My Alleged Husband

Chapter 967: Chapter 860: Don’t Easily Trust

Zhang Yichen knew what his father was truly thinking deep down. He also knew that his own sacrifices were making things difficult for others right now. But some things, she wanted to speak about too—no matter the circumstances. Who would willingly let their parents abandon them again and again, forcing them to wander? Who would want their family to view them as an enemy, never considering life from their perspective? For anyone, this is a form of pain. And who would ever wish for such a thing to happen within their own home?

Perhaps, for him, the best outcome would be having them stay by his side time and again, sacrificing their long-term aspirations to pursue something for his sake. At times, he couldn’t even understand why he had to live so selfishly, with so much self-interest. And what had living like this ultimately brought him? Pain—over and over again. His family had never stood in his shoes to reflect on whether these things were right or wrong.

”Grandpa, today I want to share my innermost thoughts with you. No matter where or when, never easily trust anyone—not even your own family. They can deceive you, harboring lies in their hearts. To them, only their ability to deceive you matters—it brings them joy because it’s their skill. They can take the concern we have for them and turn it into lies, time and time again.

You should be able to understand my feelings right now, shouldn’t you? That’s my parents—my own parents! This time, they’ve deceived me again. Deep inside their hearts, what am I to them as their son? They can so casually disguise love for me as deceit. To them, deceiving me is an expression of care. But is that really what I want? Ultimately, none of it is what I desire. All I want is for my family to stay close to me—for my parents to give me the most sincere love at all times.

But look at what I’ve become now. Step by step, I’ve walked this path to today—yet I’ve gained nothing. To bring my parents back to this home, I’ve given up everything I could possibly give up. But in the end, I still can’t secure even one act of genuine care from them. All I get from them is deceit. Perhaps, to them, deceiving me has become routine. Deep down, they don’t care about the hurt they cause me. But what about me? I care. Because I have emotions, because I have love for them. Time and again, I’ve turned all my happiness and joy into love for them, into acts of care. I love them because they are my parents—because their existence gave me life, which allowed me to achieve what I have today. Even if my achievements are solely built upon my own efforts and have nothing to do with them, even if they’ve provided no help at all, without them granting me life, how could I have reached where I am now?

When hurt comes my way, I can only bear all the pain myself. I can’t expect others to pave a different path for me. They can’t help me, even if I put them above all else—even higher than my own life. But in their eyes, perhaps I mean nothing to them. Never easily hand over your heart to others, and never easily trust someone who doesn’t deserve it. They could be nothing more than a fraudster who sees only deceit with no sincerity.”

How could Old Master Zhang possibly not know that his grandson was saying these words for his parents to hear? He desperately hoped that his parents could stay by his side. He had given everything, yet, in his parents’ eyes, he amounted to nothing. In their hearts, he didn’t exist. All the pain and hurt inflicted upon him had become the most commonplace of things. He always thought that everything he did was right, but was it really? He hurt the people closest to him, forcing himself repeatedly into dead ends, leaving no retreat. Step by step, he had no choice but to forge ahead on this futile path. In the end, he obtained nothing. Instead, he left himself burdened with eternal recriminations.

Zhang Zhentian, how could he not know what his son was expressing with these words? But he truly had no way to abandon his wife, leaving her behind and disregarding her. For him, that would be a disgrace. All he wanted was for his wife to live happily—even if he couldn’t provide her with the most steadfast care in his lifetime. He still wanted to stay by her side, refusing to change his feelings about her no matter where he went. Wherever he went, he’d always keep her as the most important person in his life.

”I know I’ve wronged you all—I’ve let you down and betrayed all the trust you’ve placed in me. But have you ever really thought about it? If I chose to abandon my wife and left her here alone, while I stayed, letting her live alone, do you think I’d be any different from a beast? If I can abandon the person who shares my pillow, what else would I be incapable of doing? Many times, I’ve wished you could understand my painstaking efforts. It hasn’t been easy for me to get to where I am today—this is something I achieved through my own diligence, step by step. Everything I’ve done is utterly transparent to my conscience. I’ve not shamed anyone; the only ones I’ve wronged are you.”

Perhaps my ideas are too naive, or maybe what I’ve sought in life has been unrealistically demanding, turning everything into what it is now. Every step along the way—how difficult it has been for me—is something nobody has stopped to consider from my perspective. Step by step, the journey to today has been anything but easy. You always think that what you’ve given me is the best. But what’s the reality of it? Wasn’t all of it driven by your own selfish desires? Did you ever consider whether I truly wanted to stay here? Did you ever think about whether I wished to continue living here? My heart just wants to live peacefully with my wife. Where she is, I am. Where she calls home is my home. If she can endure all the grievances and pain for you, then I can do the same. But if she chooses to leave this home, then I have no reason to stay. I see her as the most important woman in my life. If she decides to leave, what meaning is there for me to remain? To bear repeated harm again and again? No, I won’t. I want to follow her in life and death!”