Chapter 57

Chapter 57

Qi Heyan froze at Bai Qi’s words. He turned to look, only to see a flash of despair surface in the omega's eyes.

Despair—plain and simple.

The alpha couldn’t believe it. Was Bai Qi truly capable of such an emotion? And worse, because of *him*?

Qi Heyan had always thought Bai Qi was strong, like the only flower defiantly blooming in the harsh winter—a resilience that couldn’t be erased.

"I..."

Qi Heyan wanted to say something, but Bai Qi had already turned away, as if the answer no longer mattered. His grip on the tablet tightened. Behind him, the Empress Dowager spoke up, "Child, I’ve arranged a superior omega for you. As for the rule that you can’t divorce for another six months—"

"What if we accused you of theft...?"

The voices of the two omegas suddenly cut in. Qi Heyan opened the tablet, his icy gaze sweeping across the room before he let out a mirthless chuckle. "What rule?"

"The rule where you conspire to slander *my* omega?" The alpha sneered, his eyes locking onto the Empress Dowager with open hostility. He lowered his voice. "My officers would never resent me for such a thing."

"A soldier’s duty is to protect their country, not to become a lapdog."

Qi Heyan then turned to the two omegas, gripping Bai Qi’s hand. The tablet’s recording had already laid out the truth plainly—Bai Qi had been framed.

"You will explain yourselves."

Qi Heyan’s original plans had been disrupted. He hadn’t expected the Empress Dowager to lose her composure so easily. The alpha refused to stay another moment. Taking Bai Qi’s hand, he left the banquet.

The omega fell silent again, following mutely behind Qi Heyan.

"What’s wrong?"

Qi Heyan told the driver to put up the divider. The moment they got into the car, he turned to Bai Qi. "I never thought you stole anything. I always believed you."

"You were too hasty, but I—"

"Qi Heyan." Bai Qi finally reacted. He hadn’t wanted to cry, but the moment he uttered that name, the tears came unbidden. *Qi Heyan*—how many times had he called out those three words?

The moment Bai Qi opened his mouth, tears spilled over. Every word he spoke carried the bitterness of his tears. "I was too hasty?"

"What do you see me as in your eyes?" The omega truly didn’t know what to do anymore. It felt like an unsolvable puzzle. He asked softly, "I’ve tried so hard to cooperate with you. Won’t you show me even a sliver of compassion?"

"Am I just... in your eyes..." Bai Qi’s voice faltered. He swallowed the tears in his mouth, every word torn from his very core. "A tool to bear your children? Or a weapon to help you defy authority and seize power?"

But he was *human*.

He was human, with emotions, with someone he loved. That was why he had come here—only to end up trapped in this unfamiliar place.

Bai Qi was only twenty. He was still so young, so inexperienced. He wasn’t strong at all—he was fragile.

"Qi Heyan."

Bai Qi suddenly laughed. He lowered his head, wiping his tears, only to realize with a jolt that nothing he said mattered anymore. Qi Heyan was still blaming him for not being calm enough. What pain cuts deeper than a wound inflicted by the one you love?

His face was deathly pale, his voice barely a whisper. "It doesn’t matter what you think anymore. If it’s my fault, then it’s my fault."

"In a few months, there’ll be nothing left between us."