My Alleged Husband

Chapter 448 - 427: I Don’t Have _1

"Dad, I already said that I never had any false hopes, so why don’t you believe me? No matter what I say, you never trust me. Then why do you even bother asking me? I was just five years old. I know I don’t have as much wisdom and brains to utilize as you adults do, but why can’t any of you trust me for once? Was I born a lying child? I have never lied to you before, and although I have never made any mistakes, does it mean that because I didn’t come home on time one night due to a special circumstance, you have to doubt every word I say? Do you think it’s correct to treat me this way? Is it right to teach your child like this? I have never been hit before until today — it is the first time, and it is also the day I have been wronged. If you still have any suspicions, or if you want to blame me for any wrongdoing, then please, put all the blame on me today, before today’s time is completely over. Let me bear all the misfortune so that I won’t have to endure it again in the future, endure an insult like today’s. Do you realize that the words you said to me today are the biggest insult of my life? My most respected dad and mom, because of my special circumstance I couldn’t come home on time, mom scolded me loudly, and my dad...my dad actually hit me..."

Zhang Yichen heard his son say these words, and he felt as if ten thousand cattle were trampling through his heart. He never meant to feel that way, so why did he still end up hitting his child? Did he really want a single slap to shatter the bond between himself and his son? Yes, he had never hit his child before, but what happened today? Why did he hit his child? After all that, wasn’t it just because he was too indulgent towards his wife?

"Don’t you understand why Dad hit you today? It’s the first and only time I will ever hit you. I will never lay a hand on you again. I know your heart feels terrible today. I hit you because you spoke loudly to your mom. Have you forgotten all that Mom and Dad have taught you about how to behave? Your mom has pleaded your case time and again, speaking well of you. Why can’t you empathize with the difficult position she is in, stuck in the middle? Your mom is also a good woman, concerned about her husband and not wanting any misunderstandings between her son and grandfather. She tried to mediate so that there would be no misconceptions. Dad and Mom didn’t say that we didn’t believe every word you said today, but your behavior was too abnormal. Haven’t you noticed that since you came home, every word you spoke was full of anger? Besides saying sorry a few times, have you dared to accept the punishment for coming home late? Mom and Dad have always taught you, if you do something wrong, you must be brave enough to face the consequences. That’s the responsibility of a man. Ask yourself, does any part of your behavior today resemble the responsibility and duty of a man? You unleashed all your anger on your mom, yet she didn’t say a word. Look back at your mom; she’s there crying her eyes out. And you? You always feel it’s justified. When did you become so cold-hearted? You were such a gentle and understanding child, so who or what made you turn into what you are today? You were fine yesterday, no, I should say during the day you were fine, but why did you change after coming home tonight? If you don’t come home late at night, can’t Mom and Dad ask why? Don’t we have the right to know where you were? We asked you over and over, hoping you’d be consistent, that your words would match what you first said. But for such a reason, you raised your voice against your mom. Is she indebted to you? She carried you in her womb for ten months, gave you life, brought you into this world so you could see its beauty, yet it’s also a cruel world. Is this how you repay her? Mom and Dad have raised you to the age of five. Was it not us who provided for you every day, who gave you food and care? Why must you treat everyone like this, every person who loves you and considers you family? Today, you make me feel so alienated. The words you’ve spoken don’t resemble anything my son would say. I have never taught my son to raise his voice to his parents, to come home late at night, make mistakes, and then be defiant about them. Are you still my son?"

"I..."

"I won’t say anything more to you tonight. Think carefully for yourself. If you still consider yourself my son, then stay home and introspect about the mistakes you made tonight. Look at your great-grandfather; because you weren’t home late at night, he has been restlessly waiting for you down there, unable to sleep peacefully. Doesn’t he, at his old age, need rest? Why can’t you understand the feelings of those who love you? I’ll say it again, if you think you’re still my son, reflect on your wrongs. Write a ten-thousand-word reflection by tomorrow and kneel at the entrance of our house for the whole day. Then, I will let you stand up. Conversely, if you think you’re not my son, then you can leave this house from tomorrow. From then on, we’ll have nothing to do with each other. The Zhang Family doesn’t provide for the idle or strangers. Since you’ve admitted you’re not my son, why would you stick around, burdening my household and expecting us to provide for an idle person like you?"

Ran Zhihan was about to speak but was interrupted.

"Zhihan, do not get involved in this matter tonight. I know what you want to say, but I prefer you keep it to yourself. I want to see whether he is still my son!"