“I don’t know what I was thinking. I don’t know what took over me. It flipped me out to know that Suyin twice tried to hurt Nana. And I knew that she already suffered retribution by falling in her traps, yet I couldn’t hold myself back.”
Tang Ning and Tang Feng suddenly had no words to say.
“I am cruel. I admit that. I have to be ruthless because I am a part of the Underworld too. Kindness doesn’t exist at a place like that. But a little bit of humanity? I think I lost that somewhere on the way too. And I don’t want my sons and my future children to have a father completely devoid of humanity.”
Jinhai faintly smiled. “As always, my wife is always right. That line of humanity…I shouldn’t have crossed. She plotted against Nana, and she already paid its price, but my possessiveness for Nana didn’t satisfy me with just that. I wanted to see her suffer, but I didn’t realize when I became a monster. I should have just…stopped.”
They trembled. Tang Ning gasped and broke into soft and strained sobs. Tang Feng rested her head on his shoulder and wiped his tears.
“So, I am still angry at you for trying to kill Jian and Nian in the banquet, but I understand where you were coming from…that hatred and revenge. I am a parent now, too. It’s finally making sense to me that if I had been in your place, then I would have felt and reacted the same way for my child as you did, even if he had started it by doing something wrong. Children make mistakes, but no parent can see them suffer after a certain limit of punishment.”
His hands slightly trembled for the first time. His wife, his sons…his whole family…he was so close to losing it that night.
And all because he couldn’t stop himself. He couldn’t blame them for getting furious and hurting Nana, Jian, and Nian.
It was my fault that I went that far. I tested and broke their patience, and I…I got my family in danger.
His eyes turned slightly sore and ached. Jinhai shut them for a moment.
“I am sorry. I am truly sorry. I know you won’t ever forgive me. Hate me as much as you want. You cannot get your revenge anymore, but if it eases you two even a little bit, then please remember that the guilt of what I did to Suyin will never erase from my heart. For the rest of my life, I would forever bear the brunt of her brutal death, which will never give me a sense of freedom.”
They truly sensed his remorse. He wasn’t saying that to make them feel better.
He was genuinely apologetic and guilty.
And knowing that, they had mixed emotions about it. The arrogance that they so despised about Jinhai was nowhere to be seen now.
And just as Jinhai was feeling as if a huge burden lifted off his shoulders by apologizing, somewhere in their hearts, Tang Feng and Tang Ning were also feeling a lot lighter.
It was indisputable that Suyin started everything, but they felt that they failed as parents, too, who couldn’t stop her.
When Jinhai apologized, they felt as if something cold and calming was washing over their hearts that was once burning in desire to destroy everything.
Jinhai slowly said, “Tomorrow is my first wedding anniversary with Nana. It’s nothing less than a new beginning for me. I don’t hope to get any blessings from you. But, please give your blessings to Nana. She is that pillar and mirror in my life that showed me my ugly side to me. Without her, I wouldn’t be standing here in front of you.”
The Tangs looked at him with a complicated gaze.
Jinhai said, “I said what I had to. It was important for me to let you know how I felt. I know you wouldn’t want to see my face, so I will leave.”
He slowly turned and walked two steps before Tang Ning said, “Stop.”
Jinhai looked back at them questioningly.
She looked at her husband, and he nodded. There was a sense of serenity in their gazes.
“Liu Jinhai. Let’s…leave everything in the past and move forward now.”
Jinhai’s eyes slowly widened in surprise.
“Everybody made mistakes. Suyin plotted against Nana, you crossed your line, and we…we, as parents, failed miserably. If we had stopped her, then fate would have been somehow so much different. We could have avoided so much pain and suffering and guilt.”
Jinhai quietly listened.
Tang Feng said, “And now we are honestly tired…Tired of all the revenge and hatred…It’s draining us from within. We are getting old. And whatever these few years we have left, we want to cherish it with each other and remember all the good memories we had with Suyin. I think that would keep her soul more in peace.”
He softly smiled. “So, let’s just move on in our lives and live the rest of it the best we can.”
Tang Ning wiped her tears. “You said that tomorrow is like a new beginning for you. So, we give our blessings to Nana…and you too. Have a happy married life.”
Jinhai lowered his head and bowed deeply. “Thank you…Thank you so much…”
They gently nodded.
“You are fortunate to have Nana. Always cherish her and keep her happy. She is one of a kind. Don’t lose her.”
Jinhai smiled. “Never. I won’t lose for her anything in the world. I would cease to exist because she is my very heartbeat.”
Tang Ning then slowly said, “Also…please tell Serena and Jianyu that we feel guilty for harming her and her child. We are truly sorry. It wasn’t Serena or her child’s fault. Thank God…they both are safe or else…” she gasped, “we would have never forgiven ourselves. Tell them that we are happy for them too.”
Jinhai smiled and softly nodded. “I will.”
As Jinhai left, the Tangs silently leaned in each other’s embrace for a long time.
Tang Feng wiped her wife’s tears. “You rest here. I will finish the work left.”
“No. I will help you. It will get done faster.”
“Ning…”
“Excuse me, Mr. Tang. Mrs. Tang.”
They looked at the jailor who just walked up to them.
“Yes? Oh, it’s the work, right? I am almost done.”
“No. It’s not that. I want you to come with me and sign on your release papers and also take back your belongings.”
They looked at him, stunned.
“What? What release papers?” They were confused.
“Mr. Liu Jinhai has taken the case back that he lodged against you and have said to set you both free. He has already arranged for your release.”
The Tangs stood frozen on their spot. They thought they would repent for their sins in prison for the rest of their lives, but…
Is it true? Are we…free from here?
Tang Ning burst into tears. Truth to be told, her heart ached to see Tang Feng doing the hard prison jobs. She could hardly help with anything, and it pained her to see her husband like that.
So, she truly longed to be free again and quietly spend their lives somewhere in a small house.
And Jinhai actually set them free…
“Feng…Feng…I am so happy…” she sniffled, “Feng, we are free…”
Tang Feng still couldn’t believe it. Tears brimmed in their eyes, and they thanked Nana from the bottom of their hearts that she chose to forgive them that day.
As they completed their formalities and stepped out of the prison facility, they saw Xin waiting for them at the gate.
“Assistant Xin you…”
He nodded. “Sir sent me here.”
Xin took out one file and keys and handed it to them. “Sir has arranged a place for you to live from now on. These are the papers and your house keys.”
Once again, they were dumbfounded. Tang Feng said, “Sorry, but I have to reject it. I can understand Jinhai’s sentiments, but we cannot take this house. It will be too much, and I cannot pay him back.”
Tang Ning nodded in agreement. They knew they couldn’t intrude upon his generosity.
Xin smiled. “Sir knows this. Don’t worry. It is not for free.”
Xin took out another file. “As you must have heard over the news, three Liu Corps traitors have been driven out of the company. So, there are important positions that we have to fill with capable employees. Mr. Long was the head of the Marketing department, and we urgently need someone to take his place and handle its operations from now on.”
They were getting shocks one after the other.
“Are you saying that Jinhai is hiring me to work in Liu Corps? As the Marketing head?”
“Yes. You were the CEO of the Tang Corps. Your experience and expertise are invaluable. Sir said that the money you earned could be used to pay back for the house, and after that…” he smiled, “You can use it, if you want, to revive Tang Corps in the future. That is up to you.”
His hands trembled as he read the papers. A tear dropped on it as he realized that everything was already taken care of by Jinhai.
“Do you agree, Mr. Tang?”
They helplessly chuckled. Tang Feng nodded as tears trickled down his cheeks.
“From when do I have to come to work?”
“Tomorrow?”
Tang Feng smiled. “Then tomorrow it is.”
