangong Jinlie.