"I won't be home for the night. I'm still busy contacting the press for the conference," Li Jindong casually found an excuse as he spoke over the phone. In reality, his true intention was to deliver the good news personally to Lin Kuan's birth mother.
Meanwhile, when Li Yang returned home, she found her two sisters sitting on the living room sofa, seemingly waiting for her.
"Big sister, you're home early today. Finished with work already?" Lin Xia asked, glancing up at her. "And second sister, weren't you busy promoting your new song recently?"
"We purposely freed up our time just to wait for you," Lin Ruan replied, holding a thick folder filled with documents and photos.
After their last investigation into Li Jindong's affairs, the results had only confirmed their worst fears. The evidence was overwhelming—multiple photographs capturing Li Jindong with his mistress over the years. The man they once saw as an upright father figure had been nothing more than a facade.
Li Yang's expression darkened. "Big sister, are you really sure about telling Mom today? I'm worried."
"I am too," Lin Xia admitted. "But think about it. The longer we keep this from her, the more it will hurt. If she finds out later and realizes we knew all along, she might blame us for not telling her sooner. I think it's best if we let her know now. What do you think, second sister?"
Lin Ruan didn't say much, only nodding in agreement. "It's the right thing to do. Besides, Dad isn't coming home tonight, so this is the perfect opportunity to talk to Mom privately."
As the three sisters discussed the situation, their mother, Qiao Fang, walked into the living room, a phone in her hand. "What are you three whispering about?" she asked, her tone light and casual. "I was just talking to my friends abroad. Once Lin Kuan finishes his college entrance exams, we'll send him to a university overseas. He'll return after a few years with a higher degree and then take over the Lin family business."
Her daughters exchanged glances. If only she knew the truth.
Lin Xia stepped forward hurriedly, taking her mother's hand. "Mom, come with us to the room. We need to talk to you about something important."
Noticing her daughter's serious expression, Qiao Fang frowned slightly but nodded. She followed them into the eldest sister's room, where Lin Xia immediately pulled out the thick stack of documents and photos.
"Mom, please look at these," she said, her voice hesitant. "And please, don't get too upset."
Lin Yang and Lin Ruan sat on either side of her, ready to support her if needed. Qiao Fang took the folder and flipped through the pages. Her face darkened with each passing moment.
After a long silence, she sighed heavily. "So, you girls know about this too."
Her daughters looked at her in shock. "You knew?" Lin Xia asked in disbelief. "You knew that Dad was cheating?"
Qiao Fang nodded, her gaze distant. "This isn't new. It happened over twenty years ago. I know that woman—her name is Yuan Jing. She was your father's first love."
The sisters remained silent, listening intently as their mother continued.
"Back then, your father and Yuan Jing were deeply in love. But when he got hold of the prescription that later built his pharmaceutical empire, he needed financial backing to grow the business. That's when he turned to my family—the Qiao family. We were a powerful name in Jinghai City back then, and investing a few million was nothing to us. However, the condition for our support was that he had to sever all ties with Yuan Jing. After much hesitation, he agreed. That's how the Lin family as you know it today was built."
Hearing this, the three sisters felt an even deeper sense of betrayal.
"Then why didn't you ever tell us?" Lin Yang asked.
Qiao Fang shook her head. "What would have been the point? I didn't want to destroy the family I worked so hard to build. Besides, it's common for men to stray once they have power and wealth. I made my peace with it long ago."
Lin Xia clenched her fists. "So you knew about Dad's affair, but did you also know that Lin Kuan is his illegitimate son?"
At that moment, Qiao Fang's face changed drastically. Her body trembled as she stared at her daughters in shock. "What did you just say?"
Lin Ruan realized too late that she had spoken too quickly. Lin Xia bit her lip, cursing internally—this wasn't how they had planned to break the news to their mother.
"Where did you get this information? Do you have proof?" Qiao Fang's voice wavered, but her eyes burned with fury.
Lin Xia silently walked to the drawer and pulled out a sealed envelope. Inside was the paternity test confirming the truth. She handed it to her mother with a heavy heart.
Qiao Fang's fingers trembled as she unfolded the document. Her breathing grew shallow as she read through the undeniable proof. For years, she had treated Lin Kuan as her own, doting on him, planning his future, and ensuring he had everything he needed. But now, she realized she had been nothing more than a pawn in Li Jindong's grand scheme.
The truth hit her like a cruel joke.
It wasn't just an affair. It wasn't just a fling.
It was a betrayal of the deepest kind.
For years, Li Jindong had used her and the entire Qiao family, all while secretly raising his illegitimate son under her roof. And she, in her foolish devotion, had been blind to it all.
Her grip tightened around the document, her knuckles turning white. "That bastard…" she whispered, her voice trembling with rage.
Lin Xia, Lin Yang, and Lin Ruan watched as their mother's composure shattered before their eyes. The illusion of their once-perfect family had crumbled, leaving only pain and resentment in its wake.
Qiao Fang had spent years building a home that had never truly been hers.
And now, it was time to face the truth.