My Alleged Husband

Chapter 396 - 375 Unable to Return Home_1

Old Master Zhang, upon learning the good news, returned home to prepare a nourishing bone broth for his daughter-in-law. After she finished the tonic soup, he quickly called Xia Jing and Zhang Zhentian to share that their grandson had become a father, and the newborn was indeed a big, chubby boy. When Xia Jing and Zhang Zhentian learned their grandson had arrived in this world, they were simply overjoyed to tears!

"Dad, are you serious? Do I really have a grandson? Does the child look as adorable as my son? I so wish to hold her, but now I no longer have the chance. I am no longer part of the Zhang family and have no right to hold your household’s child. When I made that decision back then, I should have foreseen such consequences. Still, I stubbornly left the Zhang family of my own volition. I never imagined that the heavens would punish me like this. How I wish I could choose another path; I would rather walk the road of no return than give up my son. But now, there’s no turning back for me. Dad, please convey to my son and daughter-in-law that she is a really good person, and that my son must treat his wife well and not follow the regrettable path we took. I also hope you can pass on my message to him to take good care of his son and not abandon him, lest he follows in our footsteps!"

Old Master Zhang, hearing these words from Xia Jing, felt a twinge in his heart. He couldn’t bear it. Was he really going to let the relationship between his daughter-in-law and granddaughter-in-law become like this? Was he truly going to deny his daughter-in-law the chance to hold her own grandson? As an elder, could he truly be heartless? But the Zhang family had its traditions, and just as there are state laws, family rules must not be broken. Since she had made her decision back then, it meant that she had chosen her path for the future. Why should he worry so much for her? The road of no return was her own choice, and she had not thought of today when she made that decision. Should he pave a new path for her now?

"You probably didn’t foresee this back then, did you? You never imagined that by callously abandoning your son and leaving the Zhang family, disregarding the family rules, you would end up unable to even hold your own grandson. I know you truly didn’t think it would come to this, and that’s why you were so adamant in your decision. Now that you realize your mistake, I still cannot break the Zhang family’s rules to let you return. I have given you many chances to reconcile with my son, and then you would be able to return home honorably. But you preferred what you perceived as the freedom and ease of the outside world, longing for everything it supposedly offered. You never considered your family in your pursuit of freedom; maybe they just can’t compare to your so-called freedom. Your son, your daughter-in-law, even a grandson, all fall short against your independence, let alone me, this old fool?"

"Dad, I must admit that when I made that decision, I truly did not anticipate this kind of outcome. I didn’t foresee the heavens punishing me in this way. Had I known that today’s outcome would be my greatest torment, I would have rather stayed home and never once stepped out of the Zhang family’s door than abandon my son and leave the Zhangs. You did indeed give me many opportunities, which I failed to appreciate, missing out on the chance to reunite with the family. I was too ungrateful. But dad, how many times have you tried to consider my perspective? After my husband said those words to me, how could I have the face to continue living at home? In his heart, he no longer regarded me as his wife. If so, what meaning would there be for me to shamelessly cling to their side? I am not without pride, in fact, my self-esteem is immensely important, as you well know. If not for this, why would I have stayed away from the Zhang family all these years? Maybe he forced me out as a tactic, knowing full well how important my pride was to me, and yet he chose to do something that hurt my self-esteem. Wasn’t he just clearly forcing me to leave his side, the house, and my son and daughter-in-law? I am aware that I never fulfilled my duties as your daughter-in-law, my obligation of filial piety. I’m the one who let you down, causing you to worry unnecessarily. Thank you for raising my son so well, for nurturing him to be successful, and for painstakingly taking care of him as he grew. I am fully aware that without you, my son wouldn’t have achieved what he has today, could not have grown into the outstanding man he is. Were it not for you, my son would not recognize me. I also understand that it’s because of you that my son called me ’mom’ for the first time. You’ve always mediated between me and my son, feeling that my son shouldn’t abandon me, his birth mother. You’ve done so much for us, given so much for me, yet I can never repay you, Father. All I ask for now is for my son and daughter-in-law to raise their son well, not to be like me. I have lived my life unable to be a capable mother, daughter-in-law, or wife. In your son’s heart, I no longer have a place. With that being the case, I will never come back. Just seeing my son and daughter-in-law happy from afar is enough for me. I don’t ask for much, because being overly greedy does not end well. All I wish is for my son to be safe and for my grandson, when he grows up and meets me, to call me ’granny’. That will be enough!"