Reborn: The Return of the Villainous Mr. Liu

Gu Rong's blood boiled upon hearing his ex-wife's voice with whom he had already ended his marriage twenty years ago. He clenched and unclenched his fist with his body shaking in fury.

"How dare you call me Ding Ren!? After so many years…what the hell do you mean by calling me like this?"

There was a pause. "It's been twenty years since we have separated and this is how you talk to me?"

Gu Rong angrily laughed. "Oh do you suppose I treat you with respect?"

"You better do it or else it won't take me long to go to Yating and tell him the truth."

That one sentence froze the blood within his body and brought every thought of his to a breaking halt. He touched his throat, feeling a crippling sensation enveloping him.

Butler Mo stepped in at that moment, bringing his brunch for him. "Master Gu." He immediately rushed towards him in concern, noticing his state. "Master…"

Gu Rong raised his palm. "What do you mean by bringing up this topic after twenty years, Ding Ren?"

Butler Mo widened his eyes.

I-Is it Master's ex-wife? Why would she call him after so long…

From the other end, Duan Ren said, "I need money."

Gu Rong gnashed his jaw. "Money? Ah right. That's what you always needed. Money and just more and more money. But nothing was enough for you. But Ding Ren, I have nothing to do with you anymore. I had paid a quite hefty sum of alimony to take care of your whole life ahead after divorce. I took care of all the responsibilities that I had to. So don't dare…don't you fucking dare cross my or Yating's paths or even try to threaten me!"

"Gu Rong, don't act too arrogant! You might have given me alimony but you have no idea how much humiliation I had to suffer because you threw me out! My own family disowned me because of you!"

He banged his trembling fist on the table. "I don't need to remind you why I decided to cut you off from my life. So don't paint yourself the victim here…"

With his voice and merciless words, he tried to be in control of the conversation but only Butler Mo could see the dread in his master's eyes. The pure, raw fear of losing his son forever - a fear that had been gripping him for many years now and a fear that Duan Ren dug out which was buried deep until now.

"We have already cut off all our relations! If you call me once again-"

"Gu Rong, consider your options very carefully here. You used your power and influence to make my life so pathetic. But don't forget that I always had the upper hand," she sneered. "Your alimony money was enough to seal my lips for so long. But I need more. If you don't give me what I want, the words could accidentally slip out of my mouth, you know?"

Gu Rong's whole body struggled with am urge to strangle her. "You…Do you even know what shamelessness is!?"

"Shamelessness? You are teaching me that, Gu Rong!? Even though I had the alimony, I had to hide my entire life as the disowned heiress of my family. And even though you are a criminal, you are living a life of luxury and respect! What kind of justice is this?"

He trembled hard, his nostrils flaring in a fury.

"Just around a month and a half back, I completely lost my face before Liu Jun!"

His forehead displayed lines of creases. "Liu Jun?"

"He was with his girlfriend, Zhou Ai. And you know what? I am her mother's neighbor. I thought people had forgotten me, but Liu Jun…he recognized me as Ding Ren. He knew about our ugly divorce and can you imagine? From a wealthy villa, a rich heir like him saw me living in a small-time house having the same status as that of a middle class woman! All because of you!"

"Enough!" He exclaimed.

"No, Gu Rong. What is enough is this pathetic life I am living. Give me what I want and Yating will never learn the truth. If you don't, then…"

"Leave Yating alone!" He roared. "He is living his life happily…Don't you dare ruin it-"

"What do I care? It's not like I am his real mother."

A long silence ensued.

Gu Rong felt the smile on her lips from the other side. "You know about his mother and what happened to her."

"You-"

"So be wise and listen to me."

She abruptly hung up the call, and Gu Rong threw his phone away in a fit of anger. It struck the wall with a bang, and it smashed hard against the floor.

"That woman…how dare she…"

"Master," Butler Mo said, "Please calm down."

"How can I calm down!? She has the face to demand more money from me? Even though everything was fine for twenty years…she has the nerve to appear before me again…What if…" he face turned whiter as she quivered, "what if she talks to Yating…"

Butler Mo quickly shook his head. "She won't do any such thing. Master, she only wants money. If she reveals everything to young master Yating, then she will lose her card to demand more money from you."

Gu Rong tiredly collapsed back on his chair. "Why…why is this haunting me again?" He trembled. "If Yating learns the truth, he will hate me. He will hate me forever. I am a criminal."

"Master! You are not a criminal! I have served you for all these years, and I know why you did what you had to," he pursed his lips. "If…If you confess it to young master yourself, I am sure he will definitely understand-"

Gu Rong threw him a bitter glare. "He won't understand! He will only treat me as a criminal…" tears threatened to spill from his eyes. "I cannot let him know. He will hate me and I don't want to lose my son, Huazin…I just don't…"