Chapter 303: Myrrh to the Rescue
Chapter 303: Myrrh to the Rescue
Hearing the sound of the front door opening, Ma Lili rushed out excitedly, only to have her eyes dim upon seeing that it was her father who had entered.
It had been over a month since Lu Jiajie had taken the two children away. Ma Lili had searched frantically everywhere, but no one had seen them. A few days ago, she had heard that Lu Jiajie had taken the children to Yangcheng.
"I heard you're going to Yangcheng to look for Lu Jiajie?" Ma's father asked. "That ungrateful man doesn't want you anymore, yet you're still going after him? Why?"
These words stabbed Ma Lili like a knife. With reddened eyes, she replied, "Dad, Jiajie and I had a falling out because of family matters. If I change and mend my ways, he will forgive me."
Lately, everyone around her had been advising her to stop meddling in her stepmother's affairs and to sincerely admit her mistakes. Only then could she salvage her own family.
Ma's father's heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean by changing and seeking Lu Jiajie's forgiveness? Are you saying that from now on, you won't care about me, your mother, or our family's well-being anymore?"
Ma Lili sadly said, "Dad, I contributed almost half of the money for Jixiang's house, and it was through my connections that he was able to transfer schools. Dad, I can't possibly abandon my own family for the sake of Jixiang."
Ma's father was a clever man. Upon hearing her words, he immediately changed his approach. "So you truly believe that Lu Jiajie wants a divorce because you're helping Lucky? Lili, don't be foolish. That's just an excuse. He must have found someone else, and he wants to divorce you without bearing the reputation of Chen Shimei. So he's using me, your mother, and Lucky as a scapegoat."
Ma Lili indicated that she trusted Lu Jiajie.
Ma's father bluntly said, "If he hasn't found another woman, then why is he insisting on a divorce? And if you're unwilling, he takes the children away. Lili, he's doing this because of another woman."
Upon hearing these words, Ma Lili's tears began to fall.
"There are plenty of good men in this world," Ma's father said. "Does he want a divorce? Then let him have it, but we'll make him pay dearly for it."
Ma Lili shook her head. "Dad, I won't get a divorce. Dad, I'm going to Yangcheng tomorrow to find Jiajie. I'll admit my mistakes and seek his forgiveness."
Ma's father, his face darkening, said, "Lili, your mother and I endured bitterness and hardships to raise you, not so that someone could mistreat you like this. Listen to me, agree to the divorce, and your dad will find you someone even better than Lu Jiajie."
Ma Lili's voice trembled with emotion as she said, "Dad, I'm already at this age, and I've had a tubal ligation, so I can't have any more children. If I get a divorce, what kind of good man could I marry? At that point, I could only marry widowers who can't find a wife or those with children. But marrying those types would only bring me suffering."
"Could your dad really harm you?"
Ma Lili lowered her head and remained silent. The reason she and Lu Jiajie had reached the point of divorce was because of her help to her stepmother. In truth, she didn't want to give them money, but she couldn't bear to refuse her parents' desperate pleas.
"You... you..."
After saying these two words, Ma's father slowly collapsed to the ground.
Seeing that her father had fainted due to her words, Ma Lili felt both anxious and regretful. She called out loudly for the neighbors to help send him to the hospital.
That evening, Lu Jiajie received a phone call from Ale. "Your father-in-law, that Ma fellow, has been hospitalized. Apparently, he was scared unconscious by your sister-in-law, Ma Lili. But just before they arrived at the hospital, Ma came to and said it was too expensive and he didn't want to go, so in the end, the father and daughter pair returned home."
Lu Jiajie scoffed, "He's not afraid of the cost, he's just pretending to be unconscious so he won't be exposed by the doctors!"
In truth, it was easy to distinguish between feigning unconsciousness and actually fainting, but Ma Lili always fell for their act. Since she wanted to play the role of a filial daughter, he would let her have her way. It would be for the best for both him and the children.
Ale fell silent for a moment before asking, "Brother Jiajie, are you really going to divorce your wife? My mom says that your wife has realized her mistakes and is willing to change. She even plans to come to Yangcheng to find you and the children. Brother Jiajie, being husband and wife is fate from a previous life. Moreover, you have two children together. For the sake of the children, please give her another chance!"
Truth be told, Lu Jiajie didn't want a divorce either. This period had been challenging, juggling business and taking care of the children. Although he had hired a nanny and a tutor, it was still exhausting. However, Ma Lili's behavior left him with no choice but to divorce; otherwise, the children would be ruined. Xiao Feng was one thing, but Qiangqiang, who used to be so mischievous, now rarely went out and spoke little.
Lu Jiajie said, "She won't come to Yangcheng."
"She's already bought her tickets for the day after tomorrow."
"You'll see. Her beloved father and mother will change her mind."
As it turned out, Lu Jiajie's prediction was correct. After Ma's father woke up from his faint, he kept complaining about chest pains. Ma's mother didn't utter a single word of reproach; she just sat there, wiping her tears. Ma Lili was worried about them and had no choice but to refund her tickets and stay to take care of them.
Ale had someone keeping an eye on Ma Lili, and as soon as he found out that she had refunded her tickets, he told his mother, "From now on, don't get involved in this matter anymore."
Ale's mother said, "It's better to demolish a temple than to ruin a family relationship. Jiajie's wife will go to Yangcheng tonight to find Jiajie and show that she truly understands her mistakes. For the sake of the two children, they shouldn't get a divorce. If a stepmother enters the family, the children will suffer."
Ale retorted impatiently, "What's there to change? She's already refunded her tickets to Yangcheng and even took two days off to take care of her fake-ill father! Mom, who would want a woman who's so easily manipulated by her birth family? I'd rather be a bachelor for life than marry such a two-faced wife."
The reason he had been advising Lu Jiajie against the divorce was that he believed Ma Lili had truly realized her mistakes and would change, especially since divorce would be bad for the children. It was always better to encourage reconciliation than separation.
Ale's mother sighed, "Are you sure you're not mistaken?"
"How could I be mistaken about this? It's not a minor issue. Brother Jiajie has made up his mind about the divorce. If we keep persuading him, he'll just get annoyed."
Ale's mother hesitated before asking, "Son, tell me honestly, has Lu Jiajie found someone else in Yangcheng? Is that why he's so determined to divorce?"
If Ma Lili was worried about supporting her stepmother, they could simply bring her to Yangcheng or Pengcheng. Being farther away would reduce her influence. But Lu Jiajie had insisted on a divorce from the start and showed no signs of compromise.
Ale replied without hesitation, "No. Brother Jiajie is busy with work and taking care of the children in Yangcheng. He doesn't have time to find another woman."
"But didn't you say that Lu Jiajie does business with someone named Dani, and you even praised that woman for her looks. If Lu Jiajie frequently interacts with her, over time..."
Ale immediately interrupted his mother, his face stern, "Mom, don't spread groundless rumors. Dani has an unmarried boyfriend. Her boyfriend is a college student, good-looking, and comes from a wealthy family. The two of them are very much in love and have already set a wedding date for the end of the year."
Ale's mother was a little embarrassed. With such an excellent prospective husband, how could Dani possibly be interested in Lu Jiajie, a roughneck?
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
