Chapter 1291: Chapter 1291: Farewell
Liu Hong returned to her room and met her eldest son, Li Xiang, in the corridor. He was already in his first year of middle school this year.
Just like Li Shuanzhu, he was tall and strong, almost as tall as Liu Hong by now.
They came face to face.
Li Xiang glanced at Liu Hong with disdain, let out a snort, and turned away.
Liu Hong felt a blockage in her heart.
"Li Xiang, I’m your mother. Shouldn’t you at least have some basic manners and call me mom?"
Liu Hong couldn’t suppress her anger.
She raised her son with all her heart and soul.
As a child, he was close to her, snuggling in her arms, telling her he’d care for his own children when he grew up.
When did he start being so cold to her?
It seemed to start when he began having lunch at his aunt’s place after school; he spoke less and less to her, and whenever he did, it was with cold words.
The daughter and youngest son started behaving the same way.
Eventually, all three kids stopped calling her mom entirely.
"Mom? You deserve that title? Look at yourself; you’re as fat as a pig. It’s embarrassing to say you’re my mother. How can you even compare to Auntie Feng? No wonder Dad left you. I don’t even know how, in the past, you managed to be with other men. That guy must have been blind."
The fourteen-year-old boy spoke the most venomous words, each one shattering Liu Hong’s heart into pieces.
"Li Xiang, anyone else can insult me, but you have no right. Without me, you wouldn’t exist!"
For the first time, Liu Hong spoke so sternly.
Li Xiang turned back, surprised to see Liu Hong, who in his memory was always silent and accommodating, suddenly change.
"Do you think I wanted you to give birth to me? If I could choose, I’d rather not have a disgraceful mother like you!"
Shouting, Li Xiang expressed the thoughts buried in his heart.
After his aunt said that his mother was indiscreet with other men, he believed his father and that woman were because of his father’s fault, wronging his mother. Suddenly he realized he’d misunderstood his father; no man could stand such a wife.
He changed.
He no longer wanted to be with that disgusting woman, listening to her fake promises of love, claiming everything was for their good.
Watching Liu Hong humbly do these things made him angry. It further convinced him that Liu Hong must still be involved with other men; otherwise, why would she endure all this mistreatment without resistance?
Why would she endure how Father treated her unless she was guilty of wronging him, leaving her without the courage to stand up?
The better Liu Hong was to them, the more they resented her.
Yes!
They wished they never had such a mother.
Li Xiang turned and walked away.
Liu Hong felt a chill in her heart.
The son she had raised to this age spoke words that felt like he was stabbing her with a knife.
Each sentence caused her unbearable pain.
This was her son.
Back in her room, Liu Hong quickly packed her clothes, not that she had brought much.
In the adjacent room, the children’s room, she walked over and knocked on the door.
Li Lu opened the door and immediately looked impatient when she saw Liu Hong, "What?"
"I’m going back. Are you coming with me, or staying with your dad?"
In the end, she couldn’t let go.
In truth, Liu Hong still hated herself.
A woman who isn’t ruthless has an unstable position.
It was so true.
"Who wants to go with you? We’re going to the southern seaside with Dad and Auntie Feng. Hurry up and leave, don’t bother us."
Li Lu was rude to Liu Hong; since her brother said their own mom had affairs, resulting in Dad finding another woman, Li Lu hadn’t shown Liu Hong a good face.
This woman was a shameless bad woman.
Her biological father was right; such a woman deserved to serve them like an ox or horse.
This was penance.
Even penance went unappreciated; no one would want such a mother.
If only Auntie Feng were her real mom, not only was she pretty, but she also spoke well, dressed nicely, and often brought gifts for them.
Attending concerts, flying places for fun.
She’d even buy her pretty clothes.
Why couldn’t such a person be her mother?
Li Lu was angry enough to wish she’d never seen Liu Hong.
Dark-skinned and fat, like a pig.
A little head squeezed up from the side—it was the youngest, Li Hao, only six, just starting first grade, and upon seeing Liu Hong, wanted to say something but was pushed by Li Lu, "Go back, what are you looking at! What’s there to see about someone like that?"
The door closed with a slam.
Liu Hong felt a gust of wind sweep across her face, as if she’d been slapped hard, and it burned.
These were her children.
Perhaps she really was wrong.
Turning, she slowly walked downstairs.
As she reached the stairs, a timid voice came from behind, "Be careful when you go back. Brother and sister are angry. When their anger subsides, it’ll be okay."
Liu Hong turned around.
Li Hao’s little face was full of sadness. It was clear this child wanted to be close to her; perhaps the only one with a hint of feeling left for her.
"Can Mom hug you?"
Perhaps it would be the last time she held her.
Li Hao turned to glance down the corridor behind him, hesitated for a moment, but didn’t run into Liu Hong’s open arms.
Liu Hong felt a pang of sourness.
It wasn’t the first time she experienced the children’s coldness.
Suddenly, Li Hao darted down like a little cannonball, threw herself into Liu Hong’s arms, her tiny hands tightly wrapping around her neck, and her soft body nestled against her. Her warm breath felt so comforting against Liu Hong’s face.
"Mom, brother and sister won’t let me talk to you or call you mom. They say you’re a bad woman; auntie and dad say you’re a bad woman too, and have me call Auntie Feng ’mom,’ saying you’re just the maid of our family.
Mom, are you really a bad woman? I don’t think so. You’re so good to me, but if I don’t listen, sister will hit me, and Dad said he’d send me to Auntie Feng, not letting me see you.
So I can’t talk to you, but I still miss you so much. Mom, when will Dad and Auntie forgive you?"
The child’s words brought tears to Liu Hong’s eyes, her heart aching. Such a young child was fed such thoughts, no wonder Li Xiang and Li Lu treated her like an enemy.
Li Shuanzhu, Li Guihua, Li Shuanwen, you three siblings are such good people.
After eating what I’ve provided, drinking my support, you turn around and bite me.
Years of carefully taking care of the Li Family, only to face this outcome.
What a repayment with ingratitude.
She realized she had been blind.
Raising Li Hao’s chin, she kissed her cheek.
"Li Hao, where did you go?"
Li Lu’s voice made Li Hao’s little body tense up.
"I have to go back. You take care of yourself."
She planted a forceful kiss on Liu Hong’s face, her soft lips touching Liu Hong’s cheek, touching briefly before quickly pulling away, jumping out of her arms, "I’m here, I want some popping candy." She blinked and quickly ran back.
Disappearing from Liu Hong’s sight.
Liu Hong bit her lips tightly, carrying her clothes downstairs.
There were still many things she needed to do.
Li Hao, wait for Mom; Mom will bring you all back.
But not right now.