My Alleged Husband

Chapter 220: Chapter 200 Determination Set!_1

Xia Jing had never imagined that the girl she had always looked down upon would have such tremendous courage. Could it be that she wasn’t with her son just for money? Could it be that their decision to be together was truly based on love? If their togetherness was indeed a choice made out of love, had she gone too far in trying to destroy it? Xia Jing was now unable to help but reflect on her actions. Seeing the silhouette of her son leaving the Zhang Family’s main gate, her heart ached terribly; she had never expected him to completely leave home on the day she returned.

After Xia Jing got home, she relayed the news directly to Old Master Zhang and Zhang Zhentian. When Old Master Zhang and Zhang Zhentian heard what Xia Jing had to say, they were both stunned. No one expected the seemingly fragile girl to have such a strong side, nor that their love could be so brief. If Zhang Yichen were to find out, how heartbroken would he be?

”Since it has already happened, I hope you can keep it a secret for the time being and don’t tell Yichen the truth. Conceal it for as long as possible; at least during this period of ignorance, he will be happy and carefree,” Old Master Zhang said to Xia Jing and Zhang Zhentian.

Zhang Zhentian and Xia Jing didn’t understand why Zhang Bozhi had made this decision. In their minds, they only thought that if they didn’t tell their son the truth, and he found out later, would he end up hating them completely again, putting them back into a dilemma.

”Dad, shouldn’t we tell him about it first? After all, this is a matter between the two of them. It’s not right for us to keep it from him. If he finds out later that we knew the truth and didn’t tell him, I’m afraid he might hate us all over again. You might shut us out because of Yichen, just as you did before. I don’t want the things that happened twenty years ago to repeat. I don’t want the recent events to happen again. Dad, I’m begging you, please tell Yichen. Let him handle it himself, whether to stay together or to let go. We as parents shouldn’t interfere so much. The happiness of his future life is his, not ours. How can we, out of selfishness, make him lose his way in life? That would be so unfair to him!” Zhang Zhentian pleaded.

Zhang Zhentian and Xia Jing thought that Elder Zhang, having heard their plea, would agree to their request and tell their son about it. But they could never have expected that their words would provoke such a furious outburst from their father.

”Hmph, you two have the nerve to speak up, bringing up the events of twenty years ago now? Do you have any shame? If it wasn’t for your insistence on leaving back then, regardless of your own son, without concern for the harmony of this family, how could we have come to today’s predicament? How could your son not want you back home? How could he not forgive you? If it hadn’t been for that, why would I have repeatedly kept you both out? Now look at you, pushing all the responsibility onto your son. Do you not have any sense of duty? Don’t you know that you should take responsibility for your own actions? You should never have come back here. But because I missed you, and because Yichen wanted to see his parents by his side, he chose to forgive. Yet the result of that forgiveness is you driving away the girl he loves. Have you the gall to talk to me about fairness? Tell me, is what you’ve done fair?”

The unexpected rage from Old Master Zhang startled Zhang Zhentian and Xia Jing. In their hearts, their father had always been the kindest person. How could he be so angry with them? It was hard for them to believe.

”Dad, I’ve already said I know I was wrong about the past; why do you keep dwelling on it? What good does it do you or me? What benefit is there for our family? Why can’t you let go of the past and live together with us in peace? Yes, our return drove our son away and cost you your cherished grandson. But we didn’t mean to, we just wanted to return to our home, to be by your side, to watch our son grow up. Is there something wrong with that too?” Zhang Zhentian, unwilling to accept his father’s inexplicable fury, retorted.

”Yes, you’re right; how could you be wrong? When you chose to abandon us, it was because you had your own dreams, so it was understandable. Now that you’ve come back and caused me to lose my precious grandson, it’s because you love us, right? Is this really the choice you’ve made? Do you really think your return is so welcome, or do you feel entitled to the decisions you made in the past and now consider your return a natural right? In your eyes, what exactly do you see this family as?”

”I’ve never said that leaving was justified or that coming back was rightful. In my eyes, I’ve always seen this place as my home because you are my father. I have my family here, my son, and my past memories, so I chose to return. Do you really think in your heart that I came back for what? For the money?”

”What else am I supposed to think? Are you actually expecting me to believe that you came back because you love and miss us? If you came back because you missed us, why didn’t you return ten years ago? Why did you choose to abandon us in the first place? Is this what you call love? Do you dare say that your return has nothing to do with your son? Now that he is an economic emperor, an unreachable figure for others, don’t you return just to acknowledge him? Can you honestly say you don’t have the slightest ulterior motive and haven’t thought of your own benefit?”

Old Master Zhang didn’t believe his son would return without any ulterior motives. Although it was his flesh and blood, if this were the past, he might have believed that his son chose to return because he cared for his grandson, but not now. Time can completely change a person, interests can taint a person’s heart, turning them into someone consumed by greed. When he saw his son return, it was the same time his grandson became an economic emperor, and so he harbored suspicions. He hoped that if his son’s return was because his grandson had become an economic emperor, such a son might as well not stay by his side.

”Dad, I must say, you still have the same keen eye for talent as before. Yes, our return is indeed selfish, but he is our son, and we are his parents. Shouldn’t he show us filial piety now that he’s accomplished? Shouldn’t we come back? Is there something wrong with the things we’ve done for him since returning? Aren’t we just considering what’s best for his future? Do you really think that Yichen’s happiness is more important than your own flesh and blood?” Zhang Zhentian hoped for Old Master Zhang’s denial, but the response was...

”Yes, now in my eyes, my grandson is more important than you, my own son. Do you want to know why? Because it has been him who has been my company for the past decade, caring for me – not you. During these long years, when life was hard, the one who encouraged me, the one who made me face life with a smile, was him. I’ve watched his strength and stubbornness; I raised him, and I understand him. If it hadn’t been for you repeatedly hurting his pride, trampling it underfoot, why would he choose not to recognize you? He too wished for parental affection, but what you did truly chilled his heart. He chose to leave definitively, only then could he draw a clear line with you, avoid any dealings with you, and also ensure his resolve economically. Let me tell you this, if I ever find out that you’re troubling his girlfriend again or doing things against him, then I will kick you out of this house forever and you shall never think of returning. Zhang Mo’s word is his bond.”

”So, you’re saying your decision is final, and if we act in such a way, you’ll cast us out and won’t let us return, right?”

”Exactly, my decision is final, and I’m not joking – I’m serious. If that day ever comes, I hope I don’t have to be the one to force you out; I want you to pack your things and leave this house on your own!”

No one could have imagined the situation developing to this stage. Old Master Zhang, angered, slowly walked to his bedroom with his cane, leaving Zhang Zhentian and Xia Jing standing dumbfounded in the living room!