Zhan Yahui took an empty chair and sat down, joining the group of Shi Publishing's shareholders. One of them, Yao Guo, welcomed her.
"Ah, you are here, Miss. Zhan. We were just talking about you."
"Me?" Zhan Yahui blinked in surprise. She then chuckled. "I thought discussing Shi Publishing's future was more important here."
"Of course. That's why I mentioned you."
Shi Zhelan trembled and banged her palm on the table. "You…get out! There is no way I will allow you to be here!"
"Calm down, Madam Shi. She is one of the shareholders of this company. I don't think this is the tone with which you should speak with us."
She angrily laughed while throwing glares at Shi Shuren. "Tone? My tone? Shuren. Go ahead and tell the reason I am using this tone with her. You know the best, don't you?"
Shi Shuren shut his eyes, unable to face everyone, especially his wife because he knew what she must be feeling.
"Tell them Shuren! Tell them how you betrayed me again. This company…we built this company for Huan's sake. It was to make her dream come true. As a mother, I just wanted to support her. But since Zhan Yahui is here, I now clearly understand that you didn't feel the same as me."
Shi Shuren tried to make her understand. "Zhelan, I-It's not what you think…"
"Then what is it? What in the world is your illegitimate daughter doing here in the company which we built for OUR daughter as a shareholder!? ANSWER ME!"
A deep silence reigned followed by shocked gasps coming from everyone a few moments later.
Zhan Yahui is Mr. Shi's illegitimate daughter!?
Zhan Yahui herself was calm during Shi Zhelan's breakdown. She had already figured that she wouldn't be able to keep this secret the moment she would step in as a shareholder.
Shi Zhelan's gaze burned with fury as much as tears. "Tell me, Shuren. How many times will you keep betraying me? You…you actually fucking transferred your shares to her despite knowing that I would never allow it!"
"Zhelan please! It's not…" he anxiously glanced at Zhan Yahui but was unable to say anything in his defense. "I-I can explain…can we please talk about this later-"
"Later? What is left to talk about? You proved it yet again today that between Huan and this woman here, who you favor more…"
Shi Zhelan shifted her attention to Zhan Yahui and gnashed her jaw, her temper level flaring more and more. "And you! Tell me what did you do that made him do this?"
Zhan Yahui calmly watched her in silence.
"How did you convince Shuren to hand over his shares to you? Oh, I forgot. Maybe you got the same charm as your mother he cheated me with," she smiled.
At that point, Zhan Yahui's expression changed. Her eyes narrowed with hostility.
"First she charmed a married man and now her daughter is wriggling her way in my family like a disgusting worm."
Zhan Yahui still didn't counter a word, but she felt the skin in her palm burn with her nails digging into it.
But more than that, Shi Zhelan herself had lost all her spirit. She looked defeated and aged as if somebody had sucked out her soul. She tiredly sat back on her chair with a blank gaze.
It was already excruciating to tolerate her husband's cheating and the existence of his child outside their marriage. Then Zhan Yahui suddenly barged in one day demanding her rights.
But instead of ignoring her, Shi Shuren didn't even say a word against Zhan Yahui. She now clearly saw that he openly loved Huan but secretly supported his 'other' daughter too.
He knew how much Shi Zhelan held this company dear to her because it was something built for her daughter, Huan. But for Zhan Yahui to be a part of it…
Shi Zhelan was only further disappointed in Shi Shuren.
I thought that I couldn't be any further disappointed in Shuren…
She chuckled. Find the newest release on novel⁂fire.net
But he surprises me every single time, doesn't he?
Surprises that a wife would never wish for.
Shi Shuren panicked seeing her condition and he opened his mouth to speak when Zhan Yahui said first, "You may see this as wriggling my way inside your family but from my perspective, I am just a woman who wholeheartedly wants to be recognized by her father. Isn't it right, Mr. Shi?" She smiled at him, making him stiffen.
She looked back at her and said, "Though this is not the place where we have our family fights, I would like to question your sanity since you dragged my mother into this. Let's talk about my mother's guilt later. Let's talk about you. Why would you stay in a marriage where your husband cheated on you?"
Shi Zhelan couldn't believe her ears. "You…I am his legal wife! You mean to say that your mother deserved my place!?"
"I mean that isn't it common sense to leave a cheating partner?"
"Zhan Yahui!" Shi Shuren exclaimed. "Mind your words!"
Zhan Yahui's statement clearly insinuated that Shi Zhelan should have divorced him long back which made his heart jump out of his chest.
Zhan Yahui remained focused on Shi Zhelan. "Mr. Shi is my biological father whatever the circumstances might be. As his daughter, I am just fighting for my rights. But should you be really fighting so hard to keep your place as a wife of a cheating man?"
Shi Zhelan roared. "YOU are talking about my dignity? What about you then? Shouldn't you feel angry towards a man who had an affair with your mother but left you and her to the dumps? Why do you want a man like him to give you your rights!? In fact, you shouldn't have ever appeared before him if you really hate men like Shuren.
But do you know why you didn't? Because his wealth and status attracted you in the end! It would be a waste for you if Huan got all the money and luxury when you could have half of it too!"