Reborn in the 1980s: I became a stepmother in the 1980s Ⅱ

Part 215 Domestic violence

The little one's remark was a devastating blow, leaving Zhou Tingting almost faint with anger. Although she didn't actually collapse, her fury was palpable. Seeing her current predicament, which she blamed on the two children, Zhou Tingting wished she could make them disappear.

Her eyes turned cold as she glared at them.

Little Zhou, frightened, shrank back and hid behind Si Nian. But he quickly remembered that this was their home and that his father was present. As a young man, he couldn't just hide away.

Determined to protect his mother like his father, he straightened up, stood in front of Si Nian, and bravely stared back at Zhou Tingting, showing that he wasn't afraid.

At that moment, Zhou Tingting, dressed far less elegantly than before, looked haggard and worn, as if she had aged ten years. Her appearance alone made one feel uncomfortable.

Seeing her in this state, Si Nian finally understood why the Li family was so eager to find a mistress outside.

Zhou Tingting's eyes grew even more hostile when she saw Si Nian. "What are you staring at? It's all your fault! If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be in this terrible situation! It's all because of you. Big Brother, it's her fault I'm like this!"

Si Nian looked at her coolly and said, "What are you talking about, Aunt? Did I make you steal the recipe for braised meat, or did I make your husband look for a mistress? It seems you're just grasping at straws. Instead of dealing with your husband and his mistress, you come to bother me? No wonder the Li family could so easily toss you out. It seems you have no standing with them. If you had shown this much patience dealing with them every day instead of coming to harass me, you wouldn't be treated like a stray dog by the Li family."

Her words were a direct hit to Zhou Tingting's insecurities. As someone from a rural background, she had always felt inferior, believing she was unworthy of the Li family.

She had been taught from a young age that her husband was paramount, and whatever the Li family said was law. As long as she could maintain her position, she was expected to comply with any demands placed upon her.

Thus, she had never refused to bring trouble to Si Nian or to cause problems, despite the deteriorating relationship with her brother. But could she really be blamed?

It was Si Nian who had first caused trouble for the Li family, disrupting her brother's business and damaging relationships. Her younger brother had been severely affected, and as the elder sister-in-law, she felt she couldn't allow her brother to be mistreated.

She believed that if Si Nian had been more compliant, like the previous woman, things wouldn't have escalated to this point.

"Brother, you're my own brother. I'm being forced into a corner with no way out. If you don't help me, I'll have no one else to turn to," Zhou Tingting pleaded with Zhou Yue Shen, tears streaming down her face.

"When our parents passed away, didn't you promise them you would take care of me?"

She had resolved not to return, as her husband and mother-in-law were pressuring her to divorce. If she did, the Li family would blame her for everything. Zhou Tingting refused to be a scapegoat. With nowhere else to go and facing abuse from the Li family, she believed that as long as she remained married, her husband, Li Jiaming, would be stuck in the situation he had created.

If she could stay married, Li Jiaming would be the one in the wrong, and she planned to make his life difficult if he tried to divorce her. She wouldn't let him live happily with another woman, and she was prepared to make his life a living hell if necessary.

However, Zhou Tingting was not foolish enough to cause trouble at his workplace; that would risk her family's survival. She knew that if Li Jiaming lost his job, their situation would become even more dire.

Zhou Yue Shen's expression was cold, and his tone was calm as he said, "I promised Mom and Dad to take care of you, but only until you got married. Zhou Tingting, I recall I said that once you chose to marry Li Jiaming, I would no longer interfere with your future."

Zhou Tingting's face turned pale.

She had nearly severed ties with Zhou Yue Shen to marry Li Jiaming.

Zhou Tingting had believed she was going to live a good life.

Of course, she didn't care about what he said.

She also thought of herself as an adult, no longer needing Zhou Yue Shen's interference.

She completely disregarded Zhou Yue Shen's words.

"Brother, brother, I know you're saying this out of anger. It was my mistake before for not listening to you. Now I realize Li Jiaming is indeed as bad as you said. If he wants to chase after other women, let him. As long as I don't divorce, he will never be able to bring that woman into the house."

"This is my home. If I don't come here, where else can I go?"

Zhou Yue Shen's thin lips curled into a mocking smile, his voice cold and low: "Zhou Tingting, if you want to go back home, that's your choice. But this is not your home. You should remember where your real home is. If you want to leave, go back there."

Zhou Tingting's expression changed abruptly.

Her home?

That dilapidated straw hut?

She would never go back there.

The old house of the Zhou family had been abandoned for almost ten years, falling into severe disrepair and was no longer habitable.

Going there would be worse than death for her.

As Zhou Tingting was about to retort, hurried footsteps approached from behind.

She turned to see Li Jiaming walking over with a dark expression.

"Tingting, why did you come back here? Why aren't you taking care of yourself at home? What are you doing here?"

Li Jiaming wore a seemingly gentle facade, but knowing his true nature, it was hard to believe he was not only unfaithful but also abusive.

Zhou Tingting's face turned ashen.

Her body trembled uncontrollably.

In recent days, due to the issue with the braised meat, the Li family had been embarrassed and faced financial losses.

Li Jiaming had completely lost patience with her and was pressuring her for a divorce.

Originally, Zhou Tingting thought that as long as she refused to agree, Li Jiaming would have no choice but to relent.

But she never expected that this seemingly gentle man would confine her to a room and resort to violence.

Zhou Tingting had barely managed to escape.

Now, she was shocked to find that despite fleeing back home, Li Jiaming still dared to come after her.

In a panic, Zhou Tingting grabbed Zhou Yue Shen's hand and cried out in terror, "Brother, please help me! I can't go back, he'll beat me to death!"