Jia stared at Lihua's distraught face and felt her heart acha.

So close...yet so helpless..

Old Madam bit her lip as tears streamed down. "Shen Yang. You didn't do this right. You had no right to play with my granddaughter's feelings like this! Wait for your retribution, Shen Yang. Don't think that you will continue to enjoy your life after your cruel betrayal!"

Jiang Li's eyes blazed with fury. "Enjoy? I will make his life a living hell! I will kill you with my own hands, Shen Yang! And I will give you the cruelest death that you would beg me to spare you!"

Shen Yang ignored their curses.

Zhao Weisheng's dark expression was intimidating.

My granddaughter has suffered..

Jiang Weiyuan pressed his wife's hand and whispered, "Don't cry. We should feel fortunate that Ruiling isn't here."

She sadly laughed. "She is going to know the truth one day, Weiyuan.."

He said nothing.

"What will she do then? We cannot protect her heart forever.."

Jiang Zhen clicked his tongue. "Tsk. Old Madam, you are so unfair. Cursing my able guard for a divine punishment when your own grandson is nothing better."

Wei's eyes slightly flickered.

"He killed Song Lihua's sister, but did you curse him?"

Jia glanced at Wei. As always, there was nothing on his face that could give a window to the feelings in his heart. She still didn't see any sign of remorse.

Lihua slightly stiffened.

historical

Jiang Zhen continued. "And then.." he smiled, "Jiang Wei. Didn't you kill Lihua's parents too?"

Jia was shaken to her core, but with great difficulty, she maintained her poise and calm. Otherwise, her shocked reaction would have given her out.

How does this man know about Mom and Dad!? And he even told Lihua!

She silently clenched her jaw in a fury. If Jia wanted, she could have told Lihua the truth anytime. But Lihua was always such a cheerful girl that she didn't have the heart to tell the truth about their parents' death. She didn't want the sunny smile on her lips to disappear. She took it all upon herself to get revenge from Wei. But she didn't want Lihua to get entangled in this cycle of hatred.

And this was even way worse timing when Lihua was pregnant!

Lihua gritted her teeth. "Jiang Zhen! Will you stop it already?"

Jiang Weizhe's expression suddenly turned grim and severe. He stared at his son, who very faintly seemed to tremble.

Jiang Zhen looked back at Lihua. "Come on, Song Lihua. Didn't I promise you to show you your ex-husband's true side? Today, I will shatter all your illusions about Jiang Wei."

He smiled. "Tell her the truth, Wei. Didn't you give her parents a nice, crisp hole in their heads when you were just twelve?"

Jia silently took a sharp breath. Tears threatened to form in her eyes, but she didn't let them.

Wei said nothing.

Lihua exclaimed. "Shut up! At twelve? Wei and I hadn't even met then! He didn't know anything about me or my family. Why would he kill complete strangers for no reason? Jiang Zhen, you should really stop with your filthy lies!"

He laughed. "Oh dear. Jiang Wei has been fooling you for so long, but you know nothing about it."

He faced Wei. "Tell her, Jiang Wei. Did you never know about the Song couple? Or should I say...your whole family?"

Silence.

Lihua widened her eyes.

Whole family?

"The entire Jiang family knows your parents very well. Who can ever forget the traitors?"

Wei clenched his fist. For the first time now, he finally parted his lips. "Stop."

"Ah, Jiang Wei finally said something!" Jiang Zhen laughed loudly.

Jia blinked her eyes, feeling confused.

Traitors?

Jiang Zhen chuckled. "The party's just getting started, Jiang Wei. It's too soon to stop. Song Lihua. When we first met, I said that I know much more than you do about yourself. Do you know why this is so?"

Lihua's heart began to race in fear. His tone, his expression...she was afraid that he was going to reveal something that would completely break her heart.

Wei jumped on his feet to punch, but Shen Yang and one other guard quickly grabbed him. Shen Yang even took this chance to punch in his gut hard. Even though it hurt, Wei's expression didn't crack a bit.

"Wei!" Jiang Yubi and Lihua shrieked in terror.

Wei slowly turned his head and stared straight at Shen Yang. One glance was enough to express every emotion in it.

Betrayal.

The man who stood by his side and capably led his forces all this time had now punched in his stomach. Just because of him, he stood so helpless and defeated in front of Lihua.

Wei hated himself.

All my fault...

Wei breathed hard, and his lips slightly trembled. "Shut your mouth, Jiang Zhen."

Jiang Zhen waved his hand in dismissal. He walked up to his chair and royally sat on it. "Don't be such a spoilsport. So where was I? Oh yes. How do I know about Song Lihua and the past about your parents. It's because around sixteen years ago, my grandfather made a deal with them."

An eerie smile laced his lips up. "Do you know what that deal was?"

"JIANG ZHEN!!! DON'T SAY A WORD!"

Wei roared as anger surged inside him. His heart drummed in his chest, afraid of Lihua learning the truth.

But no matter how much he resisted, Shen Yang didn't let him go. He sneered and jabbed at the back of his knee.

Wei coughed hard and collapsed on his right knee. Jiang Yubi burst into tears, having to see her son getting beaten up.

Jiang Zhen ignored him. His gaze was solely focused on Lihua, who was crying for Wei. "Wei, stop fighting! Let him utter whatever nonsense he wants. I won't believe him!"

Wei gasped for breath and shut his eyes.

Jiang Zhen smiled. "Oh, you will definitely believe it.. Especially when I say that the deal was for the Song couple to kill you in exchange of benefits my grandfather would give them."