Once and until now, I could only quietly lean on the sofa by myself. Occasionally, I just want to ask myself: Do you feel happy now? Are you doing well?

No matter what, when Zhang Yichen heard his father say such words to his mother, he had to be prepared. Deep down, there was still some discomfort. After all, they are his parents. If they now know the way back to this home, why be as stubborn as before, insisting on driving them out of the house, never letting them return? Do I really have to be so heartless? I’m not an ordinary person, so why bother acting like ordinary people!

No matter when or where, ultimately, he could not be indifferent to his parents, no matter how much they had hurt him in the past.

All she wanted was for her mom and dad to stay by her side. Now that they have returned, why should she be as aggressive as before, only pushing herself into a deeper abyss of pain?

Don’t think that by making others follow the rules you set, you can live happily. Actually, it’s the most painful for him because you don’t know whether others are genuinely treating you well or just pretending. Sometimes, it’s not others saving you you should fear, but others harming you behind your back.

"Zhentian, I don’t know if you are grateful to heaven, but I am. It gave me such an excellent son, allowing me to return to this family even after making such decisions. I really don’t know how to thank heaven for its grace!

But for the mistakes I’ve made, I must bear the consequences, no one owes me anything. I must apologize for every word I’ve spoken, for the commitments I’ve made.

I’ve hurt innocent people, especially my innocent child. How kind and innocent he was, but how have I treated him as his mother?

There is no mother in the world as heartless as me, hurting her son without realizing it, repeatedly wounding him, making him so miserable over and over again?

Perhaps that is why I can never gain my family’s forgiveness, no matter how many mistakes I’ve made, harming so many people. Why should they forgive me, and what right do I have to ask for their forgiveness?"

When Zhang Zhentian heard his wife say this, he felt really uneasy deep down, though he understood that many things were their own doing, but who is willing to acknowledge all their mistakes?

"Stop it, we are not saints.

As long as we aren’t saints, who won’t make mistakes? Although we have made many mistakes, we’ve acknowledged them and are sincerely correcting them, why keep bearing the pain brought by our past mistakes again and again, just because we made them?

I know you feel bad inside, but how can I not feel bad too? He is my child, my family. They were hurt by us deeply. Now thinking back, it’s vivid, unforgettable. I can’t even forgive myself. I dare not ask for much forgiveness or understanding from them; I only hope they let me stay here.

Perhaps staying here does nothing to change the outcome. If their hearts are as tough as stone, how can we soften them and expect their forgiveness? We eventually have to bear the mistakes we made; it is an unchangeable truth."

Now Xia Jing really didn’t have any other thoughts, nor did she dare to. She just wanted to stay peacefully with her family, but heaven doesn’t seem to give them this chance.

"Okay, I don’t want to say anything now. The outcome is already destined. Even if I give all I’m capable of, nothing can change. But so there’s no regret later, I’ll still push forward, even if the results aren’t what I desire."

Listening to his parents’ conversation, Zhang Yichen felt restless inside. His mother, such a proud person, now willing to sacrifice so much just to be back home, staying by his side, might he, as a son, be going too far? Why not genuinely appeal to let them come back? One word could free them from hardship, from foolish sacrifices, restoring everything at home. Why remain indifferent, not lending a hand?

He really doesn’t know. Deep down, there are numerous hurdles, he is not of one mind now. His parents did abandon and hurt him, yet deciding to let them stay, wouldn’t he have to sincerely forgive them, leaving them here, free from further pain and torment?

Clearly, it’s a simple sentence, yet why couldn’t he utter it? Why is it so tough to speak out? Saying it aloud should set everything free.

"Dad, you don’t need to say more. I’ve overheard everything from outside the door. These have touched me profoundly. All along, I perceived your wanting to come back like Grandpa, merely to return home, say words forcing us to forgive, while deep down, not realizing where you went wrong. But now, hearing you, I truly understand how wrongly you see your faults.

Rest assured, having decided to let you return, this won’t happen again. Stay here, don’t ever think of leaving again. If you leave, leave for good. Coming back and leaving repeatedly only hurts us more and more. You’re my parents. You’ve acknowledged your mistakes, gained our forgiveness. We just want you to truly understand where your faults lie! You might think this process harms, but it’s something unavoidable."

I also don’t want to be sad, nor do I want to waste away. But all trust from before has already crumbled.