A look of agony crossed Shi Jun’s face, his eyes clouded with profound confusion and disbelief.
He could not fathom how his father could commit such an extreme act all for the sake of “love.” To him, such behavior was both ludicrous and entirely beyond reason.
“Ridiculous… This is absolutely ridiculous!” Shi Jun’s voice trembled slightly, his gaze brimming with mockery and resentment.
He could not accept this reality. His mother a gentle, kind-hearted woman had ultimately become the tragic catalyst for the destruction of their family.
“My mother never did anything to hurt either of you!” Shi Jun emphasized, his voice thick with the injustice and grievance his mother had suffered.
It defied comprehension that a twisted romantic entanglement could drive his father to such a desperate extreme, utterly shattering the harmony and happiness of their entire household.
Anger and helplessness bled into his words as he demanded, “Furthermore, if it weren’t for my mother, would the Shi family have ever achieved the prominence it has today?” His eyes locked onto them, demanding an answer.
He knew all too well how much his mother’s intellect and talent had contributed to the family. Her marriage into the family had ushered in an era of prosperity and success, yet his father had betrayed everything for a pathetic affair.
Shi Jun took a deep breath, forcing his emotions into check. He turned his gaze toward Shi Wen, his tone dropping into icy detachment. “No matter the reason, you are not fit to have this home.”
Suddenly, the continuous drone of the heart monitor echoed through the quiet room a piercing, mournful shriek, sounding like a demon wailing in the dark.
The sound vibrated heavily through the stagnant air.
Terrified by Shi Jun’s words, the elder Shi had literally been scared to death. His wide eyes were filled with horror and disbelief, as though he had gazed upon some terrifying apparition he could not bear.
His body gave a final shudder, his face turned as white as paper, and life vanished from his form in an instant.
Shi Wen looked down at their father’s corpse.
A glint of cold indifference and disdain flashed in his eyes. “Old bastard. You held out for so long, but you’re finally dead.” There was no trace of grief in his voice; he spoke as if recounting a story that had absolutely nothing to do with him.
Shi Jun stared at him. “You really were the one who poisoned him.”
His voice was low, heavy, and absolute in its accusation.
Shi Wen neither dodged the question nor denied it. He admitted it calmly, “Yes, I did.” His tone held no remorse, only apathy.
Li Li stared at the stranger standing before him, utterly unable to believe his eyes.
He could not comprehend why Shi Wen would do such a thing. His heart raced with confusion and panic. Looking at Shi Wen, a deep, crushing disappointment washed over him.
“Shi Wen… why?” Li Li’s voice trembled, heavy with sorrow and bewilderment.
Shi Wen didn’t bother to answer. His gaze remained cold and dismissive. He looked at Li Li as if looking at a completely insignificant bug.
“He should have handed the Shi family over to me a long time ago. Since he refused to give it to me, I had to take it by force.” Shi Wen’s voice was low and steady, revealing the deep-seated resentment and resolve festering in his soul.
His words were laced with bitter resentment toward his father and an insatiable lust for family power—a craving that had thoroughly eroded his conscience and humanity.
Li Li’s heart seized violently. Hearing these words, a tidal wave of shock crashed over him, refusing to subside. Shi Wen’s transformation was so absolute that he could barely recognize the man standing in front of him.
The Shi Wen in his memory had been so gentle and kind. Now, his eyes gleamed with a cold, cunning malice as if inhabited by a completely foreign soul.
“How did you become like this?” Li Li’s voice cracked with grief and confusion, tears welling in his eyes. He could not accept this stranger, the man he had once loved so deeply, now turned into a monster.
Shi Wen offered a faint smile, cold and mocking. “I have always been this kind of person. Before, I was just putting on an act in front of you so I could use you to my advantage.” There wasn’t a shred of warmth in his voice, as if he were merely detailing a story about someone else.
A chill ran down Li Li’s spine. He couldn’t believe his own ears. “Are you joking?” his voice shook, rejecting the reality before him.
He had loved him so fiercely, trusted him so blindly, yet his true face was entirely unrecognizable.
Shi Wen let out a cold laugh that reverberated through the quiet ward. “You finally get it, Li Li. I’ve been putting on a performance this entire time.” His eyes flashed with absolute finality, as though declaring their entire past a lie now that his mask was finally off.
Suddenly, Shi Jun spoke up, his voice low and commanding. “Then why stop acting now? Don’t forget, I still hold the leverage over you.”
Shi Jun’s intervention fractured the already tense atmosphere, making it even heavier. An ominous dread filled the room; everyone could sense the impending storm.
A glint of malice flashed in his eyes, serving as a stark reminder to Shi Wen that the scores between them had yet to be settled.
Shi Wen let out a freezing laugh, his expression locking into grim determination.
“Do you two honestly think you’re walking out of the Shi estate alive?” His words cut through the room like ice, as if he had already envisioned their final moments.