188: Chapter 188 Foolish Woman

At the mention of Lou Dong, her tone subconsciously carried a hint of defensiveness.

Cao Kun looked at her stubbornness, feeling both anxious and angry, yet helpless.

He knew that victims of domestic violence often developed a pathological dependence on their abusers, known as Stockholm Syndrome; Shang Yuya was currently in such a state.

Cao Kun took a deep breath and continued, "I know he’s been very good to you this past week—gentle and considerate, eating with you, walking with you, and promising you a future, making you think he’s turned over a new leaf, right?"

Shang Yuya was stunned, her eyes widening as she looked at Cao Kun.

He knew about all that too?

Just who was he?

"It doesn’t matter how I know; I’m only telling you the truth," Cao Kun’s voice was low and powerful, like a heavy hammer striking Shang Yuya’s heart.

"All of Lou Dong’s kindness towards you is an act! He hasn’t changed at all; he never intended to live a proper life with you!"

"Shut up!" Shang Yuya suddenly interrupted him emotionally, her eyes instantly turning red.

"You’re not allowed to talk about my husband like that! He’s truly good to me. You’re a liar, you’re deliberately trying to drive a wedge between us! I don’t want to hear you speak, just leave!"

She was very agitated, her arms wrapped tightly across her chest, her body trembling slightly.

She was unwilling to believe it, and she didn't dare to.

This week of happiness was the only light she’d seen in two years; how could she allow a stranger to shatter that light so easily?

Seeing her agitated state, Cao Kun knew that being forceful wouldn’t work, so he softened his tone and tried to persuade her patiently.

"I know it’s hard to accept, and I know you love him dearly. For him, you broke ties with your parents and ended up all alone. You’ve pinned all your hopes on him, and you don’t want to admit you’ve misjudged him."

"But Shang Yuya, wake up!" Cao Kun’s voice rose a few notches, filled with the urgency of someone frustrated by another’s stubbornness.

"He owes 580,000 in high-interest loans, and those people are going to chop off his hands. He’s desperate, and that’s the only reason he’s being so good to you!"

"He bought a large accident insurance policy for you last week with a coverage of two million. He is the beneficiary, and the policy just happened to take effect today!"

"He’s taking you boating on the lake not to spend time with you, but to push you into the water and fake an accidental drowning. Then he’ll use your life to collect two million in insurance money to pay off his gambling debts!"

Boom!

These words were like a bolt from the blue, crashing down on Shang Yuya’s head.

She froze in place, her mind going blank. Her ears buzzed, and the world began to spin before her eyes.

Accident insurance... two million... beneficiary... murdering a wife for insurance...

These words were like cold needles piercing her heart one by one, making it painful to breathe.

She stared blankly at Cao Kun, her eyes hollow and her face devoid of color. Her lips trembled, but she couldn't utter a word for a long time.

She wanted to argue, to scream, to tell this man that it was all a lie.

But deep down, a faint sliver of doubt quietly began to grow.

Lou Dong’s transformation this week had indeed been too sudden.

One moment he was kicking and hitting her, hurling verbal abuse, and the next he was gentle, considerate, and submissive.

And that insurance policy—at the time, Lou Dong told her he was afraid something might happen to him and wanted to provide her with security. She had been moved to tears and hadn't doubted him at all.

And last night, Lou Dong had hadn’t slept at all. He looked panicked, and his finger was wrapped in gauze, which he claimed was from an accidental injury. She had believed that too.

Countless details now came together like puzzle pieces in her mind.

A terrifying thought emerged uncontrollably.

What if... what if what this man said was true?

What if Lou Dong really intended to kill her for the insurance?

This thought chilled her to the bone, as if she had fallen into an ice cellar.

But soon, she shook her head vigorously, forcibly suppressing the terrifying thought.

No, it couldn't be.

Lou Dong was her husband, the man she loved with all her heart. How could he do this to her?

This man must be lying to her, he must be!

Shang Yuya suddenly snapped out of it, the hollowness in her eyes replaced by intense anger and grievance. She looked at Cao Kun and shrieked in a high-pitched voice.

"Shut up! You liar! You bad man! You’re just making up lies to slander him!"

"My husband and I have a great relationship. How could he possibly kill me? What right do you have to say that about him? You don’t know anything about us, so what right do you have to talk such nonsense here!"

"I’m telling you, I won’t believe a word you say, not a single word!"

"Leave right now and stop pestering me, or I’ll call for help!"

She had completely lost control of her emotions. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she sobbed and shouted at Cao Kun.

She was unwilling to accept the cruel truth. She would rather live in the dream Lou Dong had woven than believe that the man she had loved for two years had developed murderous intent toward her.

Cao Kun looked at her tear-streaked, hysterical face, his heart a whirlwind of emotions.

He could understand her resistance and her self-deception.

A woman who had been imprisoned by domestic violence for two years and had finally caught what seemed like a lifesaving straw wouldn’t let go so easily.

But he couldn’t just stand by and watch her die.

"Shang Yuya, I know it’s hard to accept, but I’m not lying to you. Everything I’ve said is true!"

Cao Kun continued to try and persuade her, his tone sincere. "I mean you no harm. I just want to save you. Believe me, don’t go to the lakeside with him. Whatever you do, don’t go!"

"As long as you don’t go, he’ll have no way to make his move, and you’ll survive!"

"Enough! I don’t want to hear another word from you!"

Shang Yuya abruptly interrupted him. Her eyes were blurred with tears, yet she still glared at him stubbornly.

"You’re just a madman, a liar! My husband loves me so much; he wouldn’t hurt me. You’re the one trying to hurt me!"

"I’m warning you, leave immediately and don’t show your face in front of me again, or I really will call the police!"

Her attitude was incredibly firm, full of hostility and distrust.

Seeing her completely closed off to reason, Cao Kun’s sense of helplessness reached its peak.

He had told her the whole truth, yet she remained stubborn, preferring to believe the lies of a piece of scum over the well-intentioned warning of a stranger.

Just then, the convenience store door opened, and Lou Dong walked out carrying two bottles of mineral water and a bag of snacks.

He immediately saw Cao Kun standing in front of Shang Yuya and noticed her tearful, agitated state. His expression instantly changed, and he hurried over.

He shielded Shang Yuya behind him, glared fiercely at Cao Kun, and demanded sharply, "Who are you? What did you do to my wife?!"

...