My Alleged Husband

Old Master Zhang truly hadn’t expected that this time, his firm decision would result in such a rejection of him. He, as a father, had already asked his son to stay, yet his son still heartlessly decided to abandon his family. Although he knew that none of these faults were related to him, that they were all the result of his own son’s actions which had hurt someone else’s heart, what could she do? She only hoped that she could fulfill her final duty as a father for her son, but as for the outcome, he was powerless to change it.

”Child, you’ve been together for over a decade; you should understand each other very well. But I hope you can calm yourself down and think it over seriously. ’Ten years to share a boat’s journey, a hundred years to share a bed’—how many years of fate must you have shared to come to this point today? Does your heart truly not feel the slightest bit of reluctance? To abandon a living person like this, doesn’t it pain your heart? You’ve worked so hard for so many years on this marriage, and in an instant, it’s gone. Doesn’t your heart ache just a little? I believe you’re still very sad, but sorrow is no excuse for running away. Only by facing it bravely can you make your life richer and more colorful, isn’t that right?”

Xia Jing truly didn’t know what more she could say to Elder Zhang. She had made herself so clear, yet why couldn’t he understand? Did she really need to spell it out so bluntly and clearly state the facts before he could understand what had happened between them? If so, what was the point of saying these things at all? Wouldn’t it just end up hurting both parties’ feelings, wounding the deepest parts of their souls?

”I once truly thought about living with her for the rest of my life, burying ourselves together after death, sleeping in the same coffin. But eventually, I realized it was an impractical idea. No matter how sincerely I treated her, I was insignificant in her eyes. She had no place for me in her life, so why should I give everything for her? What did she even consider me to be? I never thought about it, and I dared not think about it. I have no reason, no right to ponder over these things. From the day she abandoned me, our end was predetermined. If she can do without me, then why should I give everything for her and naively wait? In the end, wouldn’t I just get hurt again?”

”If he comes to you again to say these things, I hope you can relay this message for me: ’If you knew this would happen, why did you do it at the start?’ Since he already did those things that hurt me, he shouldn’t think about making amends now because it is impossible to undo. I don’t owe him anything. I have been hurt by him to the core, and I don’t want to be hurt again. As a woman, I also need my husband’s care and trust. If he can’t give me even the most basic trust and affection, then please don’t waste any more of my time. Don’t keep me by his side anymore; it’s hurtful for everyone involved, and there’s no benefit whatsoever.”

”I thought a marital relationship meant weathering trials together, supporting each other to get through life. But I’ve come to realize, no matter how sincerely I treat him, if it’s unreciprocated, what’s the point? Isn’t that just making him feel even worse? He wants freedom, and I can give him that. Can’t I just let him fly alone across the world? Let him live freely, the life he wants, without the burden of my presence. Isn’t he satisfied now? One must learn to take responsibility for their actions. Only by bravely accepting one’s responsibilities and facing one’s mistakes can one grow happily. I hope his life won’t continue to be a mess from now on.”

Old Master Zhang knew that no matter what he said now, he couldn’t reverse this outcome. If it was already the final scene of the play, then why should he insist on staying against his will? Wasn’t that just hiding his dignity even further? After all, he had done enough for his son, and despite how much his son had hurt her, she still worried and cared deeply. Such fathers are rare; he felt he had fulfilled his paternal duties and there was no need to disregard everything for his son’s sake anymore. He believed that one’s dignity had to be upheld on their own. To expect others to go easy on you for the sake of your dignity would be a grave mistake; no one would ever give up so easily for another’s dignity.

He replayed the events over and over in his mind and discovered that not all the errors were his son’s. If there were mutual trust and affection, no outside force could tear them apart, much less a request for divorce initiated by oneself.

It only proved that there was a gap in their marital fate, which had already been shattered and could no longer withstand the test of time. A slight issue could make their seemingly stable marriage crumble instantly, yet no one realized this. In the minds of all, they thought the fault lay entirely with Zhang Zhentian, never considering whether it was solely his mistake or if there were problems in the marriage from the start.

No one questioned whether there were issues in their marriage; they just took from others and tried to prove it wasn’t their fault, that it was their partner’s fault. They were eager to blame others, without considering what led to the present situation. Could it be that they had no role in this? Was it possible that their marriage destiny was in someone else’s hands? Whether one’s marriage is happy or not depends not on others but on oneself. If one truly stands the test, if one genuinely commits to the marriage, then it will always be happy, no matter what.

Old Master Zhang watched Xia Jing and recalled every scene he had imagined in his mind. Now he finally understood—their marriage was truly broken and beyond repair, and there was nothing he could do about it.