C17

Yang Li turned towards his father and asked, "Will you come with us or not?"

Yang Yan was stunned by his son's question and couldn't answer. He was stuck between his family and his parents. He was a courageous and fearless soldier but when it came to his father, he was weak.

He had always been extremely loyal to his father. This was one of the reasons for his estrangement from his wife. He had a love marriage against his parents' wishes. It was the only time he defied his parents and followed his heart. However, he always felt guilty for hurting them.

This guilt ate away at him and he started neglecting his wife and children for his family and ultimately a deep rift was formed between them.

In those years he was not able to protect Yu Rumeng from various abuses that were hurled at her by his family members, especially his father, mother, and sisters-in-law.

They would bully her behind his back. She would not tell him about it to protect the relationship between her husband and his family but he came to know from other sources.

Although he did take action, they were feeble attempts that did not deter future harassment. Hence, the harassment of his wife continued.

Although it had become less in recent years, she was still ostracized and not allowed to work freely.

Yang Li came to know about her mother and sister's situation when he was 12, and he started to plan accordingly. He actually wanted to completely sever ties with the Yangs but waited for the perfect opportunity.

Seeing his father silent he said, "You can stay here if you want. I will understand."

He continued, "However if you stay here today, you will also face the consequences in the future along with them."

He then turned around and walked towards the exit with his mother and sister.

Patriarch Yang suddenly roared and pointing towards Li he said, "You, your sister, and your mother will no longer have any ties with the Yangs."

Suddenly Rumeng turned around and burst out, "Who wants to be part of this shitty family. Is it such a great family? A family that is led by such a heartless person. How great can such a family be?"

She continued, "I have always been silent and endured the hardships and abuse for the sake of my husband and children.

I allowed my son to be taken away from me at the age of 5 because I was assured it was for his future. However, now I realize I was deceived."

She turned to her husband and said, "You were also a part of that deception and you have betrayed my trust. I was able to endure everything because I thought my children were safe and everything was for their future. However, they were just being prepped to become tools for your father. Therefore, I am not going to endure it anymore, and if you stand in my way, I will even divorce you."

On hearing this Patriarch Yang started laughing and said, "Good, finally you have said something reasonable. You should div—"

He was interrupted by Yang Yan, "What are you saying Rumeng, how can you talk about divorce so casually. I may not have been a good father and husband but I still love you."

Rumeng scorned, "Love! Maybe in the past but not anymore. Your actions prove otherwise. And even if you do love me, it is nothing compared to the love and loyalty towards your parents."

"Don't worry I will not divorce you, at least not right now."

Yang Yan looked distraught. He didn't know what to say. He cursed himself for not being able to protect his family. He just lowered his head and stood there.

Yang Li looked at him with disappointment but he also found him pitiful. Li thought what is the use of being the most decorated and elite soldier in the country if you cannot even protect your family. His father had no marital bliss and his children had non-existent ties with him. In this society, he may be considered an epitome of success but in his personal life, he was an absolute failure. When he thought about his father only one word came to his mind- 'pathetic.'

When he was lost in his thoughts his grandfather said, "Once you leave here, you will not be protected by the Yang family anymore. In the future, if your interest opposes the Yang's, you will be thoroughly suppressed."

He continued, "Even if you do not oppose the Yang's I will make sure to trouble you, your mother, and your sister."

This was a vicious threat. Patriarch Yang wanted to create an example out of them.

Li looked at him coldly and said, "You can try but make sure you are ready for the consequences. Don't come to me if your sons, daughter-in-law, or your grandchildren suddenly disappear."

Everyone was stunned at Yang Li's blatant threat against the entire family.

Patriarch Yang said, "What an arrogant tone!! JUST WAIT and be ready to face the consequences for your actions today."

Li said, "We'll see who pays whom in the future. Mother, Sister Let's go."

When the 3 people left the ancestral villa, everyone except his sons was dismissed by the Patriarch.

Outside the Ancestral Hall-

All of them gathered and started gossiping. The children talked about what happened in the hall. Ruowei and Ling'er were now chatting happily unlike their earlier scared selves.

Ruowei said, "Sister I was so scared when cousin and grandpa were fighting."

Ling'er replied, "Me too."

Linger asked Yang Tian, "Big Brother, what will happen to brother Yang Li, sister Mei, and Aunty Rumeng?"

Yang Tian replied, "They will not be living in the ancestral villa anymore. We will not see them for a long time."

Ling'er sighed and looked in the direction in which Yang Li had left. She was the only one in the younger generation who was cordial to Li and Mei.

Yang Tian was not amiable with them rather he was hostile towards Yang Li. Ruowei preferred Yang Tian and did not interact with the siblings. Yan Ya had no interactions with them as she was much younger than them.

Inside the Ancestral Hall-

In his anger, Patriarch Yang threw a paperweight on the ground which smashed to pieces.

All his sons were alarmed but didn't know what to do.

Finally, he looked at Yang Yan and said, "You have raised such unfilial and useless children. They cut ties with us just like that. What about my plans? How will we make up for these losses?"

"Yang Li was trained to become a support for Yang Tian but now everything is ruined. This will weaken our position. We will have to find a replacement. Similarly, Mei's future husband would have been a huge asset to the family. All these are huge losses."

He glared at Yang Yan and said, "It is your wife and children who have made trouble and you will have to make it up to the family. Think of a solution for the problems created by your family. Only then will you be allowed to come back to the family. Now, GET OUT!"

Yang Yan quickly left the hall to get some peace.

Turning to his other sons he said, "Our Yang family has suffered losses today, however, we will find alternatives and become stronger."

Patriarch Yang turned to his eldest son and said, "You make sure that Yang Tian is being trained properly. He will be the future heir of the Yang family. I will never allow today's events repeated ever. Do you understand?"

Yang Mu said, "Yes father, I will ensure everything is carried out smoothly."

Patriarch Yang then said, "Also use your connections to suppress them. Use your people in GVSU to suppress the siblings. Also, make sure that Rumeng is not able to get a job in any of the top research facilities. Let's see how far they can go after opposing the Yang's."

Both the sons looked at each other and then nodded. Then they also left the Ancestral Hall.

Patriarch Yang thought to himself while smirking, 'Let's see how far you go without the protection of the Yangs.'

Thereafter someone entered the hall. It was his beloved wife Dong Meili. She stood near him and said, "We should ask our son to divorce her. He is still young and we can find a suitable match for him from a noble lineage."

Patriarch Yang said, "He will never agree to it. And if you push him too hard, he might leave and go back to them."

Dong Meili said, "But this is a good opportunity as Yu Rumeng has left the family. I can find suitable matches for him and slowly introduce them. With time hopefully, he might fall in love with one of them and divorce his wife. He can then marry someone who is of a similar status as our family."

Patriarch Yang thought about his wife's idea. He started analyzing what she had told him.

He said to her, "If you can carry out your idea successfully then go ahead. However, be very careful and don't drive him away by your actions."

His wife nodded and went away with a smile on her face.