"She grew up in Du Empire. Your mother. She was smart, real smart that she got into a scholarship program and graduated college at the tender age of eighteen." The old man started.

"Can you imagine how proud I was?" He glanced at his assistant who started serving her tea. Seeing that Sera wasn't planning on saying anything, he continued, "She grew up as my little princess. She was beautiful and special. Soon, her privilege turned her into a monster. When she was abroad, she met a man that she liked. But that man is already engaged to another woman. This fact devastated her."

Ah, so she seduced the man? Sera couldn't help but imagine a blond, tan, tall, smart queen bee from a university trying to steal someone else's man. Maybe she had watched a lot of movies?

"The man liked her too. In fact… that man approached me and talked to me about a marriage alliance. At first, I was hesitant. Especially knowing that he already had— or at least his family already had a marriage alliance with another family. But they insisted that they wanted to get married." The Old Man sighed. "They wanted to marry each other at the tender age of twenty."

"It was madness," the old man added. "I know. They were head over heels for each other. In the end, I agreed to her request. I gave them my blessings. Of course, the marriage didn't happen."

"Why?" She couldn't help but get curious.

"Because the man fell into a scheme. He impregnated his fiance."

Tragic.

"He was forced to marry her," Sera stated. The old man nodded in response.

"My daughter… almost turned crazy. She spent most of her time in her room, alone. She refused to eat and spent most of her time staring blankly at the ceiling. She lost a lot of weight and just turned into someone, I didn't know. Someone… I don't recognize anymore."

Sera lowered her head. So, her mother stole someone else's fiance but she wasn't successful so she turned into some evil character. No matter how hurt she was, the fact that she was aware that the man already had a fiance and still tried to steal him was already wrong.

Oh well, it seems that her mother was actually just like her? She couldn't help but chuckle inwardly.

"I sent her to have a therapy abroad and after four years, she came back. To my surprise, she was already pregnant."

Sera nodded, understanding glinted in her eyes.

"She refused to tell us who impregnated her. At first, I told her to raise the child. We have the money, we can afford a child. So what if she doesn't have a man? At this age, raising a child on your own is not really that hard to do. She was independent, smart, and beautiful. She can do it."

"For months, I thought she was alright with the plan. I have talked to her and told her that I would never care if she was unmarried. She is my daughter. And she will always be my daughter. Who cares about society's opinion? I love her and that's what matters."

"Do you know who my father was?" she asked.

"No. But we soon discovered he was married. I guessed it was the same man that she wanted to marry. Until now, I have no clue who your father was. I tried to ask my people to check it. Retrace her steps and just… see if he can find out anything about your father."

"I assumed they failed?"

The old man nodded. "Not only did they fail. They also… didn't found any traces of a man around your mother. Everyone around her were females and we didn't see her interact with any males when she was still abroad."

That's crazy. Even Sera thought this was crazy. However, at this point in time, she was not even curious who her father was. Maybe people would call her evil but she thought thinking about things like this would only complicate her life.

She didn't want a complicated life.

"Unfortunately, your mother passed away a few hours after she gave birth. I was scared that your father might appear and suddenly claimed paternity and take you away. So I did my best to hide you."

Understanding flashed in her eyes. She already heard this different story from Mr. Quinn.

"I asked your uncle, your mother's younger brother to adopt you, turning you into a Zhang. Then I made another mistake. I failed to see how he had been jealous of your mother. Of course, I am not blaming your uncle. Again, I can only blame myself for everything."

"I spoiled your mother too much. She was the golden child. I failed to notice that I already failed as a father to your uncle. I am old now Sera and I am not ashamed to say that this was all my fault. I created your monster of an uncle. I was the reason why your mother became that way and now… I am also the reason why you suffered."

Sera blinked, speechless. Honestly, she didn't know what to say anymore. At least, the old man was honest enough to accept that he played a part in his daughter's tragic ending.

"You know what surprised me more?" the old man turned his gaze towards her. "It's the fact that this doesn't surprise you anymore. Was it perhaps… you have experienced something more cruel than this?"

"Ah? No… No I just thought It was unfortunate. But living in the past won't get us anywhere."

"Practical… I see."

She didn't know why the old man would say something like that. She watched as the old man chuckled and laughed. "This… You are indeed different. Very different." He nodded. "Your younger sister will announce her engagement in the coming days. I want to use this opportunity to announce that you are my legal heir."

Sera didn't know what to say as she was really surprised to hear this from the old man. "But… "

"You are the Zhang Family's heir. And it is time for the world to know this."

"Old man… I— I don't think that is a very good idea."