"What did Zhan Kai-Ming exactly tell you?"
"She told me the truth and the truth was that your family killed Dad! But I made a mistake…I made a mistake in recognizing my enemy…"
Her body trembled in anger, her murderous gaze falling on the twins. "You were the ones who actually gave the order to kill Dad! You two snatched my family from me!" She screamed. "Instead of targeting Liu Jun, I should have…I should have made your lives miserable."
"Miserable?" Jian sneered. "We just told you everything about your so-called father upon whom you had placed your trust, but you are still accusing us?"
"Because you are painting lies in front of me! Mom told me herself!'
Zhan Yahui threw the fruit basket on the hospital ward's floor as Zhan Kai-Ming revealed the truth about the incident.
"Enough, Mom! Is it because you fought with Dad that you are talking such nonsense!? He loved you. He loved me. He-he would never think of hurting us! Don't you dare badmouth him!"
"Yahui please believe me…" Zhan Kai-Ming tremblingly approached her, her eyes wet with tears. "Haitao used us. He really did want to…sell you. He kidnapped Liu family's son too who got hurt because of him. There was no choice but to…Please Yahui. Come with me. We will leave Beijing and start a new life. Together with you…and your little brother or sister."
"Shut up! Shut up!" Her face was livid, "You want me to continue living my life without a Dad? That won't ever happen! I…" she clenched her fists, "I want a family just like all the kids in my school! I had enough of getting sympathy looks! I want Dad…I want my Dad…" tears plopped down.
The more time passed and the more Zhan Kai-Ming continued to explain, the more violent Zhan Yahui became. She started to throw all the things left and right and scream at the top of her lungs.
At one point when Zhan Yahui had almost hurt herself, Zhan Kai-Ming panicked and threw herself into her hug, speaking with quivering lips. "Yahui, we cannot live here anymore…We will-"
"Shut up!" She roared and tried to push her away, but Zhan Kai-Ming didn't budge.
With eyes reddened in fury, Zhan Yahui was about to throw another plate when she whispered in her ear, "Please at least pretend to agree, Yahui…I beg you. Don't make anymore ruckus or w-we will be killed."
Zhan Yahui stopped, feeling confused but her body was still shaking in anger.
"We are at the mercy of the Liu family. If t-they see you resisting , they won't…they will kill us," she continued speaking in a soft voice. "I want to live with you Yahui. I want to give birth to your sibling. B-But it won't happen if Liu Jinhai feels that you," her voice broke, "you will be a threat to his son and family…Please listen to me, Yahui. We are fighting for our survival here."
Zhan Kai-Ming completely broke down after her last resort in trying to convince Zhan Yahui. For original chapters go to novelFɪre.net
The Liu family is…threatening Mom…? They killed my Dad and now they want to kill us too?
Zhan Kai-Ming clutched her tighter, shivering. "P-please don't say anything. H-He is listening to us…Over the next few days…just please show them that you have accepted the truth and we will quietly leave. Please Yahui…"
Jun, Ai, the twins and Jinhai went extremely quiet. Jinhai closed his eyes, a sinking feeling settling in his chest that he had missed to spot a big landmine that would explode in the future one day. From everything that he knew about her, she was a sincere, honest and hardworking woman, struggling to keep her family together even if she had to tolerate living with Ouyang Haitao.
But that sincere and honest woman had lied.
I failed…I failed in my judgment of Zhan Kai-Ming…
"The hell!?" Chyou and Jin burst out at once, feeling baffled and incredulous.
"Your mother…" Chyou said with her jaw dropped, "completely spun the story to make it look as if Uncle Jinhai was being unfair."
"That's far from the truth!" Jin felt like going back in time and wringing Zhan Kai-Ming's neck. "Do you think we are some sadists who enjoy threatening innocent people for fun? The ones who break the rules must suffer punishment. That's a simple equation which Ouyang Haitao didn't bother following. So he got the end that he deserved! I cannot believe your mother dared to lie about us!"
"I will kill you if you speak a word against Mom!" Zhan Yahui exclaimed.
Jun-cute and Ai-chan who were jumping on his shoulder fiercely hissed at Zhan Yahui as if they would scratch her with their mighty claws.
"Why!? Why should I keep quiet? Why should I not speak the truth!? The Liu family…not only killed my father but my mother too!" She violently resisted against the cuffs tied to her wrist. "If not…if not for Dad's death, she would have not committed suicide four months later!"
Jun slightly furrowed his brows.
"We moved to a new city but Mom…couldn't handle the stress…" Zhan Yahui turned paler and paler, "A new city, a new job, a new home…everything had changed. We were alone once again without Dad. She had to work hard to earn a lot of money and not just for me but a-also for my unborn sibling's sake…But what happened in the end? She…" she blankly said, "sh-she couldn't bear the pressure and she…miscarried."
"Her body became too weak and she miscarried. I lost my sibling and then…I lost Mom too…she killed herself. First Dad left…then her child…" she laughed, her heart feeling empty and her gaze devoid of any emotions, "W-why would she choose to continue living such a painful life after losing two precious people in her life? So the Liu family is not just responsible for my Dad's murder but also…" she gnashed her jaw, "the murder of my Mom and my sibling."
"That's not the truth, Yahui." A voice echoed from the back as a certain pair of footsteps stopped.
Everybody turned and were puzzled to find Shi Shuren in the base.
Shi Shuren looked at Zhan Yahui as he clasped his hands together. "Kai-Ming didn't die because of the Liu family. I…I killed her."