Chapter 27: The Break
The departure of his wife left a gaping hole in John's heart. He wanted to bring Liyan back but feared his mother would imprison her again. Liyan must be blaming him for not taking her side. Even if he did see her, what could he say? If Professor Li found out about the Huntington auction house incident, things would get even more complicated. His mother was convinced Liyan was a corporate spy and demanded they break up. John didn't want to break up but couldn't find a way out. Mother or wife? John was caught in a dilemma, relying on drunkenness to numb his pain. Empty bottles of green, brown, and clear liquor were scattered across the room like bowling pins. During the day, John sat amidst the bottles drinking; at night, he leaned against them in a daze. The more bottles piled up, the more Huntington's dissatisfaction with her son grew. She resented that John still couldn't see the situation clearly—rather than joining her in mutual hatred, he was wasting away for a woman of no importance. Liyan had already been on sick leav