My Alleged Husband

Chapter 301 - 281: Give One Chance_1

After Xia Jing left, Zhang Zhentian searched everywhere, but there were no results; he felt as if Xia Jing had vanished into thin air, impossible to find anywhere. He panicked, thinking if he had known that his decision would cause his beloved wife to leave him so quietly, he would never have uttered those ruthless words. Now, when he looked back and thought about what he had said to Xia Jing, he believed those words were not what a man should say—so heartless. Sometimes, he even doubted whether he had really done everything a man should do. Yet each incident proved he hadn’t, not even the bare minimum expected of a man. Often, he would ask himself what kind of ending he truly wanted in his heart. But time and again, he shattered it, and in the end, his last line of defense was all about that so-called pride. Now he finally understood that pride was not as important as his wife, and even if he had a good-looking pride, losing his most beloved woman was not worth it.

Xia Jing had left because she feared her son might tell Zhang Zhentian where she was. She had given her previous address to her son, while she moved to another place. She didn’t want Zhang Zhentian to find her, as such a heartless man was no longer worth living with. Sometimes a man’s ruthlessness could truly cause a woman to lose all faith in him. What Zhang Zhentian did this time was just too much, even after sharing a bed with Xia Jing for over a decade, she would have never thought he could be so cruel.

However, Xia Jing didn’t realize that her actions were somewhat misjudging a gentleman with the heart of a villain. Her son had not told Zhang Zhentian where Xia Jing was, yet Xia Jing guarded against her son as if he were a thief. She still didn’t trust that her son would be on her side. How would Zhang Yichen feel knowing his mother was guarding against him like guarding against a thief? Would he still be willing to continue helping his mother?

"Mom, Dad came to see me today looking for you. He wanted me to tell him where you are, but I sent him away. I promised you I wouldn’t tell Dad where you were, and I definitely won’t. Are you doing okay where you are staying? Who did you go with? Remember to take care of yourself, always be vigilant, and keep in mind that one cannot be too cautious. Being alone out there, you must be careful. If there’s anything you can just tell me directly, after all, you are my biological mother!" Zhang Yichen eventually couldn’t resist calling Xia Jing. He wanted his mother to know that as her son, he was always concerned about her. He felt he couldn’t be as cruel and heartless as his father, who could abandon the wife he had shared a bed with for over a decade—that simply wasn’t what a man should do.

Xia Jing was overjoyed and moved when she heard her son calling her from far away to ask about her well-being. After so many years, this was the first time her son had finally phoned to inquire about her life. How could she not be happy? When she heard her son tell her that he hadn’t told his father where she was, her heart swelled with emotion, yet she guarded herself against her own son like guarding against a thief. She felt a twinge of guilt; she wasn’t sure if she should tell her child about it, and even less sure what the outcome would be if she did tell him.

"My dear son, Mommy is so grateful to you for still having a trace of care for me. Mommy has done so many wrong things to you, but now you still know to care about Mom’s comfort. My heart is truly thankful and touched. You really are my good son, but I have not been a good mother to you. The wrongs I’ve done are too numerous to count. Child, thank you for not telling your father where I am, because only then can I trust you wholeheartedly. I can’t let your father find me, for his actions this time have truly chilled my heart. After so many years as husband and wife, he could just cut ties so easily; after so many years by his side, he could just abandon me without any of the dignity a man should have. I really misjudged him from the start to end up with your father, someone so lacking in magnanimity. How could such a man ever deserve me?"

"What’s the matter with you now? Can’t you stop being narcissistic even when you speak? Do you know how distraught my father was when he came looking for you here? To be honest, I almost couldn’t bear to lie to him. Where are you? Seeing him so frantic, it just breaks my heart. But then I remember the promise I made to you, not to tell my father, so I had to forcefully send him away. I was afraid if I continued to tangle with him, I would reveal where you went. Mom, can you give Dad another chance? After all, as you always say, ’A harmonious family leads to prosperity in all things.’ I don’t want to see my parents get divorced right after coming back because of me. Mom, I actually understand very well, you haven’t forgotten my father in your heart. You’re just too angry right now because of what he’s done, unable to forgive him for everything he’s said so suddenly. Indeed, the things he said to you were shockingly cold-hearted, and I’m surprised too. I never imagined my father could be so cruel. I guess you never thought your partner could be so malevolent, right?" Zhang Yichen was caught between laughter and tears. Which soon-to-be-divorced mother could still indulge in vanity at a time like this? In this world, apart from Xia Jing, probably no one else could reach such a state.

"Child, this matter isn’t as simple as you think. I spent over a decade sharing a bed with him. You must have heard from your grandfather about how difficult it was for us to be together in the beginning. Despite everyone’s opposition, we chose to stay with each other regardless. Over the years, whether it was him accompanying me in conquering the world or me with him, we faced so many storms together, hand in hand. But now, seeing you successful, he wants to return to your side to watch you grow up, and he decides to kick me, the one by his side, to the curb. This is what truly breaks my heart! Even though he has done such a cruel thing this time, made such a ruthless decision, deep down I still don’t hate him; I still love him. But now I won’t choose to live selfishly with him anymore because his selfishness is even greater than mine. Sometimes, you guys think I’m greedy, feeling that he is influenced by me, but you never know—that Zhang Zhentian is the person who truly values interest. In his eyes, as long as there’s interest, he could abandon his wife, his father, even his own son. There’s nothing he couldn’t do; it’s just that everything he has ever done, none of you have seen firsthand. Yet you have attributed all the poisonous deeds to me, forgetting that beside me, there’s also been a scheming advisor..."