Even with a lot of pleading and tears, Xiao Yunyao and her mother couldn't convince Mr. Xiao to hear their side. They were led away by the butler of the Xiao family and were reminded to cooperate. The mother and daughter left without sparing a look at Xiao Rufeng. They didn't even bother to ask for her forgiveness. Their action spoke volumes of their stand to both her father and Yan Xiuchen.
It didn't take long before the doctor Yan Xiuchen had called arrived, followed by another doctor who Xiao Rufeng recognized as her family doctor. With Yan Xiuchen's help, they moved her father from the sitting room to his bedroom to have him checked thoroughly.
Xiao Rufeng didn't say a word and left them be as her sole focus was her father's condition. She was glad that Yan Xiuchen was with her and had not left her side even for a second as the doctors tended to her father. Once they deemed him safe and out of danger, they left and allowed Xiao Rufeng to talk to her ailing father.
"You really want to divorce her just like that?" She asked him.
This was the first time her father had stood up and sided with her ever since she first started getting trapped in multiple arguments with her stepmother and Xiao Yunyao.
Her father and Xiao Yunyao's mother had been married from the time Xiao Yunyao was born up to now. Was it really alright for her father to make such a reckless decision? Regardless of whether she hated Xiao Yunyao or not, she would never wish for anything bad to befall on her sister.
"I may be foolish, Feng'er, but I'm not blind." Her father said with a guilty tone in his voice. "I thought that by having her as your second mother and with Yaoyao around, you would be happy again. I guess I made a bad choice then."
From the moment his first wife died from illness, Xiao Rufeng had never been the same again. The once bright and cheerful child was gone overnight and she had stopped smiling at him. Mr. Xiao thought that having a younger sister would somehow open up his eldest child's heart to them.
Alas, Xiao Rufeng only gave the infant a good look and didn't stay too long during their introduction. Since then, she had kept everyone at arm's length and never bothered to make any effort to get closer to his new family.
He had thought that in time, Xiao Rufeng would eventually accept him, but he was proven wrong this time. Because the one who isolated her, gave up on her and kept her at a distance was none other than he himself.
His wife and Xiao Yunyao took advantage of this and tried to harm her behind his back. Knowing all of this, how could he let them stay with him any longer and overlook the things they had done to harm his eldest daughter?
"Is Yunyao really not your daughter?" She was still in disbelief that her father would try to disown her younger sister after their confrontation earlier.
This was something Xiao Rufeng had never thought was possible. For as long as she could remember, her father had treated Xiao Yunyao like a pearl in his hands, so for him to harbor such thoughts and uncertainty surprised her.
Now that Xiao Yunyao was being kicked out of their family business, she had no one to support her and protect her from public scrutiny aside from her mother.
"I'm not sure myself. We'll see whether she's really mine or not." Her father grunted and took a deep calming breath. He then glanced at the closed door of his room.
"He's waiting for you outside, isn't he?" He asked Xiao Rufeng, pertaining to Yan Xiuchen.
Blush crept on the apple of her cheeks as she nodded. This wasn't what she imagined when she decided to introduce Yan Xiuchen to her father. Would he think bad of him after what transpired earlier?
"He's really good and kind to me." She said in response, paying attention to her father's reaction.
"I can see that." She heard her father chuckle with a slight smile. "He looks at you as if you are the only one that matters. I suppose I can forgive his impertinence earlier if he treats you better than I do."
"I'm sure he's regretful for it. He's someone who doesn't lose his temper easily." Xiao Rufeng said, her brows furrowing together realizing how easy it was for her father to accept her relationship with Yan Xiuchen.
"You don't mind me being with him?" She asked, when her curiosity got the best of her.
"I do mind honestly." Her father replied. "I mind it a lot."
Seeing the confusion on her face, he decided to explain himself.
"I could see that he's quite smitten with you and I believe that you aren't with him for the sake of his money. My Feng'er wouldn't whore herself and sleep around. If she wants something, I know that my daughter would rather work for it herself than ask someone else for a favor." He said with a glint of pride shining in his eyes.
Xiao Rufeng's eyes were stung with tears as she looked at her father. Somehow, it gave her a glimpse of the father she knew and loved before Xiao Yunyao and her mother came into their lives.
"If he hurt you in any way, you tell me right away, okay?" Her father continued. "He might be a business tycoon with a lot of money to his name, but I won't allow him to bully you."
"You are worrying for nothing, Dad. I trust Xiuchen. He won't deliberately try to harm me in any way."
"I hope you are right, Feng'er. You have suffered enough in this family. I want you to be happy, even if it means being with him."
Xiao Rufeng could see now that he had a lot of regrets after tonight's event. Somehow, in her eyes, her father looked tired and weary.
Foll𝑜w current novels on fre(e)w𝒆bnovel