Hiding her pregnant belly the CEO’s ex-husband cried his eyes out

An Xia, a former art prodigy who abandoned her promising career to become a full-time housewife, has spent three years in a loveless marriage with Lu Beichuan, the cold and distant president of the Lu Group. Their union was arranged by their elders under the condition that Lu Beichuan must cohabit with her monthly until she conceived, a mandate he resents and largely ignores. An Xia, who has harbored a deep affection for Lu Beichuan since adolescence, endures his neglect and the constant hostility of his mother, Song Lanzhi, who views An Xia as an unworthy intruder in her family. The fragile equilibrium of their marriage shatters when Lu Beichuan’s childhood sweetheart, Ming Xiyu, returns to China. An Xia discovers through paparazzi photos that Lu Beichuan has been secretly meeting Ming Xiyu, gifting her expensive jewelry that he had previously claimed were for a friend’s elder. The betrayal is compounded when An Xia is summoned to the Lu family estate to calm their younger brother, Lu Jingyang, who suffers from cerebral palsy and emotional instability. Upon her arrival, she finds Jingyang has faked an attack to lure her back, a deception Lu Beichuan fails to recognize, instead accusing An Xia of manipulation as he did three years prior during a traumatic incident that led to their forced marriage.

The confrontation escalates when Ming Xiyu appears at the estate, openly displaying the crown Lu Beichuan bought for her and asserting her place in his life. Song Lanzhi publicly humiliates An Xia, calling her a country chicken and praising Ming Xiyu as the true daughter-in-law. Heartbroken and exhausted by years of emotional abuse, An Xia returns home to find Lu Beichuan has burned the painting she created for their fireplace. She calmly requests a divorce, removing her wedding ring to signal her intent. Lu Beichuan, misinterpreting her resolve as a tantrum to retain her status, physically assaults her and threatens to evict her father from the Lu family hospital if she proceeds. Unmoved by his coercion, An Xia reveals she has been earning money through secret painting commissions and refuses to be held hostage by her father’s medical bills. She moves into a budget hotel and begins the process of separating her life from the Lu family, seeking to reunite with her former mentor, Professor Song, to revive her artistic career.

As An Xia attempts to establish her independence, she reconnects with Shen Huaian, a childhood friend and neurologist who has long harbored feelings for her. Shen offers her support, including a place to stay and professional guidance, which triggers Lu Beichuan’s jealousy. He intercepts An Xia as she meets with Shen to view apartments, forcibly pulling her into his car and accusing her of infidelity. Despite his aggression, An Xia stands her ground, mocking his double standards and pointing out his continued affection for Ming Xiyu. The tension peaks when Lu Jingyang suffers another severe episode while Lu Beichuan is distracted by Ming Xiyu’s medical emergency. Song Lanzhi, blaming An Xia for the family’s misfortunes, physically assaults her, causing a spinal fracture. The Lu family matriarch intervenes, exposing Song Lanzhi’s cruelty and revealing that Jingyang’s previous attacks were also faked to manipulate Lu Beichuan. Realizing his mother’s deception and An Xia’s innocence, Lu Beichuan rushes to the hospital where An Xia is being treated.

At the hospital, Lu Beichuan confronts Shen Huaian, who refuses to leave An Xia’s side, citing concerns about domestic violence and asserting his role as her doctor and friend. Shen Huaian’s protective stance and his reminiscence of their shared past further inflame Lu Beichuan’s possessiveness and regret. As An Xia recovers from her injuries, the power dynamics within the Lu family begin to shift. Lu Beichuan is forced to confront the reality of his neglect and the damage his prejudice has caused. Meanwhile, An Xia gains the support of her family’s elders and begins to rebuild her identity outside the shadow of her husband. The story moves toward a resolution where An Xia must decide whether to fully sever ties with the Lu family or negotiate a new terms for her life, while Lu Beichuan faces the consequences of his actions and the possibility of losing her forever.