My Alleged Husband

Chapter 1571: Chapter 1365: Setback

A person’s life can be lived in many different ways. Whether it’s joyful or not depends on whether one’s life choices match one’s expectations. Sometimes, one’s happiness can bring joy to others, but a fulfilling life might also lead to one’s own breakdown.

Another week had passed, making it the third week since Zhang Zhentian and Xia Jing’s car accident. They were both waiting for their family to wake up, but each time they were left with nothing but disappointment.

Xiao Wei had been waiting there for a whole week, hoping for his sister and brother-in-law to wake up. But it seemed like fate was playing a cruel joke on them. These families were growing more anxious by the day, but the patients showed no signs of waking. Even the medical staff were moved by their relentless dedication, unable to believe that such devoted family members existed, waiting day after day without leaving. Yet fate seemed too unfair to them.

During this time, there were rumors spreading in many places that Old Master Zhang Zhu Jun had changed, saying it was his son who put him in the hospital once again. But who really knew the real reason behind his critical hospital stay? It wasn’t because his son did something that angered him, but because his son’s hospitalization was too much of a blow, leading to his coma.

Every day when Old Master Zhang woke from his dreams, he would ask his grandson if his parents had woken up. He wanted to know the condition of his son and daughter-in-law. But every time, his grandson and the medical staff would respond negatively, causing his spirit to gradually wear down.

Everyone felt that the situation should not progress this way. They wondered why patients who had already passed the critical stage weren’t waking up. Even though all life support had been withdrawn, it was as if they were dead—lying there quietly. Despite all vital signs indicating normalcy, they had no way of opening their eyes.

Li Jiayuan had waited a long time, a whole week, without her husband returning home, and began to worry. Her unease grew deeper. She felt the situation was more complicated than it seemed.

Even when her husband went on business trips before, he never stayed away this long, especially since this was not a business trip but a return to China. Why was there no news for so many days? Despite the nightly calls, her inner anxiety grew stronger.

She decided to return home to investigate, wanting to find out what major event was keeping her husband away for an entire week, limiting him to just a quick call each day. What urgency was keeping them?

Right then, Lei Kai entered, seeing his mother packing her luggage, ready to depart. Uncertain of her plans, he quickly asked, ”Mom, where are you going with all this stuff? Are you off on a trip or planning to return to China?”

Li Jiayuan was puzzled why her son assumed she was returning to China without her saying so. Did her son know something?

”Kai, tell Mom, do you know why your father went back to China? Why does everyone know but refuses to tell me? Be honest, do you know what happened?”

”Mom, didn’t you know? Brother Yichen’s parents had a severe car accident weeks ago. It seemed they were planning a trip abroad but ended up in a major car crash, leaving them in a coma. They haven’t woken up. Maybe Dad returned because of this—it is his sister, after all.”

Hearing her son’s words finally brought Li Jiayuan to her senses. So this was the reason. No wonder her husband chose to return home to China and didn’t tell her a thing. Perhaps it was to spare her from worry.

”Why did everyone know but not tell me? Keeping me in the dark—for what? Even if you meant to spare me worry, you should have at least informed me out of basic respect. Don’t you all understand?

I’m part of this family. I’ve never interfered with your decisions over the years. But for something like this, you should tell me. We are good friends; since I’ve become her sister, I would at least visit her. It’s basic decency!

Why keep me in the dark about your father-son dealings? Do you all see me as that unreasonable? As your mother, his wife, have you considered how I might feel knowing the truth?

Lei Kai hadn’t anticipated his mother’s strong reaction. He had considered telling her, but he wasn’t sure how to approach it.

He couldn’t be sure of the situation. Telling her might prompt her to rush back to China to find his father. Though she knew hints about past love and hatred, he didn’t realize how much things had changed.

”Mom, we didn’t tell you for your own good. We know you’re not petty, but some things are hard to discuss with you. I’ve been debating if I should tell you in advance, fearing you’d think we’ve been hiding everything from you, making you uncomfortable!

But we decided that, in order to prevent you from worrying and rushing back and forth, we would keep this from you for as long as we could!

We just didn’t expect...”

”You didn’t expect I would sense something amiss so quickly and learn the truth, right? When you’re doing something, don’t be so arbitrary—at least respect my opinion. Even if you don’t want me to go back, telling me and discussing it might help me understand.

But once again, you ignored my opinion. Are you considering me part of the family? Haven’t you thought how awkward this might make me? What will others say if they find out?”

That old version of me is gone; I won’t repeat past mistakes. Each step is my own choice, and even with thorns ahead, I can only press on with determination.