“Mr. Darren, may I ask if the woman in the photo is your wife?” although the police felt the family’s sadness, he had to go on.

“No, she’s not.” Shenhai denied it.

Carmen, Luying and Darren all looked at Shenhai with surprise, not expecting him to answer this.

But Darren overruled his father’s words and admitted, “Yes, she is my wife.”

“Who’s telling the truth? We’re on business. So, please think carefully before you answer.” The police was slightly displeased.

Shenhai was about to say something when Darren grabbed his hand and stopped him, “Sir, she is my wife. My father is old and has poor eyesight. Please forgive him.”

Darren admitted once again. So, Shenhai could not say anything else and sat down on the sofa.

The police nodded and put away the photo, “Then please let your wife out, Mr. Darren, We want to ask her to make a statement.”

“She’s not at home right now.” Darren said.

“Then do you know where she is?” the police added.

“She should be at the Xiao’s mansion.”

“Then please take us to her.”

“Okay. But I have some questions.”

After the police nodded, Darren asked, “You said she was arrested on the spot. Then why wasn’t she taken to the police station to make a statement? Instead, you even had to come to our house to find her. Besides, who was the man with her? I think I have a right to know as Lingjiao’s husband.”

“We had intended to take her to the police station to make a statement. But she threatened us with death to let her go. There is nothing more important than life. So, we had to compromise and let her go for now.” The police officer said the situation was a million times more critical, “We have taken the man to the police station to make a statement. His name was Feng Hepeng.”

“What? Who is he?” Shenhai, who had just sat down, stood up again.

“It’s Hepeng, He comes from Chongqing and is thirty-five years old. He is unemployed now…”

This Hepeng naturally was the one in the Jin family’s impression. So, it was that bastard!

“Since it’s Hepeng, then there must be something wrong with this thing! I don’t believe Lingjiao would do such a thing.” Shenhai thought it was all Hepeng’s fault, “Hepeng must be trying to harm our family!”

Darren did not say a word and frowned.

The police said again, “Mr. Darren, when can we leave for the Xiao’s mansion to find your wife?”

“Sir, please wait for me outside for a moment. I have something to talk to my parents.” Darren did not want outsiders to be here..

The police also understood and went out.

“Why did you admit that it was Lingjiao? Have you spared the reputation of the Jin family?” Shenhai scolded Darren.

“Dad, we can’t lie in front of the police. The truth is the truth. Even if you can hide it now, you can’t hide it forever. And it’s illegal to lie to the police. We can’t know the law and break it!” Darren kept a clear head.

“Darren, this Hepeng is a jerk. We all can see Lingjiao’s feelings for you. We don’t believe that she would do this. She must have been forced by Hepeng!” Shenhai still defended Lingjiao until now.

“Dad, I know. I also want things to go for the better. But you have to be prepared for the bad.” Darren then turned around and left the Jin’s mansion.

_________________________________________

Xiao Mansion

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

When Darren and the police appeared at the Xiao’s mansion, the Xiao family was having dinner. But Lingjiao was not there.

“Darren, what’s going on?” Jianmin looked at the police and was confused.

“Dad, Mom, is Lingjiao home?” Darren asked them.

“Lingjiao is not feeling well. She’s upstairs.” Jingtong replied, “What happened?”

“Nothing. I’ll go upstairs and get her.” Darren then went upstairs and came to Lingjiao’s bedroom.

He stood in the doorway and restrained himself from mixed emotions before he knocked on the door, “Lingjiao, are you there? It’s Darren.”

Seeing that she did not respond, Darren said again, “Then I’m coming in.”

He then pushed the door in and saw Lingjiao sitting against the bed. She bent her legs, crossed her hands around her knees, and looked a little haggard.

When she saw Darren, the tears coursed down her cheeks and her face got wet quickly.

“Darren…” she sobbed, her voice filled with grievance and sadness.

“I’ll take you home. Come with me.” Darren walked to her, but did not sit down.

He looked at Lingjiao, whose tears were flowing down, and did not comfort her. There was no warmth in his eyes anymore, but only coldness.

“Go home?” Lingjiao, however, did not notice Darren’s change.

“Yes.” Darren said, reaching out to take her by the hand, “Let’s go.”

Lingjiao held his hand tightly, like a drowning man grasping the last straw and eager to live.

***

When Darren brought Lingjiao downstairs, she saw the police. She instinctively hid behind Darren and her face changed greatly.

She had just thought that she would be fine if she ran away. But she didn’t expect the police to be so capable to find her house.

How could she forget that Hepeng had been taken to the police station? Hepeng must have said something.

Lingjiao felt sick when she thought of Hepeng, the stupid man.

She had escaped. But Hepeng would definitely betray her for himself and would even say some unrealistic words. She was now worried about what Hepeng had said, and was panicking.

The police and Darren were here. She was afraid that the scandal between her and Hepeng could no longer be concealed. She was trembling badly as she was in a breakdown once again.

“Mrs. Jin, we’re here to see you for a statement.” The police came straight to the point.

“Go away! You guys go away!” Lingjiao was very excited.

She was afraid to look at the police in uniform and hid behind Darren, running away from reality.

“Lingjiao, what’s wrong with you?” Jianmin felt sad while looking at his daughter who was scared.

“Lingjiao, don’t be afraid. They are police officers, not bad people.” Jingtong also pacified her daughter.

“Dad, Mom, let them go and leave our house. I don’t want to see them!” Lingjiao kept shaking her head and clutching Darren’s sleeve, “Darren, didn’t you say you were going to take me home? Hurry up and take me away, right now!”

Darren looked at her calmly and pulled her hand down, “Lingjiao, what are you afraid of?”

“I’m not afraid, I’m not afraid!” Lingjiao widened her eyes and spoke loudly, as if she was hiding something.

“Really? Then why are you so afraid of the police!” Darren frowned slightly.

“I… I’m not afraid. I just don’t want to see the police.” Lingjiao denied it.

“Mrs. Jin, please cooperate with us to make a statement!” the police also became aggressive.

“I didn’t do anything. Why do I need to make a statement? I said I was forced to! Why can’t you guys let me go? If you need to make a statement, you can go to find others. Don’t come to me!” Lingjiao was so agitated that she couldn’t calm down at all.

She was too scared to look at the police, just kept her head down, and panicked.

“Hepeng has made a statement, and so will you. We’re going to check whether your statements are consistent and see if any of you are lying.” The police said to her.

“Hepeng? What the hell is going on?” Jianmin and Jingtong were confused to hear this name. And the statement… They couldn’t make it out at all.

“I don’t know this person!” Lingjiao flatly denied.

“Mrs. Jin, please do not make a meaningless struggle. Today, you and Hepeng were caught on the spot at the Luck Hotel. If it were not for you threatening the police, you would have made a statement and gone home by now.” The police frowned at the resistant Lingjiao, “No matter how you deny it, you cannot change what has happened. So, you should cooperate with us to finish it early, so that we can leave earlier.”

“Sir, can you tell us what’s going on?” Jianmin was confused while listening to this and just wanted to know the truth.

“Yes. What has my daughter done? And what does it have to do with Hepeng?” Jingtong looked at Lingjiao with distress. What happened to Lingjiao and made her look like this?

“Well—”

“You can’t talk about it! Stop!” Lingjiao interrupted the police before they could finish his words.

Lingjiao pounced on them, waving both hands like a wounded lioness, trying to hit the police.

Seeing this, Jianmin and Jingtong pulled her, “Lingjiao, you can’t hit the police. It’s against the law to assault police!”

“Dad, Mom, it’s them… They want to ruin everything for me….” Lingjiao was in great pain. Tears filled her eyes and she looked pitiful.

“Mrs. Jin, please don’t be unreasonable!” the police said sternly, “How can you blame us for what you have done? We are only enforcing the law impartially!”

“Bullshit! You guys are deliberately targeting me!” Lingjiao could not help but cry out as if she had been greatly wronged.

Darren kept looking at Lingjiao coldly, feeling as if this woman was no longer the Lingjiao he knew, but a strange and scary woman.

“Sir, let me say it.” Darren looked at the police and pleaded.

“Okay.” The police nodded.

Darren looked at Mr. and Mrs. Xiao who were holding the crying Lingjiao, “Mom and Dad, today, Lingjiao and Hepeng were caught on the spot for illegal trading between men and women in the Luck Hotel on Sapphire Road … So, you should understand now.”

He truthfully explained the story to the elder according to the information provided by the police.

Lingjiao did not dare to look up and face Darren. She just kept crying, but could not move Darren at all.

“What!” Jianmin was angry after listening to it and looked at Lingjiao next to him, “Lingjiao, you have done such a shameless thing!”

Jingtong also felt that the news was like a thunderbolt out of a clear sky. Although she knew that Lingjiao had slept with Hepeng once, it was just an accident, because Lingjiao was drugged.

But this time, she couldn’t make any excuse for Lingjiao. Because in the face of conclusive evidence, any reason would be powerless.

“Lingjiao, how can you be so stupid!” Jingtong felt sad, “How can I say about you!”

Jianmin let go of his hand and Jingtong also let go.

Lingjiao felt her legs weaken and fell to the ground. Her long hair covered her face, and no one could see her expression clearly.

“Mrs. Jin, we’ll give you one more chance to make a statement.” The police asked her, “Mr. Hepeng said that you did it willingly. If so, it’s not a prostitution charge.”

“I was forced to do it. I didn’t do it willingly!” Lingjiao reacted with excitement when she heard “willingly”.

“If you were forced, then he committed rape and you have the right to sue him.” The police reminded her.

“I’ll sue him!” Lingjiao bit her lip, her eyes full of hatred, “I’m going to make him pay!”

With that, Lingjiao cooperated with the police to make a statement in the study, while the others waited outside.

When the police left after the statement was made, Lingjiao slowly came to Darren and her eyes were filled with tears, “Honey, please forgive me. I was really forced to do it. Please believe me…..” “

She pursed her lips and almost cried out. But she tried to hold back her tears and just looked at Darren pitifully. Her eyes were full of begging.

Darren just stared at her sweet and lovely face quietly, as if he was trying to see through her clearly, but only to find that he had never seen through her.

“Lingjiao, I would love to believe you. But matters have reached this stage. Why should I believe you?” Darren smiled, but his eyes were cold.

Darren smiled coldly. He was no longer as gentle and tender to Lingjiao.

Their world seemed to be snowing heavily at this moment, freezing their hearts.

“No, Darren, I was really forced. I am your wife. Would you rather believe others than me?” sitting on the ground, Lingjiao looked up at Darren who was strange.

“Lingjiao, you seem to have forgotten that Mr. Darren once said that what you hear about may be false and what you see is true. He only believes in the facts he sees with his eyes. There is nothing wrong with that.” Zhan walked into the living room from outside.

Zhan was wearing a white background black polka dot shirt with black collar and vertical striped bow tie. The clothes were simple and beautiful. He looked elegant, confident and mature.

In these five years, Zhan had indeed grown a lot. He now had a happy family and a successful career. Seeing that Lingjiao’s true face would be exposed, he was extremely brightened.

“Darren, don’t listen to him!” Lingjiao naturally remembered that Darren had said this.

Five years ago, when Zhan came out of the hospital with the baby in his arms, Darren saw him. Without giving Zhan a chance to explain, he said that he only believed what he saw with his eyes, Now, it was Lingjiao’s turn to have an accident. Zhan mentioned this to remind Darren not to eat his words!

“Darren, he still has a long memory for what happened five years ago. So, he hates us loving each other as a couple and is deliberately trying to sow discord.” Lingjiao was afraid that Darren would believe Zhan’s words.

“I said that. What does it have to do with him?” Darren frowned, “Lingjiao, you make your bed, let you lie in it.”

Lingjiao pursed her lips, not daring to vent her anger on Darren, and could only turn to Zhan, “Zhan, are you here to laugh at me?”

Lingjiao was furious when she looked at Zhan, who was smiling, and thought of her present embarrassed situation.

“I’m back to see Grandma and Mom and Dad.” Zhan put the fruit and gift box in his hand on the coffee table, “How did I know you were here?”

“Bullshit!” Lingjiao didn’t believe what Zhan said at all.

“Believe it or not.” Zhan gave a shrug of his shoulders.

“Zhan, why do you bring gifts your own home?” Jianmin’s expression softened into a grin.

Jingtong also flattered him, “Zhan, have you had dinner?”

Now, Zhan was in the ascendant. After being Mrs. Wang, even his parents had to respect him.

Even if Lingjiao had married Darren, she would not have been treated in this way. Because the Jin family was not as powerful as the Wang family.

Zhan said, “Dad, this is what Yibo’s parents had someone bring back. The nourishment is for Grandma. The tea and wine is for you, and the jewelry is for Mom.”

When Jianmin and Jingtong heard that it was from Yibo’s parents, they were joyful. After all, they were so lucky to be relatives with the Wang by marriage.

“Give my regards to Yibo’s parents and thank them.” What Jianmin cared about was not the gift, but the Wang family’s recognition and attention.

“Didn’t Yibo come back with you?” Jingtong was concerned about Yibo.

“He’s busier than me.” Zhan sat down on the sofa and had no intention to leave, “Mom, I haven’t had dinner yet. I’d like to eat boiled beef, glutinous rice duck, and seaweed soup.”

“OK. I’ll let the chef make it.” Listening to Zhan call her Mom, Jingtong kept smiling and forgot that she had another daughter, Lingjiao.

Seeing that Jianmin and Jingtong’s attitude to Zhan had changed from disgust to flattery, Lingjiao was resentful and angry. Now, Zhan had replaced her and became important in her parents’ heart.

In the eyes of her parents, she seemed to be just a man of no importance. They simply did not care about her and Darren anymore.

“Mom and Dad, Lingjiao will stay in the Xiao’s mansion for the time being. Please take care of her. I’ll leave now.” Darren didn’t want to eat his words in front of Zhan. So, he was going to leave first.

“Darren, don’t go!” Lingjiao hugged Darren’s leg and pulled him, “Even if you want to leave, take me home with you. You said you were coming to take me home. How can you leave me here alone?”

“Lingjiao, how dare you go back to the Jin family now?” Darren stood up straight and turned his back on Lingjiao, “You don’t deserve it!”

“Darren, you can’t do this to me… I’m your wife. I’m still pregnant with your child. He is also the Jin family’s eldest grandson. In these five years, I’ve been with you. I should be given credit for hard work, if not for merit…” Lingjiao grabbed him, afraid that if she let go, Darren would disappear.

“The child? Are you sure the baby in your belly is mine?” Darren sneered, beginning to doubt it.

“Of course it’s yours. It’s the Jin family’s grandson. I swear.” Lingjiao raised three fingers of her right hand.

Darren took the opportunity to draw back his leg, then took two steps back to distance himself from Lingjiao, “Lingjiao, I can’t trust you anymore. Did you really only sleep with Hepeng once?”

“Do you remember? At that time, we made an appointment to have a physical examination together, but you disappeared for a long time. I found you in the hotel and Hepeng was also there… If you didn’t have contact with him, why were you in the hotel with him? In retrospect, I think you were guilty rather than uncomfortable at that time. I’m afraid you’ve slept with him more than once! So, he can force you because he has the goods on you, right?”

“No, no…” Lingjiao shook her head and tried to go forward to explain.

But Darren avoided her, “Lingjiao, it’s okay if you don’t admit it. I’ll find the evidence to convince you.”

“No, Darren, I’m wrong…” Lingjiao was so anxious that she even knelt down in front of him, “I was threatened by him. I didn’t lie.”

“Dad, Mom, please help me. Help me talk to Darren and make him believe me.” Lingjiao finally placed her hopes on her parents.

“The facts are in front of us. Even the police came to the house and showed the evidence. What do you want us to say?” Jianmin’s face was grim, “You’ve disgraced our family, you sinner!”

“No, Dad. It’s all because of Zhan. It’s all because of him that I was threatened by Hepeng!”

Slap!

A crisp slap sounded.

Lingjiao only felt dizzy and a burning sensation in her face. Even her teeth hurt. It could be seen how hard Jianmin slapped her.

“It is you who are so shameless to do such a thing to disgrace the Jin family and our family. But you still try to blame your brother? Zhan is your own brother. How can you say such words to slander him? Do you want to anger me and kill me?” Jianmin accused Lingjiao and almost wanted to strangle her to death.

“Lingjiao, do you think who Zhan is now? He doesn’t have to be against you, does he? Besides, you should take responsibility for your own mistakes. How can you blame it on Zhan? We are so disappointed in you!” Jingtong was also on the same front as Jianmin, criticizing Lingjiao.

“Dad, Mom, don’t be angry.” Zhan was calm. He did not take Lingjiao’s slander seriously, “The wise man knows he knows nothing, the fool thinks he knows all. No matter how I explain it, people who don’t believe me won’t believe it. So, as long as you two believe me, I will be very happy.”

What Zhan said not only pacified Mr. and Mrs. Xiao, but also put them in an important position, deeply pleasing them.

Besides, Zhan also embarrassed Darren. He had tried to explain back then, But Darren did not listen to him at all and just stubbornly believed what he saw with his eyes.

Darren naturally understood what Zhan meant. His face changed slightly and he looked at Zhan sitting on the sofa, pursing his thin lips tightly.

“Look, how generous and elegant Zhan is! You are not only shameful, but also vicious to set up your brother. You are really a bad girl!” Jianmin snorted. He was so angry that he felt a tremendous pressure on his chest.

Zhan looked down, smiled, and listened to their scolding.

“Dad, Lingjiao has set me up many times. Although I don’t know. what she’s doing it for, I’m not going to make a fuss about it with her. After all, I am her older brother and have to get soft on her.” Zhan imitated the way Lingjiao had spoken five years ago, which could anger her parents more.

Zhan wanted Lingjiao to suffer the pain he had experienced.

“Compared with Zhan, you’re worse than a pig and a dog!” Jianmin said heartless words, a terrible blow to Lingjiao’s self-esteem.

“Dad, I’m your and Mom’s child. If I’m worse than a pig or a dog, then what about you guys and my dear brother?” Lingjiao smiled more brightly. She looked at her parents who had given up on her as a useless daughter, and was very sad.

“You!” Jianmin was silenced by Lingjiao’s stinging words.

“Hey girl, how dare you say us like this? We raise you and your brother also loves you. Do you have conscience?” Jingtong took the words over and hit Lingjiao twice more.

“Dad, Mom, Lingjiao really didn’t mean it. She is just mad and talking nonsense. Don’t blame her. Besides, she’s pregnant.” Zhan picked up the kettle and poured a glass of water for himself, leisurely holding the glass.

Darren, who had been calm, turned pale when he heard what Zhan said. He widened his eyes and looked at Zhan, who kept smiling lightly, as if he was just a bystander.

Darren felt that this scene was very similar to when Zhan betrayed him five years ago.

The difference was that Zhan had given birth to a child, while Lingjiao was still pregnant.

He, Darren, was so “loved” by God that both his ex-fiancée and his wife had betrayed him and neither of their children were his.

Five years ago, Lingjiao was considerate. But now, she was so hateful.

Five years ago, Zhan was hateful. But now, he was so considerate. History was always so strikingly similar.

Darren put on a self-mocking smile. It seemed he really did not deserve to get happiness.

He turned around with a sad face and went clumping out of the Xiao’s living room.

Lingjiao looked at Darren who was leaving and tried to catch up with him. But she tripped and fell to the ground. Her knees hurt so much that she couldn’t stand up. So, she just lay on the ground and screamed bitterly at Darren’s back, “Darren, don’t go! Don’t leave me and our baby! Darren….”

Darren ignored her words and left without looking back, disappearing.

Lingjiao just reached out, trying to catch Darren’s figure. But she failed and got nothing.

Lingjiao clenched her hands and cried on the ground….. At this moment, she also tasted the feeling of falling into despair.

Zhan looked at Lingjiao, who was crying in pain, and smiled coldly.

“Shame on you! What a shame!” Jianmin was furious, “the Jin family won’t leave her!”

“What can we do?” Jingtong was worried, “Will they come to our house to make trouble?”

“Mom, are the dishes ready? I’m so hungry.” Zhan asked Jingtong.

“Oh, I’ll make it now.” Jingtong recovered from worry.

“Dad, why don’t you go with Mom? I have something to talk to my sister.” Zhan sent them away with an excuse.

“Alright. I will leave you guys alone.”

Mr. and Mrs. Xiao then went to the kitchen together, not caring about Lingjiao at all.

After they left for a while, Lingjiao’s grief was almost released and her crying slowly stilled.

Only then did Zhan say, “Lingjiao, the wheel of fortune will swing round again. How do you feel now?”

“Zhan, it is you who are playing tricks, right? You made me come to such an end in front of Darren. Mom and Dad no longer pay attention to me! It’s all because of you!” Lingjiao propped herself up, her eyes filled with hatred for Zhan.

“Lingjiao, you deserve it! You should have known that you would get your comeuppance today when you trapped me five years ago!” Zhan slowly stood up and looked down at Lingjiao, as if he was looking at a humble mole under his feet, “If you have never intended to do harm to others, you wouldn’t be like this now!”

“You hurt me again and again for your own sake, If I don’t fight back, you will think I am a punchbag, right?”

Zhan smiled gently and was graceful, “You drugged me to make me lose my chastity to Hepeng, but you lost your own. You wanted to make me abandoned by Yibo, but you were grounded in the Jin family. You tried to show your innocence in front of Darren, but you are even not sure who the father of your child is, are you? You wanted to be with Darren, and now, you just lose him….”

“You guessed one thing right. I was the one who asked someone to tell on you and Hepeng. I just want you to also taste the feeling of losing your reputation and being abandoned by the one you love. Do you feel extremely sad and hurt? Then congratulations on suffering the pain I once felt.”