Billionaire's Long Journey of Chasing His Love-Chapter 652 - 554: My Heart Aches (Second Update)

Tong Yao reached out and pulled Connie closer, smiling as she said, "Mom didn’t love you in vain."

"Mom..." Connie glanced apologetically at her mother-in-law. "I apologize on behalf of my second sister-in-law. For my sake, could you forgive her just this once?"

Tong Yao affectionately patted Connie’s hand and replied with a smile, "No matter how old Celia is, she’s still a child in front of me. I won’t hold grudges with her. You don’t need to apologize to me for her. I came back today to say something to your parents."

Tong Yao looked at Queen Marian and spoke solemnly, "I overheard some of your conversation. Let me be honest with you—I do favor Luowa. I treat her better than I do Connie and Ai Ni. Why do I treat her better? Connie just said it earlier: Luowa has had a hard life. In this family, everyone has two parents; only she has no mom or dad. My heart aches for her, and treating her well was my way of letting her feel the warmth of a family. But now it’s different. She’s found her biological parents. From now on, I’ll be fair and equal, treating her and Connie the same. Also, the children both of them have given birth to are members of the Aldridge family. I would never favor one over the other."

Queen Marian lowered her head in shame. "It was narrow-minded of us."

"Marian, it’s not that you’re narrow-minded. If I were in your shoes, I might have thought the same way. At the end of the day, the fault lies with me as a mother-in-law for not handling things properly."

Yi Luowa pursed her lips. "Mom, it’s not your fault. It’s mine. The spark of this issue started with me."

"Mom, Sister-in-law, this isn’t your fault—it’s mine..."

Tong Yao looked at the two women and chuckled. "This isn’t a denunciation meeting. What are the two of you doing?"

Yi Luowa and Connie exchanged a glance and fell silent.

Tong Yao moved on from them and smiled at Queen Marian. "Let’s leave today’s episode behind us. Nobody is allowed to blame Celia anymore. I came back today to apologize on behalf of my two unruly sons. Those two have bad tempers, and Celia happened to push their buttons. Because of this mess, nobody got to enjoy their meal. Luowa just ordered another meal for you all—please eat something. Now that I’ve said what I came to say, I should be heading out."

"Tong Yao, the main fault lies with Celia. I’ll make sure to criticize her when we get back. You should also pass along our apology to Long Che. Once his anger subsides, I’ll call him personally to apologize," Queen Marian said.

King Qiao Xi exhaled deeply. "Connie was right; I can’t let the tragedies of my generation repeat themselves. Back then, I was just lucky to have met Long Che and you. Otherwise, I would’ve been a casualty on the road to the throne..."

Tong Yao smiled faintly, "No need to bring up the past."

Yi Luowa looped her arm around her mother-in-law’s arm and whispered, "Mom, let’s head back. If we’re late, those two will probably be bouncing around in the car."

Tong Yao nodded with a smile. "Mm, it’s time to go back."

Yi Luowa turned to Connie. "Connie, be careful when you step out. Mom’s heart condition has been acting up, and she’s a little weak. I’m afraid she might lose her balance, so I won’t be able to help you for now."

Connie glanced guiltily at her mother-in-law and held onto her arm.

"I’m fine! Look how worried you two are." Tong Yao said goodbye to King Qiao Xi and his wife, and then she left the private room with her two daughters-in-law helping her. "Fortunately, I have two considerate daughters-in-law..."

King Qiao Xi and his wife exchanged a glance and supported each other as they returned to their presidential suite.

Just as they opened the door, they heard their son’s roar and their daughter-in-law’s screams coming from the bathroom.

"Why couldn’t you talk to Connie about this earlier? Why did you have to wait until Tong Airui arrived to bring it up? Now look at the mess we’re in! Do you expect me to have any hope left? I want a divorce!"

"You want to divorce me?! Everything I did was for you! If you dare divorce me, I’ll expose all the shady things you’ve done over the years! Ah—"

"Bang! Bang! Boom!" The sounds of punches and kicks echoed from the bathroom, accompanied by Celia’s wails.

Queen Marian furrowed her brows slightly and was about to step forward, but King Qiao Xi held her back. "Let Lucian give her a lesson."

King Qiao Xi said this while pulling his wife’s hand and heading into their bedroom.

Things weren’t peaceful on their end, and they weren’t much better with Long Che’s family. As soon as Tong Yao got into the car, Long Che launched into a tirade.

"You were being reprimanded by someone—why didn’t you tell me about it!"

"What, so you could start a fight with them? You might not mind losing face, but I do!"

Tong Airui glanced at his mother, frowning. "I’ll settle this score on your behalf! I’ll make sure Lucian never touches the throne in his lifetime!"

Yi Luowa pinched his waist hard.

Tong Airui turned to her. "You can pinch me all you want! They insulted my mom, my grandmother, my aunt—they deserve my glare! Any one of those insults is enough for me to take her down!"

Tong Aino glanced at Connie and said seriously, "Brother’s right, even if you don’t like hearing it. If my second sister-in-law were my wife, I’d have divorced her ages ago!"

Connie pursed her lips. "I’ll apologize to everyone on behalf of my second sister-in-law."

"You’re you; your second sister-in-law is your second sister-in-law. Don’t take the blame for everything." Yi Luowa reached out and grabbed Connie’s hand. "Make sure you don’t get stressed over this—it’s bad for the baby."

Connie pressed her lips together and nodded.

Long Che sighed. For the sake of the baby, he swallowed his words.

Yi Luowa noticed her father’s silence and sent a warning glance to Tong Airui.

Tong Airui looked at her with furrowed brows. "I’m already keeping quiet—why are you threatening me?"

Yi Luowa puffed out her cheeks and glared at him. "Which eye of yours saw me threaten you? I’m saying that nobody should bring up today’s events when we get home. Let’s give Connie some dignity."

"Luowa said exactly what I wanted to say. Connie is a thoughtful child. What she said to her parents today moved me deeply." Tong Yao took a glance outside the car window and instructed the driver, "Drive to Xinda Hotel."

"What are you planning to do now?" Long Che, still angry, huffed.

"Eat before we go home. If we go back hungry, the family might get suspicious."

"Aren’t you full from being so angry already?"

"If you’re not hungry, then stay in the car!" Tong Yao shot him a glare. "I’m taking my two daughters-in-law to eat. Especially Connie, she has to eat well—don’t let my grandbaby starve."

Connie’s eyes reddened as she shook her head. "Mom, I’m not hungry."

Yi Luowa rubbed her stomach. "You might not be hungry, but I am. Just treat it as keeping me company to eat something."

Connie sniffled and said, "Sister-in-law, I know you truly care about me. What I said to my parents today—every word came from my heart."

Yi Luowa nodded seriously. "Mm-hmm, I know. ’No’ word from you was insincere."

"Haha..." Tong Yao couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

"Sister-in-law!" Connie pouted adorably and gave her an indignant glare.

Long Che’s lips twitched involuntarily.

Tong Airui’s expression also softened somewhat.

Tong Aino raised his eyebrows slightly. He hadn’t let go of the grudge yet—he’d soothe his wife first and deal with that woman later!

When the car reached the hotel entrance, the family helped each other out of the car.

After ordering the dishes, Tong Yao looked at her younger son. "Stop keeping all your grievances bottled up inside. Once we finish eating and go home, nobody is allowed to go stir up trouble!"

Tong Aino smirked. "I know you’re saying this to my brother because he’s the one who stirs up trouble the most in the family."

"I’m talking about you! Stop shifting the blame onto others. You need to remember your role as a son-in-law; don’t make Connie feel uncomfortable."

Tong Aino slumped in his chair, glanced at Connie’s belly, and then raised both hands to rub his face hard.

Long Che shot him a sideways glare. "Sit up straight!"

Tong Aino instantly sat upright but then slouched back down. "Dad—you’re going to scare me to death! I’m not my brother!"

Long Che turned to his elder son. "Take him out of my sight—he’s such an eyesore right now."

Tong Airui sat upright as his head slowly turned toward his brother.

Yi Luowa gave Tong Aino a sharp slap on the back. "Get up! If you don’t, you’re going to get hit."

Tong Aino sniffed and sat up. "Hah... It’s no wonder that woman said Connie has no status in our family. Even I, her biological brother, have no status here—how could she?"

Connie panicked and reached out to cover his mouth.

Tong Aino dodged her hand and slammed the table hard. "But I have no status, and I’m fine with it! I can put up with it, but let someone else try pushing me around—damn it! When I feel like it, I’ll send her a bomb as a gift!"

Yi Luowa kicked him under the table. "Stop talking rubbish. She is, after all, your sister-in-law..."

Tong Aino draped an arm around Yi Luowa’s shoulder. "I’m not drunk—I’m not spouting nonsense. Don’t underestimate how much you mean to me even though you’re younger than me. In my heart, you’re the only sister-in-law I truly have!

The elder sister-in-law is fine, and Joyina is quite good too, but no one can replace the position you hold in my heart. Sister-in-law, you’ve been in our family for more than two years, and I remember every single thing you’ve done. You and my brother have been nothing but fantastic to me and Connie, yet when others cast doubt on you, I feel deeply hurt..."