My Alleged Husband

Chapter 397 - 376 I’m Not Going Home Either_1

"Since you’re still as stubborn as ever, my persuasions are useless," said Old Master Zhang. "I have always said that the Zhang Family’s door is always open for you. I may not have much time left, and I know what condition my body is in. For someone my age, being in this state of mind is already quite good. I only wish that my grandson could take good care of his children. All I can tell you is that your grandson looks just like your son, incredibly handsome. It’s like he’s inherited his father’s genes!"

Xia Jing felt an indescribable joy upon hearing Old Master Zhang talk about how adorable her grandson looked. She knew that no matter how she treated Old Master Zhang, he always regarded her as his daughter-in-law. Yet, she felt an overwhelming guilt towards him—why couldn’t she show him the filial piety he deserved and still saw herself as part of the Zhang Family?

After his phone call with Xia Jing, Elder Zhang immediately phoned Zhentian. He knew that Zhentian had been eagerly awaiting the arrival of his grandson, and now that the dream had come true, shouldn’t he, as a father, make a call to inform his son who was far away?

When Zhentian saw the incoming call was from his father, he hesitated to pick it up. How could he face his father, knowing that it was his fault his wife had left? His actions had hurt everyone who cared about him. How could he have the face to answer his father’s call?

Old Master Zhang kept checking his phone, calling again and again with no answer. He understood that his son felt guilty and didn’t know how to take the call. But he wouldn’t relent; he kept dialing, convinced that Zhentian would pick up eventually. His son harbored that hope in his heart, he was just unsure how to face him. Once Zhentian figured things out, he would surely answer. Why wouldn’t he give his son another chance?

Indeed, Old Master Zhang was as obstinate as they came. He made some 30 calls to Zhentian, and it wasn’t until the last one, days later, that he finally got through. Without preamble, Old Master Zhang scolded, "You damn kid, I’ve made all these calls, and you don’t even have the decency to pick up? Where have you run off to? Is this how you honor your father? After everything I’ve done to raise you, is this how you treat me? You’re ungrateful! Do you not realize you deserve to be struck by lightning for treating your father this way? You’ve never spent time looking after your family; what gives you the right? Do I need to call 20 or 30 times before you’ll answer? Can’t you return a single call? Do you even have a place for your father in your heart, or is it really like this? Is it not your family ignoring your father? Your son, daughter-in-law, and your grandchild? You could so easily cast your wife aside; do you plan on abandoning all your loved ones again? Is this fair to us? To your son who looks up to you? Are you really going to ignore that call of ’Dad’? Is this how you repay years of my hardship and struggle to raise you?"

Hearing this, Zhentian felt a deep sense of shame. He was acting like an ingrate. Why, when his father had been so loving, did he choose to act this way? Had his heart really become so cold towards his father? He had pushed his wife away so that she could never return home; what else did he want? Was he looking to be utterly forsaken before he would be satisfied?

"Dad, I didn’t mean for it to be this way—I just don’t know how to answer the phone. I’m heartless, having abandoned you and my son. Now, I’ve even abandoned my wife. I’ve cast aside my wife who shared in my hardships and dreams. What won’t I do? Why do I keep messing up, never doing anything right?"

"Alright, enough muttering," Old Master Zhang interjected. "I’ve got something to tell you. Your grandson is born, cute and handsome just like your son, utterly adorable. I spoke to Xia Jing, but she’s not coming back because she feels that since she left the Zhang Family and divorced you, she’s no longer one of us and doesn’t deserve to return. I want to ask you, are you satisfied with this outcome? Your wife, due to your decision, can never come back to the Zhang Family. Your wife, because of you, must live forever apart from her son, daughter-in-law, and grandchild, never to meet. Do you think that’s right? You never considered the consequences of your decision. I thought that after traveling for over a decade, you wouldn’t act rashly upon your return. But you haven’t changed, acting impulsively without considering the consequences. Now, I’m grateful I didn’t hand Zhang Corporation over to you but to my cherished grandson instead. He’s running it brilliantly. If I had given it to you, we might have been bankrupt by now!"

Today, hearing that Xia Jing wouldn’t return to the Zhang Family, Zhentian felt he shouldn’t either—after all, it started with him. Without resolving the matter, he had no right to go back home.

"Dad, since Xia Jing has decided not to return to the Zhang Family and it all began with me, I must live with the consequences. If she won’t go back, neither will I. Please let our son know," Zhentian said. "Tell him to raise his child well and not to be incompetent like me. I’ve done everyone wrong in this life. When Xia Jing comes home, that will be the day I return."

With that, Zhentian hung up the phone...