Chapter 26 - A Loving Mother

Canary's eyes were narrowed. Clear disappointment and anger went across her face as her lips were also pursed upside down, showing how she was upset that AiLin had never told her anything about her family. They both knew each other in prison with each of them having hatred toward people they swore they would avenge as soon as they had stepped out of the prison. For now, Canary had taken a new name that was different to her old one, her appearance had matured and with make up she didn't look like how she was before when they had first met. 

Like her, Canary was sentenced with a false evidence. AiLin had also heard from her how her entire family starting from her younger sister had been killed and how she had came out to find the killer. 

To say that they know each other was an understatement. Canary knows AiLin's hatred and grudges, AiLin knew well the burning rage inside Canary and they both bond over the hatred they have for the people who had. Destroyed their lives, swearing an oath to help each other to form the best revenge plan to the people who deserves it. 

But now for Canary to find out AiLin's identity, it would of course betray her. Canary thought she knew everything about AiLin as she had told AiLin everything including her darkest secret. But to not even know her birth right made Canary to look at her with narrowed eyes and clear disdain. 

"Hua Family is a royal family?" AiLin inquired and Canary looked back at her with confusion. 

"Wait, you don't even know about that?" 

AiLin slumped on the chair and sighed, "Do you believe if I tell you that I went to look for the Jiangs in their birthday party only to find out I was related to another wealthy family named Hua?" 

"That sounds fictional," Canary said but she crossed her arms and leaned forward, "Who told you about this true birth right of yours?" 

"A man by the name Li ZiChen," and as soon as she said so, Canary jumped up from her chair. 

"Li ZiChen?! You're not joking with me?" 

"I wish I am," AiLin shook her head, "Do you know who Li ZiChen is?" 

"Hah, you don't even know who he is," muttered Canary as she fell down on her chair again, "Li ZiChen is the eldest of the four siblings from Li Family. They acquired wealth throughout Beijing from their company which reign over Beijing for the last four decades. It appears that his father married a daughter of a Japanese mafia which made their family untouchable." 

AiLin rubbed her forehead, "You know him well." 

"I work with him," Canary then said, startling AiLin.

She turned to her friend, "I trust you so I know you wouldn't have been the one who told him about me." 

"Yes I haven't!" Canary said, "Damn it. One day he came to my office and offered me a land. It's a good deal I didn't want to refuse and when I asked him why he had offered me this land when he could have sold it to someone else, he said it was for an investment." 

Investment? 

Now she was certain that Li ZiChen had controlled everything long before she had even left the prison. But how long ago? This man had kept himself in the background, making sure she would be able to make her way to destroy Jiang Family. But his kindness wasn't unfounded as he wanted her to get after her grandmother. 

"We're played so well by him," AiLin said as she saddled her head on the back of the couch. "Damn it. It annoys me to think while we are focused on our own plan we weren't aware of someone else keeping an eye on us." 

"Exactly," sighed Canary as she closed her eyes. "I was already thinking for the worse. I thought you would betray me too, sorry that I accused you." 

Canary would have cut AiLin off if she hadn't known AiLin since they first arrived in the prison. They were each other's back and that was also the reason why Canary didn't immediately lunge for an answer but waited for AiLin's explanation. Thankfully their friendship wouldn't be harmed this way.

"No, I would have accused myself too. But I really didn't know who my father and mother are," she then lifted her body and looked at her friend again as they had solved the miscommunication between them, "Do you know who they are?" 

"I searched about them last night after receiving this news so yes," Canary then pulled the cupboard and gathered a whole stack of papers on her hands, "Your mother is the only daughter of Hua Family. She is of the same age as Mrs Jiang and she married your father when they were twenties." 

"That's quick," AiLin muttered. 

"Indeed for socialites it's a really early marriage as they had just finished their studies when they got married," answered Canary, "Rumors said that it's a shotgun marriage. Maybe with you. They said that your mother had a miscarriage soon after and gave birth to their youngest son now." 

"I also have a brother… a younger one?" 

"Here are their faces," Canary stood up and placed the document in front of her. 

Gathering the papers and flipping them one by one, AiLin saw a familiar face of a woman. The woman was so familiar as it appeared the same as her own reflection on the mirror. 

Her mother.. 

This is her real mother? 

She was so gorgeous but appeared strict with short hair that flowed down straight as if it had been ironed. Her face was beautiful but it was without a smile. In all the pictures, she couldn't see her mother's smile and saw her only having a stone cold face that made her wonder if this woman would really feel a motherly love toward her daughter who she had casted aside. 

Even if it was for her own protection, AiLin couldn't believe that she would have a mother who would truly love her. 

After all, Mrs Jiang who had raised her since a baby despise her enough to kill her. 

How about the woman who only gave birth to her?