“Then, I heard that you were forcibly taken by Sun Liuxian. The hatred I had for him intensified. I didn’t believe one bit that our daughter died in a car accident. How can I—when I knew my daughter better than he had. Later, I filed for your custody in court which started the rift between the three families. In the end, Sibai’s mother… your Grandma Lu begged me to drop my request and let you live as a commoner instead.”

Lu Xinyi placed her elbow at the armrest and cupped her chin. Her husband had also told her the same thing when he’d a talk with her Uncle Shui. This was the same reason her Uncle Shui told Shen Yi, that her Grandma Lu requested the Tang family to let her grow as a commoner to save her from the troubles of being a Sun.

So it was like this… Lu Xinyi thought.

Initially, what she knew about her mother and her maternal family was based on what the public knew about them.

Even her mentor had believed those rumors because neither Tang Lingfei nor Sun Meixiu cleared the issue about them and their family, but didn’t he say that her own father had told him about it? Maybe her father hadn’t been familiar with the strained relationship between the mother and daughter.

“Meixiu knew about her conception and her father’s affair before she met your father. I cannot say that my confession didn’t affect our relationship. To be honest, Meixiu found it vile and disgusting, and she hated the fact that Sun Liuxian and I tried to use her against each other. She decided to move out from the Tang Mansion, resigned from her post at Griffin Entertainment, and did menial jobs which only infuriated her father further.

“It wasn’t easy for her to live a normal life, but she was determined to step aside and avoid trouble. However, her half-sisters thought differently. For them, as long as my daughter is alive, they’ll never be able to touch the wealth of the family.”

When Lu Xinyi didn’t say anything, Tang Lingfei continued.

“Xin’er, I know I wasn’t a good mother to Meixiu and I haven’t been a grandmother to you, but will you give me another chance? I’ve lost Meixiu; I cannot lose you, too. Not now when I knew what happened to Sun Qiushan and Sun Qiyan. Sun Liuxian and his daughter Mingai wouldn’t leave in peace until they gained something from you. I cannot allow that,” she begged, her tone filled with despair.

If something wrong happened to Lu Xinyi, she would never be able to face her own daughter in the afterlife, knowing that she’d failed her once again.

Lu Xinyi slightly bowed her head and remained in an attitude of frozen stillness, not giving her grandmother to see her expression. She shut her eyes, concealing the storm in it and pondering what to do next.

She’d heard the answer she wanted, and the troubles in her heart had somewhat lessened. Tang Lingfei was so forthright about her shortcomings; it was hard to deny her it, but she didn’t think she was ready to forgive her yet.

Her mind kept asking what could have happened if Tang Lingfei was around those times? Would her mother suffer the same fate?

“If you’re still worried that the Chu and the Xi family will come after you after this, you don’t have to. You now have the Tang family on your side. I should’ve done this sooner, but let me protect you until my last breath.”

This wasn’t what Lu Xinyi wanted from her grandmother. If there was something she gained from this meeting with Tang Lingfei, it was to see a better picture of what kind of family the Sun family was.

Now, her hatred against the Suns intensified especially to the old man who’d constantly sought her forgiveness for the past month.

Tang Lingfei was aware that her time was running out, and she might not have enough time to spend with Lu Xinyi. However, this was better than containing herself in self-pity while her granddaughter was being subjected to the schemes of her ex-husband’s children.

Still, the old woman couldn’t comprehend what Lu Xinyi was thinking. The young woman only listened to what she would say, not giving any hint if she’d accepted her reasoning. If she could turn back time, she would put more effort to lessen the strain between her and her daughter.

Alas, she was too late; and only Lu Xinyi was what her daughter left for her to protect. Sun Liuxian ruined not only her life but also their daughter. This time, she wouldn’t pretend that the man was only approaching Lu Xinyi to use her and improve the standing of the Sun family and his company, knowing her relationship with the Shens.

For her, Sun Liuxian was a despicable person who only knew how to seek an advantage for himself. He might have known all this time what his children were up to and turned a blind eye to it.

“Please do as you wish, Lady Tang. Thank you for answering my questions.” Lu Xinyi gracefully stood up and gave her grandmother a curt nod. She knew that she was being too cold, but Lu Xinyi also knew that she needed some time until the truth sunk into her.

“We still have another two hours until the lunch is ready.” She dismissed herself, stepped outside, and called for Jia Ling to look after her grandmother.

When the attendant came back, she found her lady staring outside the window.

“Lady Tang?” Jia Ling came back to the study, only to find her lady being dejected. “Did you have a disagreement with Madam Shen?”

She’d only talked to Lu Xinyi a few times, but she could tell that the woman had the same strong personality as her lady. However, this doesn’t mean that the two would easily hit off and understand each other. They were like two strong forces that have yet to find the same page.

“It must have been hard for Xin’er all this time. The young lively girl that she was had been thrown into a complicated mess of our family.” Tang Lingfei smiled bitterly to herself. She was the cause of this insanity, and yet Sun Meixiu and Lu Xinyi were to suffer because of her recklessness.

“Didn’t people say time may heal all wounds?” Jia Ling tried to console her lady. It had been years, and yet Tang Lingfei’s grief hadn’t lessened through the years.

For her, Tang Lingfei had suffered already for a long time. It was like a poison to one’s spirit, not to forgive themselves. This meeting with Lu Xinyi wasn’t only for Tang Lingfei to forgive herself but a necessity for her healing.

“Indeed, but time doesn’t erase the scars the wound had left. The pain lessens over time, but it never went away. Let me tell you, Jia Ling, since Meixiu’s death, it’s been hell for me every single day. The wound remained fresh every day, and I could do nothing about it.”

Helping and protecting Lu Xinyi was the only way she thought she could repent. Her daughter’s life would never return, but Lu Xinyi’s life and future were as precious as her daughter’s.