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CHAPTER 231

"The truth about your mother and why she left."

Gbaghan!

"Grandfather," Li Jing paused. She wanted to stop him if he was not ready but then again. "Are you sure? If you are not ready you should not say anything."

"It is okay, Li Jing. I think it is high time I tell you the truth." He gave her a weak smile.

All he could do was to let it out even though it felt shameful. He really wish she would forgive him for what he did or did not do.

"You deserve to know and I know it has not been easy on you too, growing up with that family. Regardless, life would be better still."

"I know, grandfather. I am okay. I am satisfied with all I am and have. I am happy to be free from that family, that is all."

"Where they that wicked to you?"

"It is a long story, grandfather and I know you would be mega mad at them if I should start the story of my life."

"Hehhee…" He giggled a bit at her use of words. Not that he wasn't already angry, no, in fact, he was boiling with rage actually. He just had to use that to cover up and make the mood a bit lively.

"Okay then. If you say so. I would leave that for another day's discussion. We do not want to ruin the new year now, do we?"

"Definitely not, grandfather."

"Okay. Well, your mother, Lin Qingyang was the sunshine of our heart, your grandmother and mine. It was why we named her that. She was a child loved by all and very beautiful. Funny enough her beauty rivaled all in the city and she was the star of my company. Her brainy idea was second to none. In fact, it looked like she had no flaw."

"But she did, didn't she?."

"Sadly, yes."

As he spoke, Mr. Lin stood up from his seat and walked closer to the window to get some fresh air. He was about to enter a dark phase in his life and one that he would probably come to regret in the future.

He spaced out for some time before picking up from where he stopped and explained what had happened. All through, Li Jing kept mute and listened to what he had to say.

She too was taking her time to study this grandfather of hers because considering her mother left home, it meant things weren't as good on the inside as they seemed to be on the outside.

"She was the heir to my business empire and everyone had known that she would be wedded to the prominent Kim family's heir but no. She refused."

"Grandfather." Li Jing did not know what to say exactly but from the tone of his voice, she knew he was angry.

The next thing she knew, he turned to look at her and she could see the clear rage in his eyes.

"It wasn't much of a matter of choice. She had been betrothed to the heir, Kim Lam since they were kids and how she grew up and refused all because of what? She threw it all away for the sake of a so-called love with someone who wasn't well off. Her mother and I worked our butts off to get her the life she deserved and how did she repay us by shoving it down our faces."

"Grandfather, please do calm down."

From the looks of things, Li Jing already understood what had happened. Her mother was a rich kid, betrothed to another rich kid on the basis of business marriage.

It was the best and perfect business deal but then she refused and probably being the doting and filial daughter that she was, they expected so much from her. Still, no matter how perfect she was, she was but a human being.

It was obvious without her grandfather saying the exact words, her mother ran away from home and probably that was how she ended up with Li Jing's adoptive father. Those were the thoughts running through her mind as she listened to her grandfather talk.

She could not blame him so much, considering if things were really as she thought then her adoptive father wasn't worth the stress at all.

Still, everything was a probability as the reality behind it all was yet to be heard or seen. With that, she leaned back into her seat and waited for him to finish what he was saying.

"Lin Qinyang broke my heart a million times with her refusal to marry Kim Lam. It was what her late mother and I wished for but she was so adamant and then one day… One day, I went to her room as I did each morning, only to find out that she was gone."

"Gone? You mean she ran away?"

"Yes. Gone for good, with no trace whatsoever. No information nothing and ever since that day, almost thirty years now, I have never heard from my beloved daughter. Not once did she try to contact me."

"And what about you, grandfather? Did you try to find her or you were too mad at her to even care?" She wanted to be sure, so as not to judge and know the whole extent of the truth and nothing but the truth.

"What do you think?"

"I do not want to think and assume. I want the truth grandfather. What did you do?"

"I searched high and low. I searched the whole city and country for her but she was nowhere to be found. Apparently, she had changed her appearance and name and that became impossible to find her. What was worse was the fact that I did not know the guy she was seeing."

"Could it have been father?" Li Jing thought out loud.

"What? That man, Mr. Li? Hell no! I know my daughter, she can never stoop so low to date a married man. Never. Not a man of his person."

Phew!

Hearing this, Li Jing's heart calmed down. Even though they did not know who her father was or if her mother indeed was a mistress, Li Jing took hold of the new information she found from her grandfather and cherished it.

All her life she had been looked down on seemingly because she was the child of a mistress but now, it turns out that the one person that knew her mother most had denied she was a mistress. And be it true or not, that was more than enough for Li Jing already.

It was way more hope than she could have asked for. It was elevating, satisfying, intriguing, and helpful. Although it brought with it more unanswered questions as to who her father really was and where was he?

"Okay, I am glad. You see, mother and sister had always made me feel and kept on ringing it in my ears and anyone who cares to listen that I am the daughter of father's mistress.

It really had ruined my growing up as most people did not want to associate with me. Even my ex got carried away by their rumor and left me for my sister."

"What!"

"Relax, grandfather. Today isn't the day for anger. Anyways, I am happy that it isn't so."

"No, I know my daughter. She would never do something like that. It is against her principles."

"Okay. So till now, you do not know whether mother is alive or dead or something? What if something bad happened to her and it was covered, that was why she couldn't contact you?"

"If that was the case, I would be even madder at her because I warned her. There is no much life with these not-well-to-do guys. They were obviously after her wealth but I refuse to believe my Qingyang is dead. I would keep searching for her till the day I die if I have to."

"I am sure we would find her. At the very least you have me now. But I feel that something bad happened to mum and that was why father found me wherever he found me and adopted me."

"And where is that?" The words she had spoken just now had caught his attention and Li Jing could see the look of interest in his eyes as she spoke.

"Honestly, grandfather, I do not know. He refused to tell me. All he said was that he adopted me and if I was grateful enough, I should not be asking ungrateful questions."

"Bloody ingrate! What is wrong with a child wanting to know what she needs to know?"

"Well, he had also been secretive and easily irritated by some questions. Father wasn't always the welcoming type."

"Hmm… I would need to get it out of him."

"I only wish to know who my real father is and where my mother is as well."

Mr. Lin paused and looked away from her. "In time, you would come to know."

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I am sorry guys, after my cramps, I had power supply problems. Thanks for always being here for me.