My Alleged Husband

”Child, I don’t want to ask anything, I don’t want to say anything, I just want to ask you one question, do you really love my son? If you love her, why didn’t you make everything clear to him from the beginning? If you love him, why do you keep using him as your backup plan over and over again, do you know how passive that makes me? He is my son, no matter how much he hurts me, this biological father will never harm him. No matter how he treated me in the past, I still regard her as my dearest son, he is my heir. For you, she gave up everything, for you she gave up the family’s interests, the family’s largest fortune, everything, and yet in the end, you only treated him as a spare tire, making him live a life full of grievances, don’t you know?”

Actually, Xia Jing had thought about how much pain her actions had brought to her own family.

She knew how much her husband, Zhang Zhentian, loved her. To be with her, he was willing to give up everything. He always followed her pace, afraid of making a wrong step, but who could understand the loneliness in his heart?

Over the years, she was not unaware of how much her husband longed for his family, for his son, but she, as a wife, never helped her husband, nor did she ever suggest that they visit his family. Time and time again, she followed her own wishes. Time and time again, he was looking out for her, but who ever considered how much heartache and pain she experienced? No one understood the suffering he has endured throughout his life.

”Some things I do not like to say, but I must admit that when I was with him, I had no love at all. I cannot love her like you do. I only knew I had a first love, and for him, I could give everything without caring about anything else, but I forgot behind me there was a husband who deeply loved me. I never considered his feelings. It’s not that he was oblivious, he just chose not to speak. It doesn’t mean he was stupid; he just felt there was no need to speak of things that could spoil what was the happiest and most appropriate relationship between two people. Time and time again, he considered our feelings, but why do we keep hurting her again and again?”

”Since you know that, do you realize how unfair it is for my son to be with you while your heart pines for another man? He treasures you, but you keep ignoring her feelings, dismissing his matters time after time. You always believe your actions are correct, that you’re doing justice to the whole world. But do you have any idea how much your actions have hurt everyone? I do not wish to hear these words from anyone else nor do I want my son to one day understand all this because I don’t want to see her in pain. No matter what, he is my son, no matter how much he hurts me in this life, he will always be my son. I hope not to do anything that would hurt him and I hope you can understand the dilemma of a father’s heart!”

Zhang Yichen actually understood why her grandfather had said these words. Any father would never want his son’s wife to still have feelings for another man, it’s simply unfair to his son. All he wants for his child is to have a happy and safe life. Even if it means his presence as a father isn’t required, he has given so much over the years. So much bitterness and countless nights spent longing for his family, yet he couldn’t bring his child back to his side. As an elder, how could his heart not ache? He has chosen to silently endure all this pain and setbacks, to keep all his tears to himself.

In this world, nobody is born nobler than others. Everyone steps into high society through their own efforts. Who is born less significant than others? Each person’s path is different. What’s important is one’s own choices. Yet, now everything has turned out this way. I chose the right path initially, allowing me to soar in my lifetime, but it drove my family away from me. My parents never accompanied me, which may not be important to everyone, but for someone who has never felt parental love like me, it’s the deepest wound in the heart.

”Grandpa, please don’t talk about Mom anymore. No matter what she did, she was also helpless. Anyone would hope to be with the person they love most, no matter who that person is, even if it’s a beggar, they would cherish it, because they have a happy and joyful life together. You don’t know what kind of life my mother has been living. Although my father is with her, she is always following her pace, but he is always rushing ahead. As long as Dad is happy, isn’t that enough? Why should we as relatives interfere with their happiness? Everyone defines happiness differently. We shouldn’t use our own standards to judge others’ happiness, right?”

Old Master Zhang knew that he couldn’t reason with his grandchild. This outcome was already predetermined, and no matter how reluctant he felt inside, just like his grandchild said, as long as his son was happy, that was enough. We as relatives should not interfere with his joyous life. As long as he believes his life is joyful and fulfilling, that outweighs anything anyone else says. Perhaps everyone really is different; everyone has their own way of living. Why force our unwanted lifestyle on others? That only adds to our troubles.

”I knew I can’t win against you. Don’t worry, I will remember everything that I promised you, as long as you live well!”