Heart Stealer

In the lobby of Yingnan International Airport, Xiao Tuobang dragged his tired body through the crowded crowd and finally stepped out of the airport exit.

There was a hint of fatigue in his eyes, but more of a longing for home.

He stood by the road, watching the endless stream of cars, and felt an inexplicable sense of intimacy.

He waved to stop a taxi, got in and said to the driver simply, "Master, go to the city."

The taxi sped along the city's highway, the scenery outside the window kept changing, but Xiao Tuobang's heart had already drifted to that warm home far away.

About forty minutes later, the taxi stopped steadily in front of my father-in-law's villa.

Xiao Tuobang paid the fare, picked up his luggage, and walked towards the familiar courtyard gate.

He knocked on the door gently. Soon, footsteps were heard inside, and then the door was opened.

Aunt Miao, the housemaid, greeted him with a big smile: "Son-in-law is back!"

Xiao Tuobang greeted Aunt Miao with a smile, then walked into the living room of the Qiu family.

As soon as he entered the room, he quickly glanced around and found that except for his wife Qiu Xue, all other members of the Qiu family had gathered here.

Even my third sister Qiuyu, who usually lives in school, came home today, which is a rare occurrence.

Mrs. Qiu put down the newspaper in her hand and looked up to see Xiao Tuobang standing alone at the door. A confused expression appeared on her face: "Tuobang, you are back? Where is Qiuxue?"

There was obvious concern in her words, and her eyes kept searching behind Xiao Tuobang, hoping to see her daughter.

Qiu Rongyao noticed his wife's uneasiness and immediately stepped forward to try to divert everyone's attention.

"Tuobang, did you just get off the plane? You must be exhausted from all the traveling. Are you hungry? I'll ask Aunt Miao to cook you some dishes, and we can have a reunion dinner together."

Xiao Tuobang quickly waved his hands, trying his best to hide his inner sadness, and forced a smile and said, "Dad, there's really no need to trouble you. I just had a meal on the plane and I'm not hungry now." His voice was a little hoarse, and he was obviously suppressing his emotions.

Xiao Tuobang was still immersed in the endless pain of losing his child. He was in a heavy mood and had no mind or appetite to eat.

He gently put the luggage bag in his hand aside, then dragged his tired steps to the sofa next to Qiu Rongyao and slowly sat down.

Qiuyu immediately walked up to Xiao Tuobang with a cup of warm water, her eyes full of concern and worry.

Xiao Tuobang took the cup of water gratefully and drank half of it in one breath.

The warm water seemed to flow through his body, bringing him a sense of comfort and temporarily calming the turbulent waves in his heart.

This brief period of calm did not last long.

Xiao Tuobang put down his water cup, took a deep breath, and then said to Qiu Rongyao solemnly: "Dad, I came to you today to resign from all my positions in the company."

Qiu Rongyao's brows immediately furrowed, his hands involuntarily clenched the armrests of the chair, and his expression became serious: "Tuobang, why do you want to resign so suddenly?"

Xiao Tuobang's face revealed deep pain, and he lowered his head slightly, not daring to look at his father-in-law's face.

“Qiu Xue wants to divorce me, and I don’t think it’s necessary for me to be the company president anymore.

Qiu Rongyao's expression changed instantly. He stood up and asked with obvious anger in his tone, "Tuobang, what on earth is going on?"

Mrs. Qiu also interrupted eagerly: "Tuobang, is there any misunderstanding between you and Qiuxue?"

Xiao Tuobang's eyes were red and tears were welling up in his eyes.

He choked up and told the heartbreaking truth: "Dad, Mom, Qiuxue is so cruel, she aborted the baby!"

The room suddenly fell into deathly silence. Qiu Rongyao and Mrs. Qiu looked at each other, their faces filled with shock and disbelief.

"How is this possible... How could Qiu Xue do this..." Mrs. Qiu broke the silence first, her voice filled with tears.

Xiao Tuobang closed his eyes in pain, tears streaming down his cheeks.

Qiu Rongyao took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down.

"Tuobang, is there some misunderstanding here? Maybe Qiuxue has her own difficulties?"

Xiao Tuobang shook his head, "I don't know... I only know that our child is gone..."

His voice was filled with despair. Xiao Tuobang choked up and said, "Dad, Mom, I spoke to Qiuxue on the phone. She told me in person that she had aborted the baby. She also asked Sister Zhen to send me the surgery certificate."

After saying that, he tremblingly took out a folded surgical certificate from his bag and handed it to Qiu Rongyao.

Qiu Rongyao took the surgery certificate, adjusted his glasses, glanced through it quickly, and then angrily threw it on the coffee table.

Qiu Rongyao's anger burned in his chest, and he shouted with almost all his strength: "This is impossible!" His voice echoed in the living room, full of disbelief and anger.

He widened his eyes and stared at Xiao Tuobang, as if trying to find traces of lies in his expression.

He picked up the surgical certificate again, his fingers trembling slightly, and his heart began to sink as he carefully examined every word.

The paper clearly recorded the date, time, and performing doctor of the operation, as well as the official seal of the hospital. Everything seemed so real and authentic.

Qiu Rongyao couldn't help but think of Qiu Xue's past behavior and the increasingly intensified conflict between her and Xiao Tuobang.

These fragments of memory began to piece together, causing him to question the daughter he had always trusted.

"Qiu Xue, how could she do such a thing?"

Mrs. Qiu's voice was filled with tears, and her hands were clenched into fists and placed on her chest, as if praying that all this was not true.