Authors POV:
On Saturday morning, Song Yanyan woke up early and worked out. As she had agreed with Grandpa Huang, today they would take a direct approach to reveal the truth, no matter how painful it might be for Song Bo.
Around midday, when Song Yanyan knew the whole family would be home, she took a cab to the Song villa. As she entered, Chen Xinyi sneered.
"Well, look who decided to grace us with her bloated presence today."
Song Yangyao joined in. "Did you finally roll out of bed, or should we get the crane to lift you next time?"
The vile cousins Song Fangfang and Song Dong started mocking her appearance too.
"Jeez, Yanyan, your face looks even fatter and more pockmarked than usual," Song Fangfang said with a cruel smile.
Song Dong laughed. "Yeah, I can hardly see her piggy little eyes behind those bulbous cheeks!"
But Song Yanyan never let them walk all over her. "At least I don't need to spend daddy's money on expensive plastic surgery to fix my ugliness, unlike you two."
Before the cousins could retort, Song Bo descended the stairs. "Yanyan! It's good to see you." He smiled and gave a nod. "How are you settling into your new place?"
"I'm happy, Dad. Independent living suits me well."
Chen Xinyi cut in sharply. "I still don't understand why you allowed a seventeen-year-old to live alone without consulting me first."
Song Yangyao openly expressed her jealousy. "Yes, why does she get special treatment?"
Their heated exchange came to a halt as a butler entered...
"Sir, there are visitors requesting a meeting with the family."
Song Bo frowned. "We're not expecting anyone. But very well, show them in."
The butler opened the doors, and Huang Jiang entered, his cane clicking softly on the tiles. Accompanying him was the handsome Wu Haoyu. Song Yangyao's heart skipped a beat when she saw him.
"Oh my, who are these important guests?" she said with a giggle.
Song Bo stepped forward. "Welcome, sirs. To what do we owe this visit?"
Huang Jiang introduced himself. "Greetings, I am Huang Jiang, the patriarch of the Huang family from Beijing. This is Wu Haoyu, grandson of my dear friend from the prestigious Wu family, also of Beijing."
Song Bo and Song Hao exchanged concerned glances. The two surnames were among the wealthiest families in the country.
"Such esteemed guests... What have we done to deserve this honor?" Song Bo asked carefully.
Huang Jiang's eyes landed on Chen Xinyi, anger seething beneath his calm exterior. This was the woman who had bought his own granddaughter like an object.
Song Bo started to tell the children to leave, but Huang Jiang stopped him. "No, I believe this matter concerns everyone present."
He passed a file to Song Bo. "You may want to review the contents first."
Frowning, Song Bo opened the file and read through it. His eyes went wide. "A DNA test? For what purpose?"
Chen Xinyi tensed, clenching her fists tightly until her nails dug into her palms. Song Bo looked up at their guests.
"Seventeen years ago, I had a daughter named Huang Yue. She unwisely became involved with a man I did not approve of. I disowned her in a moment of terrible judgement."
Song Bo turned to Huang Jiang. "But what does this have to do with my family?"
"You see," Huang Jiang began heavily. "My daughter Huang Yue fell pregnant by this man. But he disappeared, leaving her alone and expecting a child. Since I had disowned her, she ran away from home to another city. There, she gave birth to a daughter."
Chen Xinyi blurted out angrily, "That's none of our business! I demand you leave at once!"
But Song Bo raised a hand. "Honey, let the man finish."
Huang Jiang continued solemnly. "As I said, my daughter gave birth to a little girl. But for reasons I cannot fathom, she decided to abandon the child at the hospital. It was then that a crooked midwife, who had helped with the delivery, decided to sell the infant. Sadly, it was not the first child she had illegally sold."
Song Bo's brow furrowed deeply. "As tragic as that story is, I still fail to see how it pertains to my family."
The other Songs murmured in agreement, equally confused. Only Chen Xinyi seemed to realize where this was going, her face pale.
Finally, Wu Haoyu spoke up. "After many years of investigation...we have confirmed that the child sold by the midwife...is the same child you raised as your daughter, Song Yanyan."
A deathly silence fell over the room. Song Bo's face cycled through a myriad of emotions - shock, anger, devastated hurt. Song Hao shook his head vehemently.
"Impossible! Yanyan is my brother's daughter, his flesh and blood!"
But Huang Jiang looked squarely at Chen Xinyi, his eyes blazing.
"That, Mr. Song, is the DNA test proving without doubt that Yanyan is my biological granddaughter. Your wife deceived you both. She lied about being pregnant to trap you into marriage. Then, when the time came...she purchased a baby to pass off as your child. My grandchild, handed over by that crooked midwife."
Song Yangyao cried out furiously. "How dare you come here spouting lies about my mother!"
But Huang Jiang kept his steely gaze locked on Chen Xinyi.
"Well, Madam Song? Are these claims falsehoods...or the long-hidden truth you've kept buried through treachery?"
Chen Xinyi's mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. Song Bo stared at her, anguish and barely restrained rage distorting his features. Nearby, Yanyan couldn't help but observe Chen Xinyi's obvious guilt with a sense of dark satisfaction.
The woman had tormented her for years with cruel lies and abuse. Now her twisted web of deception was being mercilessly exposed before everyone...
Song Yanyan turned to look at her father, she couldn't describe exactly his emotions. Guess the years of experience had taught him how to hide his thoughts very well.
Song Hao and his wife, Zhao Yujie were both dumbfounded. Everyone in the room waited for Chen Xinyi to say something. To retort and prove that what these men were saying was all lies. But Chen Xinyi sat there, opening and closing her mouth, obviously searching for the words to say.