My Alleged Husband

Chapter 242 - 222 Slap _1

Zhang Zhentian found that no matter how he talked to his wife, he couldn’t get through to her. He knew that ideological education was no longer effective. He now had to start thinking of other ways to convince her, to get her to agree to his son being with this girl. He couldn’t bear to separate them himself. He felt that only those who are in love can happily spend their lives together. It’s better than seeking parents’ approval to choose a lifelong partner; a marriage without love would never be happy.

Old Master Zhang was unwilling to meddle in this matter anymore. He turned and walked into the hospital room to see the girl he had already accepted in his heart as his granddaughter-in-law. Seeing Ran Zhihan lying on the bed, her cute little face completely devoid of vitality, pale and lifeless, like a withered flower that had lost its former brilliance, he felt a profound sense of guilt. He had never felt that he owed anybody anything, but today, he realized he owed this girl far too much. If he had been more assertive, would his son and daughter-in-law have not hurt her? Would today’s scene have not occurred? Would she not be lying here unable to move, still in a coma?

Xia Jing, Zhang Zhentian, and Zhang Yichen saw Old Master Zhang enter the hospital room, and they began their own argument.

"Zhang Zhentian, perhaps in your heart, you think I’ve done wrong in this matter," said Xia Jing, "but have you forgotten? When I acted, you were involved too. You even supported me, saying that no matter what, you would support me unconditionally. How come now that your son has acknowledged you, you can cast me aside like this? Is it right to kick someone when they’re down? Do you know? What you’re doing really makes me lose respect for you. You did it, so why should I bear the consequences alone? Clearly, you were involved, so why aren’t you brave enough to admit it? You want to put all the blame on me. Do you realize that makes you seem like a coward, lacking even the basic ability to protect your own wife? You say you were mistaken about me, but could it be that I was mistaken about you? In my heart, you were always someone responsible, but now, it seems you aren’t someone with a sense of responsibility. Instead, your previous radiant image in my heart has plummeted. I always thought you could give everything for me selflessly, that you could tolerate me. But now I realize, all of this has been my mistake, or rather, a misunderstanding, because I trusted you too much, leading to this situation. If you hadn’t spoken those words to me when I was leaving the Zhang family, if you hadn’t asked me to move against her, would I have ended up in this position now? Now that your son is also here, don’t you dare to admit it?"

When Zhang Yichen heard what his mother had said, he realized that this matter was not as simple as he had imagined. His father had actually been involved, and it was hard for his heart to accept it. Why did his dad have to play the role of a loving father in front of him but be a murderous villain behind his back? Didn’t he find it tiring? Playing two roles was indeed exhausting; he knew that feeling all too well.

Zhang Zhentian knew that once Xia Jing said these words, his relationship with his son would start to grow distant. He turned to look at his son and saw that Zhang Yichen was still staring, having never imagined his father being involved in this matter.

Zhang Zhentian wanted to explain, but he found that he couldn’t say anything. Could he really, in front of his son, tell a lie against his conscience, saying he wasn’t involved? But who would believe such words? Everyone knew that even if Xia Jing acted alone, Zhang Zhentian would certainly have been involved. If he denied it, would his stature in Zhang Yichen’s eyes fall even further?

Before Zhang Zhentian had a chance to speak, Zhang Yichen once again addressed his father, "My dear dad, please tell me, what exactly is going on? I hope you can tell me the truth about this matter. Did you take part in it or not? Don’t let me find out that you’re lying to me, because that outcome would be even sadder. If you don’t wish for any more upheavals, then please, tell me the truth!"

Zhang Zhentian knew that this time, no matter what, he couldn’t escape it. He opened his mouth but didn’t know where to start, and ultimately, he admitted his mistakes.

"Son, I’m sorry, this was Dad’s fault. I admit that I was indeed involved, but I never thought it would turn out like this. Can you forgive Dad? You must believe that Dad’s heart has always loved you, that I’ve always regarded you as my most cherished son. Can you understand Dad’s intentions?"

Hearing about it from others is one thing, but hearing the confession from the person involved is quite another. When he heard his own father admit that he was also involved in this matter, his legs gave way. He stumbled backward and nearly fell to the ground. His eyes, wide open, never closed. He couldn’t believe it. How could his father, who just a second ago had been playing the role of the loving parent, suddenly reveal such an ugly truth?

"Don’t call me your son. I don’t have a father like you. Haven’t you realized what kind of person my girlfriend is after all this time? She’s so kind-hearted. She regards you as her own parents, but what do you think of her? If she’s with me in the future, then she will be your daughter-in-law. Are you really unable to accept your own daughter-in-law? Or is it in your heart? Do you feel that having her around will make you completely lose me? You never knew what I truly wanted, did you? You never understood what’s in my heart. I’ve always thought that as long as I could really be with her one day, if one day we really got married, I wouldn’t care how you treated me before, nor would I care about the harm you had done to me, because that moment would have been enough for me. But today, you shattered all my fantasies. How can you be so cruel? Even if I can’t be with her in the future, she still has her own parents. Her parents would also be heartbroken by her disappearance. Do you also wish to see me disappear from this world? Is that what you want?"

Slap...

A slap sounded. Zhang Zhentian, looking at his hand still raised in the air, saw that half of his son’s face had turned red. He couldn’t believe he had actually hit his own son. He wanted to say sorry, but would his son ever give him that chance?

"You don’t need to apologize to me, because with that slap, you’ve completely severed the father-son bond between us. From today on, there is no relationship between the two of us. Also, please go back immediately, pack your things, and move out of the Zhang family home. Otherwise, I will never return home for the rest of my life. If you don’t want to see Grandpa heartbroken over our relationship again, then please move out quietly, without disturbing him!"