My Alleged Husband

Chapter 2338: Chapter 2171: Persuasion

Once I tried to persuade myself, but I still couldn’t make myself give up everything. All the life I wanted, yet wasn’t what I wanted.

Zhang Zhentian didn’t want his beloved wife to spend her life in prison. He knew how serious the crime of intentional injury was; even if it wouldn’t be a lifetime sentence, it would still be several years. He didn’t want his wife’s record to bear this stain; he wanted his wife to live with dignity and honor. He continued to plead with his father.

”Dad, hasn’t Ran Zhihan already said that she, as the victim, won’t hold Xia Jing responsible? Then why do you still want her to turn herself in? Don’t you know this will ruin her life, making her unable to hold her head high for the rest of her life? How can you do this? After all, she is your daughter-in-law!”

Old Master Zhang found his son’s words amusing. ”What daughter-in-law? Has she been by my side showing filial piety over the years? Has she taken good care of my grandson? Has she fulfilled the responsibilities that a daughter-in-law should?”

”Did you get it wrong? Is she Zhang Mo’s daughter-in-law? Has she been by my side showing filial piety once? Not even for a single day. Has she taken care of your son over the years? Has she fulfilled the responsibilities of a daughter-in-law or a mother? Never. So why should she be considered my daughter-in-law, and why should her name be listed in the Zhang Family’s genealogy, especially as a criminal? Do you think this would bring honor to the Zhang Family? If so, how could I face the ancestors after I die?”

”In your eyes, is a family’s reputation really more important than your son’s lifelong happiness?”

Old Master Zhang, upon hearing Zhang Zhentian’s words, thought since he has already become such a person in his son’s heart, why not become exactly the person he describes? He said to Zhang Zhentian, ”You’re right. To me, your lifetime happiness isn’t as important as the purity of our family record. Isn’t that true? My family has always been honorable, yet now there’s a mercenary as a daughter-in-law, leaving a stain on our genealogy. And now, she’s committed a crime. Why should I let her remain in our family record? This wouldn’t only disrespect the ancestors but also wrongs your grandfather. Do you know what your grandfather did back then was for? To ensure you marry a good wife. But I failed to fulfill his wish, letting you marry Xia Jing. It’s because of this, I constantly reflect if this was a mistake? What about you? You’ve lived abroad comfortably for over a decade, and now you come back, letting your son suffer such harm. Why should I forgive you? What right do you have to seek my forgiveness?”

”What do you mean by ’someone like Xia Jing’? Is being a mercenary wrong? She was born poor, has she ever robbed or hurt others? Why does a mercenary seem so unbearable in your eyes? They’re human too, born and raised by parents. Only because she was an orphan she became a mercenary. If she hadn’t become a mercenary leader, would she have survived to this day? Would you have a grandson named Zhang Yichen? Dad, learn to be grateful, not just take, for that’s not right...”

”You don’t need to argue with me here. If you let her turn herself in, maybe I’ll let you stay. But if you help her continue her misdeeds, then I’m sorry. I respect your son’s opinion. Please take your things and get out of the Zhang Family. I, Zhang Mo, will no longer consider you my son. Don’t tell others you’re my son, because having a son like you brings me shame—deep shame—for marrying a mercenary. I agreed to it, accepted people’s criticisms, but after a year, you abandoned your son. I’ve forgiven you, forgiven you for not being by my side for over a decade. But have you ever been grateful? You’ve only known to take. Do you think you’re the only one allowed to take and others aren’t? Isn’t that selfish?”

After finishing, Old Master Zhang turned and left, leaving Zhang Zhentian standing alone in the corridor outside the hospital room. He felt perhaps his father was right, that Xia Jing should turn herself in, that he shouldn’t leave a stain on the Zhang Family’s pure genealogy. Even after death, he’d be unable to face the ancestors as he is part of the Zhang Family. Should he be forever expelled because of a woman? It’s not the outcome he wants. He only wants to stay by his father’s side, watching his son live healthily. That’s enough for him. But now, this is shattered by his selfishness!

Thinking of this, he decided he should make a decision. He found Xia Jing, urging her to turn herself in, yet her reply chilled his heart further. Xia Jing refused to turn herself in, as it would be admitting her wrongdoing, and she wasn’t willing to do so.

”Darling, go to the police and turn yourself in. It’s meaningless to keep hiding. Although Ran Zhihan said she won’t pursue the matter, in the end, you have to take responsibility for your mistakes. Avoidance is not the solution; it makes problems worse. We’ve faced so many challenges over the years, through thick and thin. I believe we can overcome this too. If you’re unwilling to go alone, I’ll accompany you. Since I’m involved, I too will turn myself in, and we’ll face punishment together in prison.”

”I don’t want to go to prison; it’s the scariest place. If you love me so much, could you take the fall alone and say it had nothing to do with me?”

Zhang Zhentian never expected his beloved wife would say such words. He hoped she hadn’t said them, that they were spoken by a stranger instead. How could she hurt him like this? Was he just to bear a false blame in her mind? When clearly he wasn’t the one at fault. He had agreed to go to prison with her, yet she wanted him to take the entire blame. If this happened, it wouldn’t be Xia Jing’s stain in the Zhang Family record, but Zhang Zhentian’s. How could he let this happen?

”You would say such a thing? You’ve truly chilled my heart...”

Zhang Zhentian left Xia Jing!

This life, he brought upon himself.