My Alleged Husband

Chapter 1283 - 1112: Not My Home

Once, what I most wished for was to live in the harbor of my warmest home, but in the end, I had nothing. I always thought that my happiest and most joyous times were also his moments, but I eventually realized those smiles weren’t really like that. When I heard that many people got what they wanted and simultaneously lost what they originally had, I finally understood that loss and gain are proportional.

In the following days, Zhang Yichen locked himself in his bedroom, contemplating what Ran Zhihan had said to him.

He suddenly felt that he didn’t hate his parents as much as he thought. He truly was like his girlfriend said, unable to let go of his pride, unable to abandon his dignity. It was because of his self-esteem and pride that he chose to hate his parents. Even though he realized this, he still couldn’t easily accept his parents, after all, they did abandon him for more than ten years, which was always a wound to him. Maybe one day he would forgive his parents for abandoning him, maybe he would never forgive them. But compared to the hatred he once felt for his parents, he already didn’t hate them as much. He just hoped his parents wouldn’t oppose him being with the one he loved. If they kept opposing, he couldn’t guarantee he wouldn’t hate his parents again.

He had decided to give his parents a chance to reform and return to the Zhang Family, but he didn’t know that his mom and dad were arguing because of this. So he made a phone call.

Zhang Zhentian saw that his son’s name appeared on the caller ID. He was quite excited that his son, after having just argued with him, could still call, proving his son still cared about him. He excitedly answered the phone and said to his son, "Son, what made you think of calling Dad? Dad is sorry to you. It was Dad who did not control your mom well, causing her to do things that hurt your girlfriend. But Dad hopes you can rest assured, such things will never happen again. Your girlfriend will safely study in the United States, and you don’t need to worry about your mom causing trouble for your girlfriend anymore. I’ll keep an eye on her. If you have nothing else, then Dad will hang up now. Your mom is still arguing with me about this matter..."

Zhang Yichen thought: Could I be experiencing ear ringing, or did I hear incorrectly? His mom was still arguing with his dad about this matter, did his dad genuinely not know about this the whole time? Did I really misunderstand my dad?

"Wait, don’t hang up yet, I have something to tell you privately. Avoid your wife!" Zhang Yichen said.

Zhang Zhentian avoided Xia Jing and said to Zhang Yichen, "Yichen, just say whatever you need to say."

"Actually, the reason I called this time wasn’t to say anything to upset you. I just want to tell you that I thought it over and feel that keeping you from returning to the Zhang Family is too cruel. But don’t think this means I don’t hate you anymore. I’m doing this entirely because my girlfriend persuaded me. I just don’t want my mom to do anything outrageous to my girlfriend over trivial matters in the future. If I find such a thing happens again one day, I will definitely kick her out of the Zhang Family without mercy. At that time, she can forget about recognizing me as her son for life. I’ve said the ugly truth to this extent; I hope you can understand how I feel. Don’t keep touching my bottom line because it’s no good for either of us."

Zhang Zhentian was stunned by the words his son spoke. To hear his son say to him directly, his heart should be so happy. Why would his son say such words to him now? It’s truly thanks to his son having found a great girlfriend, a wonderful daughter-in-law. If Xia Jing could know this, would she agree to let that girl be with her son?

"What I said to you today, I don’t want you to tell Xia Jing. Because I want to know, without my forgiveness, would she do more extreme things to my girlfriend? I hope you can persuade her more to understand that going against me has no benefit. I can cut off her economic resources at any time, but I don’t want to do that. After all, she gave birth to me, providing me life so I could see the beauty of this world and find the kind-hearted girlfriend I have now. I appreciate her for that, but it doesn’t mean I can forgive you easily now. To easily forgive you is just something I can’t do. I am human, I have self-esteem, I need dignity. When Dad and Mom abandoned me, I endured people’s sneers and sarcasm. At that time, I had nothing, and I walked my path with tears in my eyes, step by step, kneeling to get to where I am now. I hope you understand how hard the road was for me and don’t force me to make any choices or try to make me forgive you right now. Because it’s truly too difficult for me."

Zhang Zhentian’s heart was truly pained by the words his son spoke to him. He never imagined that because they abandoned him, their son would suffer so many hardships. He wished all these hardships could fall on him instead, letting his child grow up safely and happily. But because of their cruelty, his child is burdened with a lifetime of regret. How could he not hate himself? At this moment, Zhang Zhentian suddenly understood why Zhang Yichen resented him. Indeed, whoever is abandoned by their parents wouldn’t hate them?

"Yichen, I hope you can thank your girlfriend on my behalf and also apologize to her for me. Because of me, your mom was going to cause trouble for your girlfriend. I deeply regret it, but Yichen, I’m really grateful to you. Thank you for finding such a great girlfriend. You know, Dad is so happy to hear those words you told me earlier. For over ten years, do you know how Dad and Mom got through those years? We thought of you day and night. But when we left, we were cast out from the Zhang Family, removed from the clan. At that time, we couldn’t go back anymore. You know, Dad often dreamed of holding you in his arms. But when Dad opened his eyes and found his arms empty, with no warmth at all, you know how much it hurt Dad at that time? There were things I shouldn’t tell you, but Dad wants to say them because it’s too painful to keep them inside. This thing, even your Mom doesn’t know. Child, after Dad and Mom abandoned you, you know, I cried secretly every night lying on my bed. I so wished my child could be by my side, so I could hold him and feel his warmth, even if just for a second, I would be content. Whatever choice we made, I had to bear the pain of longing for my child. This regretful decision of abandoning you is the only one I made in my life. I know Grandpa’s heart was broken because we abandoned you. You know, I understand how tough Grandpa’s life has been over these years. When I came back and saw him with gray hair, do you understand how I felt internally? It was a heart-wrenching pain. At that moment, I truly felt so unfilial. Why did I abandon my father, leave him behind? He not only gave me life but raised me for over twenty years, yet I abandoned him. What kind of son do you think I am? I feel like I’m an extremely unfilial son. In my heart, you’re much better than your father. So, Dad, I don’t blame you for hating me. I’m grateful you cared for Grandpa all these years, keeping him happy for so long."

Zhang Yichen truly did not expect his dad to actually miss him, discovering that his father truly loved him all along. He suddenly felt he shouldn’t hate his dad. But what about his mom? If it wasn’t for his mom’s capriciousness, how would his dad choose to leave home, abandoning him and Grandpa?

I’ve done many regretful things, but I’ve never regretted truly loving everyone I deeply cared for. Inside, I’ve always believed that as long as I loved them sincerely, it was enough. In the end, I realized all of this was just a false fantasy of mine...