The Alpha’s Hidden Marriage, Public Obsession - Chapter 39

In the end, Lin Yulan gave that Hermès enamel necklace to a roommate she got along with fairly well. She had assumed the other party would come looking for Qu Mengxin to make trouble, but after several weeks passed, she never saw the Alpha who had gifted the necklace to Qu Mengxin, nor did anyone come to harass her. Only then did she realize she had overthought the matter and eventually put it out of her mind.

“That necklace was it from you?”

Jiang Xue neither confirmed nor denied it. At this point, it didn’t matter what she said, what was done was done, and dwelling on the past was meaningless.

“Then, why didn’t you just come and tell me directly back then?” Lin Yulan stammered. “ I always thought that necklace was from some clueless person who gave it to Qu Mengxin, so I just…”

Jiang Xue let out a bitter laugh. Back then, Lin Yulan had been so conspicuous that practically everyone in their class and school knew Qu Mengxin was her Omega. Even if some clueless person had tried to pursue Qu Mengxin, any Alpha courting an Omega would have included a card or a love letter with their gift not just a thank-you note like Jiang Xue had left.

So, the things she had sent over Lin Yulan hadn’t even bothered to look at them.

“None of that… matters now.” Jiang Xue stared at her, gritting her teeth to keep her composure. “I just wanted to tell you, yes, I did like you before. I liked you like an idiot. Even when you proposed those conditions that anyone with eyes could see were meant to humiliate me, I agreed without hesitation just to be with you. Looking back now, I was such a fool. How could I ever believe that an Alpha who made things so difficult for me before marriage would suddenly fall in love with me just because of a piece of paper?”

“But that’s all in the past now. Don’t worry, Young Miss Lin, I won’t go back on what I promised before. Whether you still have feelings for Qu Mengxin or have moved on to that Omega named Ye Jing, none of it has anything to do with me. If you want a divorce, starting today, no matter when you ask me to sign those papers, I’ll do it without hesitation.”

The moment Lin Yulan heard the word “divorce,” she panicked. She stepped forward, intending to throw her arms around Jiang Xue, but for every step she took forward, Jiang Xue took one back, refusing to give her even the slightest chance to embrace her.

“When I came here, your mother told me over the phone that if I didn’t forgive you, you’d be confined to the Lin family villa forever, not allowed to go anywhere.” Jiang Xue didn’t know whether that was true or if Ming Zelan had just said it to placate her, but it didn’t matter anymore. “Yesterday, when your mother called me, I actually wanted to tell her over the phone that if Young Miss Lin really can’t hold back, we could get divorced right now. As for marital assets, I won’t take a single cent that isn’t mine. I already promised your mother before we even registered our marriage, I signed the agreement. Even if we divorce, I have no right to take anything related to the Lin family.”

“Wh-what do you mean?”

Lin Yulan was taken aback. Only now did she belatedly realize why Jiang Xue had been emphasizing this issue all along. “W-what agreement? You’re not.”

Jiang Xue had known all along that Ming Zeran would never have told Lin Yulan about such matters. Otherwise, how could she maintain her so-called “doting future mother-in-law” persona?

But putting that aside, while Ming Zeran’s affection for her might have been partly an act, she had indeed treated Jiang Xue well in other respects, certainly better than her own blood-sucking parents ever had.

“It’s nothing,” Jiang Xue said as she walked toward the entrance, picking up her bag. “Please tell Aunt Ming for me that we’re all adults now. Confining someone like a child is completely unnecessary. Besides, Xiao Lin and I were only ever a marriage in name. There’s no need to take it so seriously.”

Lin Yulan hurried after her, grabbing her hand. “Jiang Xue, I was wrong, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. Hit me if you want! Right here, as hard as you can!”

Jiang Xue slowly pulled her hand back. She didn’t even have the strength to lift her arm, let alone speak. She was exhausted, truly exhausted. All she wanted was to leave this place as quickly as possible and return to where she belonged. “Xiao Lin, you don’t need to blame yourself. We’re all adults, not children. Not everything needs a resolution just take responsibility for your actions. As for the rest, you don’t owe me any apologies or guilt. You never liked me in the first place, so there’s nothing to apologize for. This is for the best.”

“Jiang Xue.”

Lin Yulan was on the verge of tears. She wanted to beg Jiang Xue to stay, to plead with her not to divorce her, but the words stuck in her throat.

She had no right to say any of it, no right to ask Jiang Xue for anything. She didn’t even have the right to hug her now.

” I won’t marry her.”

Jiang Xue pretended not to hear, pushing the door open and walking downstairs.

Ming Zeran happened to return at that moment. Seeing the expression on Jiang Xue’s face, she could guess that Jiang Xue probably didn’t believe her earlier explanations. After all, it all sounded like excuses made to protect her daughter.

Still, Ming Zeran stopped Jiang Xue. “Xiao Xue, how did it go with that deadbeat daughter of mine? Did she apologize to you?”

Jiang Xue didn’t want to lie to Ming Zeran. The issues between her and Lin Yulan would have to be addressed sooner or later. This was just an unexpected acceleration of the inevitable, and there was no point hiding it now.

“Madam Ming, I thought about it all last night. I realized we’re truly not suited for each other, not even as a marriage in name. It would only hold Lin Yulan back. So…” Jiang Xue took a deep breath, as if steeling herself. “Madam Ming, Lin Yulan and I should get a divorce.”

“You want to divorce that deadbeat?!”

Ming Zeran had always held Jiang Xue in high regard. This Omega was knowledgeable, gentle, and kind most importantly, she hadn’t married into the Lin family for their wealth. She had genuinely wanted to be with Ming Zeran’s worthless daughter.

Even if the family background wasn’t the best match, that point could be completely overlooked. Given the status of the Lin Group, they had long since reached a position where they didn’t need arranged marriages. As for the identity and background of their future daughter-in-law, as long as the other party genuinely treated her worthless daughter well, she could disregard all of that.

Ming Zelan quickly grabbed Jiang Xue’s hand and said, “Xue, I know that wretched girl has wronged you, but I’ve already had someone investigate this matter thoroughly. The report I showed you is the result of the investigation. And this—”

As she spoke, Ming Zelan took out her phone and played the recording of her conversation with Ye Jing from the previous night. “Listen to this first. I’m not trying to defend that wretched girl. If she really did something with that Omega, whatever decision you make, I’ll support you! But this time, she was indeed set up by that Omega. Nothing of that sort happened between them.”

The phone soon played the footage of the conversation between Ming Zelan and Ye Jing.

“Miss Ye, I’ve already had someone track down who sent me those messages. You orchestrated this ‘cheating scandal’ quite well. If those paparazzi had arrived just a bit earlier, I really wouldn’t have had any recourse. But unfortunately, I, as her mother, got there first.”

“Now that the evidence is irrefutable, will you admit it yourself, or should I go straight to your parents, or perhaps your friends and colleagues, and tell them what you’ve been up to?”

Ye Jing looked at the meticulously detailed report in Ming Zelan’s hands and had no choice but to confess. “Fine. Today, I invited Lan-jie to drink with me just to set her up. But it’s only because I like her, I’ve always liked her. I like her so much I can’t control myself. I just want to be with Lan-jie. Is that wrong? Besides, Lan-jie never liked Jiang Xue, that Omega who stole someone else’s place. Everything I did was to help her!”

Ming Zelan, true to her reputation as the vice-chairwoman of the Lin Group, didn’t get angry or laugh at Ye Jing’s words. In the end, she didn’t even spare Ye Jing a glance. She simply stood up and said, “Only you know what’s truly in your heart. I won’t waste words on anything else. I’ll just say this: don’t let me see you around my daughter ever again. Otherwise, I won’t hesitate to send everything you’ve done to your parents, friends, and colleagues.”

The video ended there. Ming Zelan held Jiang Xue’s hand tightly. “Xue, please talk to that wretched girl again, won’t you? Last night, when I took people over, I gave her a good scolding. If you’re still angry, I’ll stand by you now, go up there and give her a good beating. If she dares to fight back, I’ll beat her up for you!”

If this had happened before, Jiang Xue might have softened. She might have thought that if she just waited a little longer, her relationship with Lin Yulan would change.

But she was truly exhausted.

She didn’t want to endure this torment any longer.

She decided to let herself go, and to let Lin Yulan go as well. From now on, they would go their separate ways, no longer interfering in each other’s lives or having any contact.

“Madam Ming, you know this Lin Yulan has never liked me. We’re only torturing each other like this. Getting a divorce would be best for everyone. Don’t you think?”

Seeing Jiang Xue’s resolute attitude, Ming Zelan felt it inappropriate to press further and could only offer a perfunctory reply, “If that’s the case, then discuss it with that wretched girl. If she agrees, I won’t ask for the money back.”

No sooner had her words fallen than Lin Yulan came running down from her room. “I won’t divorce! I won’t divorce! Jiang Xue, I won’t divorce you!”

Jiang Xue had every reason to suspect that the mother and daughter had conspired to put on this act in front of her, but she couldn’t be bothered to delve into the details. Withdrawing her hand, she let out a bitter laugh. “Madam Ming, I’m tired today. I’ll take my leave now.”

Without looking back, she turned and walked away.

Lin Yulan stood rooted to the spot, unsure whether to chase after her or what else to do, helplessly watching as Jiang Xue grew smaller in the distance.

Just then, Lin Yulan suddenly felt a sharp pain in her arm. Turning her head, she saw Ming Zelan glaring at her fiercely. “What are you standing around for, you stupid girl? Hurry up and go after her!”

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