Chapter 959

"Wu Yuxin, there are some things I can tolerate once, but never forgive a second time." The cold voice sounded like a sentence from the depths of hell, sharp and merciless. At that moment, the demon from hell strode to the doorway.

"Ungrateful child, where do you think you're going? Don't forget today is your grandfather's birthday!" Old Master Huo scolded, thumping his cane in anger. But Huo Lingtian's figure had already vanished from the door.

With the host gone, what reason did the guests have to remain? They had no wish to overstay their welcome. One after another, they took their leave, and the grand birthday banquet ended in a hasty, awkward silence. Old Master Huo continued to curse Huo Lingtian as an unfilial wretch, while Wu Tianxiong, watching from the side, inwardly cursed the old fox. Your precious grandson embarrassed my granddaughter in front of everyone, and all you do is put on a show, scolding him for appearance's sake. Now that his Yuxin had been publicly rejected, by morning she would be the laughingstock of the entire upper class of X City.

Wu Yuxin, standing nearby, was already in tears, her delicate makeup now utterly ruined. Old Master Wu, gently patting his granddaughter's back, spoke deliberately, "Why cry? It's not as if you won't ever marry. If Huo Lingtian can refuse this marriage, we can find you a better match." Yet for all his words, everyone knew there was hardly a man in high society as impressive and eligible as the head of the Huo family. The Wu family’s enterprise had staked their hopes on this golden match.

After all, he had watched the girl grow up, and Old Master Huo felt a pang of pity. He spoke gently, "Yuxin, today your grandfather did not think things through. When we return, I will make sure Lingtian pays for this."

"Will Huo Lingtian marry me?" Wu Yuxin asked directly, her tear-stained eyes red and swollen.

The question left Old Master Huo speechless. He knew his grandson’s temperament—once he made a decision, nothing could change his mind. Even if the family’s reputation was at stake, it had proven impossible to force him to comply. He sighed, knowing that no matter how much he liked Wu Yuxin, his feelings could not compare to the blood ties and interests of the Huo clan. After a few words of comfort, he turned and left.

After leaving the banquet, Huo Lingtian, out of respect for his grandfather, did not depart immediately. Instead, he ordered everyone out of the villa and forbade anyone to enter. Alone with a glass of wine, he drank one cup after another. The overflowing ashtray and empty bottles of French wine were a testament to the family head’s foul mood.

A sudden knock at the door only added to Huo Lingtian's frustration. His voice was low and heavy, the air thick with anger. "Get out! Leave me alone!"

"Even your grandfather is not allowed in?" Huo Zhen's voice was as calm as ever, but a note of reproach signaled that the old man’s patience was nearly at its end.

Reluctantly, Huo Lingtian opened the door. The heavy smell of alcohol inside the room was a stark contrast to his usual self-discipline. Not since the death of his parents fifteen years ago had Huo Lingtian appeared so despondent. At all other times, his extraordinary calm and judgment had made him a pillar of the family, leading them through every crisis, supporting the Huo clan with unwavering strength. But after all, he was only human, with flesh, blood, and feelings.

All the words of reproach and lecture that Huo Zhen had prepared stuck in his throat. This grandson had given the family hope time and again, with an iron will that had kept the clan from falling apart. The more perfect and strong he became, the higher the expectations placed on him, and the more everyone overlooked the pressure he endured. Now, seeing his grandson so fragile and agitated, Huo Zhen’s heart ached. They had pushed him too far, burdened him with too much—demanding he carry their affections as well as their hopes. In that instant, the iron-willed Huo Zhen wavered.

"Tonight, news of your engagement has already spread across the media and the internet," Huo Zhen stated flatly.

A bloody light flashed in Huo Lingtian's eyes as he glared at the grandfather he respected most. The terrifying, almost feral fury seemed ready to explode. Without another thought for his disheveled state, he grabbed his coat and rushed for the door.

"Stop!" Huo Zhen barked, his cane striking the floor with a heavy thud. "Have you thought about what you really want? Does she truly care for you?" These two questions brought the head of the Huo family—on the verge of losing control—to a halt.

At Xiangshan Villa, an enormous flat-screen television played the latest entertainment news. In the silent house, the hum of the broadcast was clear. Night had fallen, and the villa was shrouded in a ghostly quiet.

"According to breaking reports, at the Huo family patriarch’s birthday banquet, Huo Lingtian, the head of the Huo family, announced his engagement to Wu Yuxin, the wealthy heiress of Wu Real Estate. The Huos and the Wus are now officially joined in marriage—X City Entertainment News."

This explosive news spread like wildfire, and by morning, everyone knew. In the silent night, Rong Qing stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, watching the dimly lit road beyond, as if waiting for something, cloaked in such silence and sorrow.

She stood there in mute stillness, melting into the twilight by the bed, loneliness and desolation surrounding her, the last flicker of hope fading from her bright, beautiful eyes.

"Huo Lingtian, is this truly the end for us?" Three months—different worlds would always return to their own paths. They had always been parallel lines; how could they ever cross? To force it would only end in emptiness.

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