Chapter 142: Raised in an Orphanage
Back in the day, Ethan Yu might've believed that Hailey Tang could be as cruel and calculating as the rumors claimed. But now, he wasn't so sure.
He'd seen her cradle a wounded stray puppy with tears in her eyes. A woman like that—someone who showed love to even the smallest and weakest of creatures—how could she possibly be evil?
Still, her reaction earlier… it had been strange.
There was something she was hiding. Something she couldn't, or wouldn't, speak of.
But Ethan didn't press the issue. As long as the doctors confirmed she hadn't been physically harmed by the attacker, he'd take that as enough—for now.
With the suspect in custody and the statements given, Ethan and his team prepared to leave the station. But just as they were stepping toward the exit, a familiar voice drifted through the air.
"Excuse me," a soft, slightly nervous tone asked a nearby officer, "I'm looking for Wang Qiang. I heard he got into trouble. What exactly happened?"
Ethan froze.
Hailey stiffened beside him.
Turning toward the voice, Ethan's eyes narrowed when he saw the woman who had just entered the precinct—Lin Xin'er.
She hadn't noticed them yet. She was focused on the officer, her brows furrowed with concern.
The officer looked her up and down. "You're Lin Xin'er, right? The one who grew up in the same orphanage as Wang Qiang?"
Lin Xin'er nodded quickly. "Yes, I guess you could say I'm like a big sister to him…"
But before she could finish her sentence, her gaze shifted—and landed directly on Ethan.
And Hailey.
Her breath hitched. Her eyes widened with a flash of panic.
What are they doing here?!
Had they overheard what she just said?
Did Ethan now know the truth—that she was just an orphan?
Her face turned pale. The carefully curated image she'd spent years building—the elegance, the background, the mystery—it all cracked in an instant.
She had spent her whole life hiding that part of herself, afraid that if people knew she came from an orphanage, they'd look at her with pity… or worse, disdain.
And now… it was out. Just like that.
Ethan's expression was unreadable, but it was clear that he had heard every word. Not only was Lin Xin'er connected to Wang Qiang—she had a past with him.
A past she never once mentioned.
But it was Hailey's face that changed the most.
Her eyes narrowed, her jaw clenched, and a sharp, stormy emotion surged in her expression. Something fierce. Something Hailey herself might not have even recognized.
And in the shadows of her sleeves, her fingers curled into fists.
Lin Xin'er quickly gathered herself and walked up to them with practiced grace.
"Mr. Yu, Mrs. Yu… what a surprise. What brings you here?" she asked, her voice calm, but her eyes betraying a trace of fear as they locked onto Ethan's.
The officer glanced at the trio and blinked. "You all know each other? Well, isn't that something. Miss Lin, these two are actually the victims. Wang Qiang assaulted these two women."
Lin Xin'er's breath caught in her throat. She looked toward Jo Ning—whom she didn't recognize—and then to Hailey, whom she did.
Her heart dropped.
"Mrs. Yu? Wang Qiang hurt you?" Her voice trembled with disbelief. "What… what happened?"
The officer gave her a quick rundown of the incident. With each word, Lin Xin'er's head throbbed harder.
This couldn't be happening.
Wang Qiang… how could you be so reckless?
Turning back to Ethan and Hailey, she spoke hurriedly, "Mr. Yu, Mrs. Yu, I swear I didn't know he would do something like this. I haven't seen him in years. I didn't even know he was in the city, let alone in trouble."
Ethan remained impassive, but his voice was cold and low. "You grew up in the same orphanage as him?"
Lin Xin'er flinched. Her eyes darted downward for a moment.
So he did hear… everything.
"Yes," she admitted softly. "But that was a long time ago. We've been out of touch for years. I had no idea he was capable of this. Mr. Yu… Hailey… I'm so sorry. I truly didn't know anything."
Anyone with common sense could see that Wang Qiang's actions had nothing to do with her.
But the very fact that she apologized so quickly and humbly… made it almost impossible to blame her.
Ethan clenched his jaw. His fury toward Wang Qiang hadn't abated in the slightest, but none of it could be fairly directed at Lin Xin'er.
After all, it wasn't her fault she had grown up in an orphanage. It wasn't her fault Wang Qiang had turned out like this.
He was just about to tell her she didn't need to apologize when, suddenly, Hailey stepped forward—forcefully pushing past him.
The movement was so sharp it startled them both.
She stood face to face with Lin Xin'er, her eyes brimming with something unspoken but searing.
This wasn't the usual polite, smiling Mrs. Yu. This was someone who had been provoked—someone who had seen enough, heard enough, and was done holding her tongue.
"Miss Lin," Hailey said slowly, each word deliberate and edged, "I think there are quite a few things you've been hiding. And not just from Ethan."
A sharp intake of breath echoed in the hall.
Ethan's brows furrowed.
Lin Xin'er's face went white.
And in that charged moment, it became painfully clear—this wasn't just about Wang Qiang anymore.
The real storm… was only just beginning.