Jiang Ruo’s face turned as pale as a sheet of paper. Her mind was in a mess, but when she looked up, she realized that at some point, the door to the hospital room had been opened, and Jiang Zhou was standing at the entrance, his face livid and his eyes filled with anger as he stared at their father.
Only then did Jiang Ruo remember that Jiang Huai had asked her to come alone. At that time, Jiang Zhou wasn’t in the dialysis room, but she had still called him. When he didn’t pick up, she left him a text, telling him not only about their father’s hospitalization but also the ward number.
Jiang Ruo didn’t know when Jiang Zhou had arrived, nor did she know how much of the conversation he had overheard. But did it even matter?
Whether he heard just one sentence or everything, it made no difference. He was her biological brother, and they were related by blood. They had been siblings since birth, destined to never be together…
What’s more, she was the daughter born from their father and his mistress. Her brother would definitely hate her!
What a ridiculous thing! She used to always wish that her brother would forever be just that—her brother. But now that her wish had come true, she realized how absurd and laughable reality was.
Jiang Zhou was clearly her biological brother, yet she was about to lose him forever.
Seeing Jiang Zhou suddenly appear, Jiang Huai’s face changed dramatically. When Feng Yun insisted on a paternity test between him and Ruoruo, he originally planned to delay the process, thinking he could first transfer the marital assets and secure an escape route for himself. However, the moment he discovered his assets had been frozen, Jiang Huai knew that the Feng family had obtained solid evidence, which is why they acted so swiftly.
Given the circumstances, he had no choice but to discreetly send Ruoruo away and had her left behind a message stating that she didn’t want to be a burden to the family or see her brother risking his life for her sake again, so she decided to leave on her own. This way, Feng Yun would never be able to find any evidence that Ruoruo was his biological daughter, and he still had a chance to win her back.
Even if Feng Qi had evidence and presented it to Feng Yun, she might not believe it—or rather, she might simply refuse to believe it.
As for A’Zhou, even if he was deeply in love with Ruoruo to the point of threatening his own mother with suicide, time would eventually heal him. Even if it took years or a decade, as long as Ruoruo was still alive in this world, he would never attempt to take his life.
Jiang Huai believed his plan was foolproof, but what he hadn’t anticipated was that his son would show up. Judging by the look on his face, it was clear A’Zhou had overheard the entire conversation and now knew that Ruoruo was his biological half-sister.
What should he do now?!
Jiang Zhou walked step by step into the hospital room, eventually stopping before Jiang Huai’s bed. “You swore before that Ruoruo and I weren’t related by blood, but it turns out you were just spouting nonsense!”
Jiang Huai couldn’t afford to worry about his son’s attitude anymore; his mind was racing, trying to figure out how to clean up this mess.
Seeing the cold look in his son’s eyes, Jiang Huai quickly devised a strategy. He looked at Jiang Zhou and softly explained, “I had to say that at the time, otherwise…”
“Otherwise what? Otherwise, the Feng family wouldn’t let you off? After doing something like this, what right do you have to ask them to let you off?” Jiang Zhou’s gaze at Jiang Huai was filled with resentment as if he was facing an enemy.
Jiang Huai desperately tried to explain, “What does it matter if they don’t let me off? I’m an old man; at worst, I’ll return to poverty, but I’ll survive. But Ruoruo is different—she’s only eighteen. She shouldn’t be the target of the Feng family.”
Jiang Huai knew his son’s weak spot, so he could only bring Jiang Ruo into the conversation.
Sure enough. The moment ‘Ruoruo’ name was mentioned, Jiang Zhou’s expression did indeed change slightly.
Ruoruo… Ruoruo… It turns out she is his half-sister…
Jiang Zhou let out a bitter laugh.
“Until a moment ago, Ruoruo knew nothing about the truth. She is innocent. Can you really stand by and watch the Feng family go after her with vengeance?” Jiang Huai’s words were sincere, and he completely portrayed himself as a loving father concerned for his daughter.
Jiang Zhou’s eyes betrayed a subtle expression of confusion. Ruoruo was the daughter of his father and a mistress—logically speaking, he should take his mother’s side and hate both Ruoruo’s biological mother and Ruoruo herself.
But thinking back on all the memories they shared, how could he possibly hate her? For the past eighteen years, Ruoruo had been kept in the dark. She knew nothing. She was innocent! However, if the Feng family targeted her…
Seeing Jiang Zhou’s attitude soften, Jiang Huai continued, “Yesterday, I lied about Ruoruo not being my biological daughter in front of your mother, then rushed back to the office intending to sell some shares so that Ruoruo could take the money and go into hiding. But the Feng family anticipated my move and pulled some strings to freeze all my assets.”
“I immediately knew that they must have obtained evidence proving that Ruoruo is my biological daughter. They are currently waiting for your mother to confirm the truth on her own before taking us all down. In this situation, I had no choice but to find a way to send Ruoruo away. As long as the Feng family can’t find her, she’ll still be safe. A’Zhou, can you understand your father’s desperate efforts?”
Jiang Zhou was silent for a long time before he finally said, “But you really did betray my mom.”
Jiang Huai admitted openly, “Yes, I did betray her, but I had my reasons back then. And Ruoruo’s mother passed away eighteen years ago. All these years, I’ve been faithful to your mother. Now, as long as Ruoruo leaves, your mother won’t have any concrete evidence, and I can talk to her and keep her from leaving me. I’m desperate to save my marriage.” Jiang Huai seamlessly transitioned from the role of a caring father to that of a devoted husband trying to win back his wife. Like a seasoned actor, he appeared fully sincere.
“…” Jiang Zhou felt completely dazed and unsure of what to say, a heavy storm was raging within him. He knew he should stand by his mother, condemn his father’s infidelity, and even disown him. But when he tried to look from his father’s perspective, this might really be the best course of action. Perhaps his father was genuinely trying to protect Ruoruo while also not wanting to lose his mother.
At that moment, Jiang Ruo, who had been silent after Jiang Zhou appeared, suddenly spoke up, “Mom already took my nails. She must be planning to use them for a paternity test.”
Jiang Huai froze, then frowned and asked, “You already gave them to her?”
Nodding, Jiang Ruo replied softly, “Mom cut them herself.”
Jiang Huai was silent for a few seconds before he slowly said, “I haven’t given her a sample of mine yet. I’ll find a chance later…”
Jiang Zhou shook his head and gave a bitter smile, “Mom never intended to take a sample from you. She doesn’t trust you anymore and only pretends to agree to lower your guard. She took both mine and Ruoruo’s nails for a DNA test and already received the result—in fact, she has just sent the appraisal report to me.”
Jiang Zhou opened WeChat and showed Jiang Huai the pictures Feng Yun had sent him, then took another appraisal report out of his pocket and said, “This is what the Feng family sent to me.”
Jiang Huai’s eyes widened in disbelief.
It’s all over. Everything’s over!
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