Chapter 4

The message still hasn't been replied to.

I think he might still be having the time of his life, probably with his phone off.

After my father-in-law passed away, everyone was busy arranging the funeral, and my mother-in-law was so devastated she couldn't get out of bed, leaving me as the only backbone of the family.

I tried to contact Jiang Ming to no avail.

The decorations originally prepared for my father-in-law's big birthday celebration were all taken down, red ribbons replaced with white ones, red lanterns switched to white.

The youngest son, Jiang Ze, who was overseas, also returned and cried bitterly over his father's coffin.

"I came too late, I couldn't see you one last time! Dad! Father!"

Although this younger son lived abroad, I had a good impression of him, especially since I paid for his overseas tuition.

So he respected me greatly.

"Sister-in-law, where's my brother! How can he not be here at a time like this?"

I didn't know what to say, should I tell him that he's off gallivanting with his lover?

At that moment, Jiang Ming finally turned on his phone and replied to my message with a cold sentence: "Fine, then let's divorce."

Soon after, he called me, and his brother was right beside me.

The brother wanted to talk to him, so I turned on the speakerphone.

"Why can't I get through to Dad's phone? What are you up to? Tell Dad Little Yan and I are bringing gifts for his celebration."

Jiang Ze was dumbfounded.

"Sister-in-law, what's going on? What is brother talking about?"

I suddenly felt utterly exhausted.

Silently listening, not wanting to say a word to him.

Jiang Ze seemed to notice something was off.

"Are you listening?"

The tone from the other end of the phone became impatient: "Remember to tell Dad, I'm telling you, even if you want a divorce, wait until after my dad's seventieth birthday; don't upset him."

Now he decided to be filial.

After a day and a night without food, my throat was so hoarse I couldn't speak.

Exhausted physically and mentally.

Jiang Ze spoke on my behalf: "Brother, where are you?"

"Oh, Ze is back, very good, very good. Big brother will be home soon, it's been a long time since I've seen you, I really miss you."

Before Jiang Ze could respond, I hung up the phone. I felt nauseous just hearing Jiang Ming's voice now.

"Sister-in-law? What's going on with you and brother?"

"I don't want to talk about it, and don't ask."

I turned off my phone and continued setting up the mourning hall. No matter what, I had to send off my father-in-law peacefully.

Jiang Ze noticed my strange demeanor and didn't dare press further, just helping quietly, always by my side.

While organizing my father-in-law's belongings, memories overwhelmed me, recalling the happy days with him, and the fact that he died with his eyes open, longing to see his son one last time.

I couldn't help but burst into tears again.

At this moment, my mother-in-law came to console me, instead telling me to let go, and said she would always treat me like her daughter.

She even brought out my father-in-law's will, saying it was for me, and when I saw its contents, I quickly declined.

At that moment, Jiang Ming returned hand in hand with his fancy white moonlight lady, dressed extravagantly, and the moment he stepped into the house, his expression changed.

Seeing relatives and friends, all with sorrowful expressions, dressed in black and white, even the red ribbons he'd hung on the door curtain had turned to white.

"What are you doing! Xu Ya! Come out! What are you all doing! Where's my dad!"

I walked out in mourning clothes and was met with Jiang Ming in a flashy suit, and He Yan in a glaring red off-the-shoulder dress, causing people around to whisper.

Jiang Ming saw the coffin and portrait of my father-in-law at the mourning hall, and seemed to understand everything, his face turning ashen like pig liver.

He kept stepping back.

"No, it's impossible... you're lying to me, Xu Ya! Tell me... how could my dad be dead? Did you kill him!"