novelraw Chapter 562 - 541: Conversation (Three)_1
Chapter 562 - 541: Conversation (Three)_1
Old Master Zhang couldn’t understand. Their marriage had once been so strong, so why had things deteriorated to this state? If only he’d been given a little more time, he was certain he could have mended the bond between them, as it was before. But why wouldn’t they give him that chance?
"Children, is there really no way for you two to return to how you once were? You used to be willing to do anything for each other, even to the point of disregarding me, your elder. Why have you become like this, step by step to this day? Do you truly have no regrets? Have you never thought about for what reasons you’ve become so beyond redemption?"
"Deep down, you know better than anyone that some decisions, once made, leave no room for regret. You are a stubborn child; your temperament and stubbornness make it impossible for anyone to understand you. But I understand the strength of your pride. To you, pride trumps everything. What’s the point of living in this world if you can’t hold onto your own self-respect? I believe that everything you do has your reasons, and everything you do must be the right thing. You’re not like my son, who never considers others’ feelings in anything he does. Therefore, in the eyes of this father, his presence or absence doesn’t matter. Although he is my flesh and blood, he has never treated me as his father—a pain that’s all too real for me as well.
Maybe you think you don’t expect much from life, but you’re luckier than me. Do you know you have such a good son? Your son would do anything for you, even risking his life to show the whole world how outstanding he is. More than anything, he wants to make you regret abandoning him, for he has endured so much suffering alone. He silently bore the jeers and ridicule of his classmates. From a young age, he was labeled a child without parents. Even though his parents existed, they heartlessly abandoned him because everyone believed a good child wouldn’t be deserted. Do you understand how much he has struggled, how much pain he has endured? He swallowed all his tears, never complaining to anyone because he didn’t want others to see the true state of his heart. He wanted to live powerfully, earning everyone’s respect—that’s when life would feel meaningful to him. He even thought that one day you would be astonished by his achievements. But in reality, are you surprised by what he has accomplished?"
"Having such a good son is the greatest blessing in your life, the greatest fortune. Life is fleeting, yet having such a son is your biggest fortune. Don’t go striving for anything more. The most important thing is to live well together. Why complicate things over trivial matters? I believe deep down you still care about him."
"Dad, to be honest, it’s not that she’s absent from my heart; it’s just that her actions have chilled me to the core. I’ve given so much for her sake, but what about her? Time and again, she’s assumed that my efforts were solely for my own gain, a mere manipulation to achieve my own ends. If you were me, how would you feel? To have given everything for someone, to have disregarded everything for their sake, only to be seen as someone who is ruthless for personal gain—could you accept that? Wouldn’t your heart be hurt by their perception of you? I believe anyone in this situation would cease to treat that person sincerely."
"Frankly, I never expected our years of marriage to crumble within a single year, but time has stretched out so long that I can’t even pinpoint when we began to drift apart. I always thought she harbored feelings for me, that she would forsake everything for me. But in the end, I realized that wasn’t the case. She isn’t like my son, who would let go of anything for his wife. Instead, her affection toward me was merely a guise to pacify me, to make me blindly devoted to her, to give my all. I finally understood that no matter how I treated her, I was never going to be the person she loved most in her heart. I don’t know who she truly loves, but I know it’s no longer me..."
"We did have many years of marriage, but because of that very reason, I must clarify these things, so we don’t continue to hurt each other. The only way to stop further pain is to cut off all relations with one another completely, to allow each to return to their original lives. The life she wants, I can’t provide; the life I want, he can’t fulfill. What’s the meaning of such a marriage if we remain together? All I ever wanted was a simple, stable life, while all he wanted was power and fame. I could relinquish these things like drifting smoke, but he couldn’t do that for me. Considering the way he treats me, why should I stay by his side, allowing him to insult and hurt me repeatedly?
You wouldn’t want to see me suffer like this, and deep down, I feel the same way. I don’t want to keep hurting her. Since being with me only brings her pain, why shouldn’t I let go and give her a chance at the life she desires? Then she could be happy. Maybe one day she’ll come to her senses and return to you. Wouldn’t that be a good outcome for everyone? Why sacrifice everything for one person? I didn’t realize you sacrificed so much for me. I hope you won’t tell her about what I’ve said today. This conversation between us should remain secret because this is our last talk!"