"Good! My Lin family doesn't need someone with unclean hands like you! Get out of here right now!" Lin Andong roared, his face twisted in rage as he slammed his cup against the table. The glass shattered, scattering shards across the floor, its sound echoing through the tense atmosphere of the dining hall.
Yang Mo remained unfazed, his sharp gaze locking onto Lin Andong. "Mister Lin, I suggest you choose your words wisely. Who exactly has unclean hands here?" His voice was calm, but the coldness in it sent a chill through the air.
He pulled out his phone and held it up for everyone to see. "Since no one objects to branding me as a thief, then let's call the police. They can check the fingerprints on the string and tell us exactly whose hands have touched it. That should clear things up, shouldn't it?"
Silence fell over the room.
Yang Mo had remained firm from the start because he knew he had never touched the string. His fingerprints wouldn't be on it. This was his chance to expose the real culprit. He turned his gaze to Lin Cohen, who had been the one to bring up this accusation in the first place.
The moment Yang Mo mentioned fingerprint analysis, Lin Cohen's face went pale. His fists clenched under the table, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. He never expected Yang Mo to actually call the police. If they checked, his fingerprints would be all over the string, and his entire reputation—his carefully crafted image within the Lin family—would be utterly ruined. Worse, his position as a potential heir would vanish in an instant.
The other members of the family weren't blind either. Lin Cohen had just been confidently pointing fingers, but now he sat there trembling, unable to meet anyone's eyes. That alone was more suspicious than any evidence.
"Little Cohen…" Lin Andong narrowed his eyes, his voice cautious. "You were the one who made a toast earlier."
Lin Cohen bit his lip but said nothing, his silence an admission in itself.
"Little Cohen, did you do it?" Joy Fong finally asked, her tone softer but laced with realization.
A wave of awkwardness spread through the room. It wasn't that difficult to piece things together. But up until now, they had all been looking at Yang Mo with prejudice, unwilling to give him the benefit of the doubt.
Yang Mo let out a cold laugh. "Well? Do I still need to call the police?" His eyes swept across the room, watching their expressions shift uncomfortably.
Lin Jindong cleared his throat. "Ahem… Let's not make a big deal out of this. It's just a misunderstanding between family members. There's no need to involve the police."
Yang Mo's cold gaze snapped to him. "Oh? Just a moment ago, you were ready to call the police and have me arrested. But now that the real culprit might be revealed, you suddenly want to drop it? Interesting." His voice dripped with sarcasm. "Tell me, is this what you call fairness? Is this how the Lin family operates?"
No one spoke up.
The truth was evident. If Yang Mo had been the one caught with the string, they would have thrown him out without hesitation. But because it was Lin Cohen, they were all desperately trying to brush the matter under the rug.
Yang Mo scoffed. "You all can choose to forget this, but I can't. I refuse to be framed. I have to clear my name."
"Wait, Mo!" Joy Fong suddenly spoke up, her voice filled with desperation. "Cohen is your younger brother! If you call the police, his future will be ruined!"
Yang Mo turned to her, his gaze piercing. "Oh? Just now, when you thought I was guilty, you didn't hesitate for a second. You were so sure I should be punished. But now, when your beloved son is exposed, you suddenly want to protect him?"
Joy Fong flinched, shame flickering in her eyes. She had been so quick to condemn Yang Mo, but now she was asking him to show mercy to Lin Cohen. The double standard was undeniable.
"Mom didn't mean it like that…" she tried to explain, but her voice wavered with guilt.
Before Yang Mo could respond, a loud thud rang out. Gasps filled the room as everyone turned in shock.
Lin Cohen had collapsed onto the floor, his head hitting the edge of the table. Blood trickled from a wound at his temple.
"Ah! Cohen! What happened?!" Joy Fong cried out, rushing to his side in panic.
Lin Cohen groaned weakly, his voice trembling. "I… I slipped… I didn't mean to…" His face was pale, his body trembling as he clutched his head.
Yang Mo narrowed his eyes. What a performance. Lin Cohen had created this scene deliberately, knowing that once he appeared weak and injured, the entire family would rush to his side—forgetting his crime entirely.
Sure enough, Lin Andong panicked. "What are you all waiting for?! Take him to the hospital, now!"
Lin Xia and the others hurriedly helped Lin Cohen up, their focus entirely on his injury. The once-hostile stares aimed at Yang Mo had vanished, now replaced with frantic concern for Lin Cohen.
"Mom, I'm sorry for causing trouble…" Lin Cohen muttered weakly, looking up at Joy Fong with teary eyes.
"Shhh, don't talk. We need to get you to the hospital," Joy Fong soothed, brushing his hair back gently.
And just like that, the entire situation was swept away. No one was talking about the missing string anymore. No one was talking about Lin Cohen's deception. All that mattered was that he was "injured" and needed to be taken care of.
Yang Mo watched as the entire family rushed out the door, leaving him alone at the dining table.
He exhaled slowly, shaking his head. What a ruthless move.
In the end, no one had spoken up for him. The Lin family had shown their true colors. No matter what, they would always protect Lin Cohen, no matter how despicable his actions were.
Yang Mo stood up and walked toward the door, his expression indifferent.
He had no place in this family.
And now, he no longer cared to find one.