My Alleged Husband

Chapter 236 - 216 Decisive_1

Zhang Yichen saw that his mother was unwilling to say another word to him, and he knew that at this moment, no matter what he said would be wrong. The only thing he could do was choose silence, allowing his mother some solitude to think clearly about what the consequences of her actions might be. Would they bring harm to herself? He believed that if his mother truly had her son in her heart, she would definitely heed his advice and stop.

Xia Jing was alone with her thoughts for a while, feeling truly conflicted. It wasn’t that she didn’t care about her son, but that she didn’t know how to interact with her dear son. For over a decade, she hadn’t spent any time with him and didn’t know what her child really needed, what was in his heart, or what kind of person he was. All she could do was take things slowly, attempting to discover what her son truly needed through her own methods. She believed that as long as she put her heart into it, she could eventually understand him. Perhaps it would take a very long time, but she was willing to wait for that day because with hope in her heart, the days would not be so difficult to endure.

An hour later, Old Master Zhang could no longer hold back and asked, "Xia Jing, have you made up your mind? If you listen to your son, then let those two go now and we’ll all go home together. But if you insist on following through with your own choice, then don’t come back later saying it was for someone else’s sake. I believe you’ve gradually come to understand the kind of temperament your son has. If something happens, do you think Yichen will still forgive you, his mother? Do you think that you won’t be subject to legal punishment if this event transpires? Even if you achieve your goal by doing this, is it really worth it? Not only will you lose your son and your husband, but you will also lose a family that could have been happy for a lifetime, as well as destroy the happiness of your own son’s life. Are you really doing the right thing?"

Faced with Old Master Zhang’s words, Xia Jing couldn’t help but reflect on whether what she was doing was truly worth it. For the sake of an unrelated person, to lose her father, her husband, her son—was it really worth it? Would she not regret losing so much because of one person? She didn’t know how to handle the situation in a way that would satisfy everyone. All she wanted was for her child to live a happy and joyful life. Why was that so difficult?

"Dad, I know you’re saying this for my benefit, for the sake of our family, but do you understand? He is now deeply ensnared in the vortex of love, unable to extricate himself. If I don’t do this, then his entire life will be ruined because of this girl. Would you really be content to see the grandson you’ve painstakingly raised, the global economic titan you’ve diligently mentored, be destroyed by a woman? Are you really okay with that?"

It must be said, Xia Jing’s words struck a chord with Old Master Zhang. How could he possibly be content? This was his grandson, whom he had meticulously and ruthlessly groomed. To ensure that his grandson could one day take over his company and stand firm on the world’s economic stage, he had paid a tremendous price, one that others couldn’t possibly understand. How could he possibly be happy with his grandson losing the business of his lifetime over a woman? He didn’t want such a thing to happen, but he was even less willing to see his grandson depressed and joyless every day. He didn’t want to see Yichen unhappy. In his heart, Yichen was more important than anyone else, far surpassing the importance of Zhang Zhentian.

"You’re right, to tell you the truth, I am not willing to accept it. How can I be willing to let a woman destroy the grandson I’ve painstakingly raised and the economic emperor I’ve painstakingly taught? But, I am different from you. You could abandon your own child for the sake of your freedom, but I can’t. Even though I am reluctant, I would rather use my company, the enterprise that I’ve dedicated my life to, to exchange for my precious grandson’s lifelong happiness. For me, as long as he is happy, everything else is negotiable. And if he is not happy, then I will be unhappy too. In my eyes, his happiness is more important than anything. Do you know? Over these years, he has put in so much effort just to fulfill a joke I once made to him. If it weren’t for that joke, he would not have suffered so much. Ultimately, all this is my doing. Since that is the case, if he is willing to give up his own company for the woman he loves, why not? I believe that as long as he has the ability, even if his ventures fail again and again, he can rise from the ashes and stand again. Because he is my grandson, Zhang Mo, an indomitable god."

Xia Jing had not expected her son to mean so much in Old Master Zhang’s heart. She remembered how desperate Zhang Mo had been when Old Master Zhang’s company was on the brink of collapse, but now, for the sake of his grandson, he was even willing to let go of the company. She didn’t understand what had happened over these years? Why had Old Master Zhang changed so much? Why were his worldview and values completely different than before? Could it really be that the times were progressing and people were changing as well?

Just as they were preparing to continue their argument, Ran Zhihan arrived at the scene by car. As soon as she stepped out of the vehicle, she saw her parents bound there. Her heart felt shattered. With tears streaming down her face, she sprinted toward her parents, but Xia Jing stopped her with her hand, "You’re just in time. Today, I will let you witness with your own eyes how your parents vanish from this world. I remember warning you, if I ever found out you had any relationship with my son again, I would definitely target your parents. Since you don’t care about your parents’ life and death, why should I be merciful on your behalf? I hope you remember that your parents’ death today is caused by you, because of your selfishness, and for the sake of your own romantic feelings, you have forfeited your own parents’ lives..."

Upon hearing his mother’s words, Zhang Yichen knew that the situation had become very serious. He could no longer hide. He had to stand up and defy his mother, for if things really did happen, he and the girl before him would be finished. He could not allow such a tragedy to happen to him. When he stepped forward to plead for the girl he loved, instead of gratitude, he received a slap from her. He didn’t understand where this slap had come from, but the words Ran Zhihan told him left him feeling utterly defeated.

"Zhang Yichen, listen to me carefully. I’ve told you over and over that it’s over between us, but your mother has never believed that I said those words to you. Now, I will say it again solemnly in front of uncle, auntie, and grandpa: it’s truly over between us. We no longer have any connection. I cannot abandon my own parents’ lives for the sake of our love. That’s something I cannot do. You know, I’ve already told you before, even if my parents abandoned me, I wouldn’t hate them, let alone the fact that they’ve sacrificed so much for me. How could I bear to have them pay with their lives for my romantic entanglement? I can’t do that, I am not that selfish, so starting today, we will sever all ties and have no more relations, with the hope that you will not interfere with my life in the future..."

When Zhang Yichen heard Ran Zhihan’s words, the hope he had harbored in his heart plummeted from heaven straight into hell.