Lin Cohen's eyes reddened instantly, and teardrops began to roll down his cheeks, giving him a pitiful appearance. His acting skills had returned in full force.
"Ruan, what do you mean by that?" Joy Fong's voice was sharp as she immediately stood up for her son. "Little Cohen has been well-behaved since childhood. He wouldn't lie!"
"Mom, I was just asking," Lin Ruan replied calmly, though her keen eyes never left Lin Cohen.
Relieved that she didn't press further, Lin Cohen exhaled quietly, but a deep sense of unease gnawed at him. Why had his second sister suddenly brought this up? Could it be that they were beginning to uncover the truth about what happened back then? If so, the good brother image he had so carefully cultivated over the years would be completely ruined.
As he processed this, a dark hatred for Yang Mo swelled within him. It was all his fault. Everything had been proceeding perfectly—he had just a few more years before successfully taking over the Lyn family. Then, Yang Mo had to return and disrupt his plans. His entire life had been meticulously crafted, and now it was unraveling because of one person. A strong sense of crisis took hold of him. Lin Ruan's questioning was only the beginning. If she suspected him now, what would happen later? What if they all turned against him? What if they really brought Yang Mo back? He would be finished.
No. He couldn't allow that to happen.
A sinister thought crept into his mind. He had originally believed Yang Mo would stay away after leaving the Lyn family, but now it was clear that the only way to truly end this threat was to take drastic action. He needed to ensure that Yang Mo could never return. Perhaps it was time to reach out to his connections in the Triad. If Yang Mo disappeared for good, no one would ever challenge his position again.
Just then, the sound of voices outside caught his attention.
Lyn Jindong entered the room, holding a cup of coffee in his hand. "Why are only the two of you back? Where is that boy?"
Lin Cohen seized the opportunity. "Dad, Brother Yang Mo said he doesn't want to come back. He even called Mom 'Auntie Joy.'"
The cup nearly slipped from Lyn Jindong's grasp as his face darkened. "That rebellious son! Calling his own mother 'Auntie'? How ungrateful! Does he even sound like a human being?" His anger flared as he slammed his hand against the table. "Does he really think he's someone special?"
Turning to Lin Ruan, he ordered, "You know him best. Go persuade Xiao Mo tomorrow. He always listened to you the most. If you talk to him, he'll come back."
Joy Fong, growing desperate, nodded. "Yes, Ruan, you're our last hope."
Lin Ruan hesitated. In the past, Yang Mo had listened to her, but that was before. Now, after the paternity severance letter had been signed, what remained between them other than a biological connection that Yang Mo no longer even acknowledged? Could he still be persuaded?
"Ruan, no matter what, he's still your brother. Mom knows we've made mistakes, and I regret many things. I was wrong to push him away."
After a long pause, Lin Ruan sighed. "Fine. I'll find time tomorrow to see him."
With nothing more to discuss, she excused herself and went upstairs to her room, feeling a weight settle over her. It was hard to process that Yang Mo had truly left. At the time, she had believed he was only acting out to get attention. But after speaking to her older sister, Lin Xia, doubt had begun creeping in.
She collapsed onto her plush bed, sighing. If she really went to see Yang Mo tomorrow, what could she even say? Would he ever forgive her?
Her thoughts were interrupted by the quiet creak of her door opening. Startled, she sat up. "Big Sister, you scared me! You should have knocked."
Lin Xia stepped inside, her expression unreadable. "Ruan, I need to talk to you about something."
"What is it?" Lin Ruan asked, a trace of curiosity flickering in her eyes.
Lin Xia sat down beside her. "It's about Lin Cohen. Ever since I realized it was Yang Mo who saved me back then, I've been looking at Cohen differently. Something about him feels... off. And now, I can't help but wonder—what if my missing bracelet wasn't stolen by Yang Mo either?"
Lin Ruan frowned. "Why would you say that? There's no proof that he didn't take it."
Lin Xia folded her arms. "Think about it. If Yang Mo really was the kind of person who would steal, why would he willingly leave the Lyn family? Staying would have given him more access to wealth. He could have taken advantage of his status as our father's biological son. But he walked away, leaving everything behind. Doesn't that seem odd to you?"
Lin Ruan pondered her sister's words. There was no flaw in her logic. It made perfect sense.
Her heart tightened. "Then who took it, if not Yang Mo?"