Reborn Heiress: Seeking Revenge-Chapter 524: Whose Daughter is Shangguan Rou (3)_1
The door opened with a CREAK. After twenty-four hours of verification, staff members emerged, each holding a report, which they handed out.
Shangguan Hao couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief upon seeing the results, while the corners of Shangguan You’s mouth curled up involuntarily. She looked at the Li Family members with a mocking smile, particularly at Li Wanying whose face had turned ashen. She felt an overwhelming urge to laugh heartily. A case of being too clever for one’s own good, huh? Li Wanying doesn’t even know whose child this is.
Old Master Li felt darkness cloud his vision upon seeing the report, his figure unsteady. The Li Family’s only path was now sealed. If there had been no verification, Shangguan Rou would still be considered a child of the Shangguan Family. But now, with the facts laid out before them, Old Master Li, in his agitation, couldn’t handle the shock; his body began to shake uncontrollably.
Li Wanying’s lips quivered, her hands gripping the report tightly. I don’t believe it; I just can’t believe it, she thought.
"This is fake! You must have tampered with it! You tampered with it!" Li Wanying shrieked.
"Mrs. Li, please think clearly before you speak; otherwise, our hospital reserves the right to sue you for slander. Our verification process is not only monitored but also completely transparent. None of our staff left their posts. Likewise, your group of over a dozen people were watching from outside; none of you entered, so how could there be any tampering?" the doctor stated coldly before striding away. Her accusation was a clear insult to their hospital.
"Auntie Li, you’d better take a good look. These three reports confirm that Daddy has no biological relation to Shangguan Rou whatsoever, clearly proving she isn’t his daughter. Meanwhile, the DNA test between Shangguan Rou and you confirms that you are her mother. You brought a daughter who wasn’t Daddy’s into the Shangguan Family. Then, at Daddy’s most critical moment, you proposed a divorce, intending to leave with your daughter. Now that the Li Family can no longer stand firm, you still want to use Shangguan Rou? Did you really think such a scheme would succeed?"
"Now that the facts are before us, I trust you have nothing more to say. From now on, it would be best if the Li Family and the Shangguan Family maintain our own separate paths. Otherwise, don’t blame the Shangguan Family for being merciless," Shangguan Hao said coldly, his gaze softening with tenderness as he looked at Shangguan You.
"Girl, let’s go home. Daddy will cook today."
"Okay! Daddy, you’re the best!" Shangguan You said, linking arms with Shangguan Hao, and the two departed with an air of triumph.
"Daddy, today I want to eat sweet and sour pork ribs and Coca-Cola chicken wings!"
"Alright, Daddy will cook them for you himself today."
"Daddy, you’re truly the best!"
"Silly girl."
The pleasant voices of the father and daughter echoed as they walked away, eventually fading as they disappeared from sight. Li Wanying’s vision darkened, and she fainted. Shangguan Rou stared at the report in her hands in disbelief. How could this be? How could this be? I’ve gone from being a favored daughter of heaven to an illegitimate child once more, and I still don’t even know who my real father is!
This farce, although damaging to Shangguan Hao’s reputation—he had been deceived into wearing a green hat for sixteen years and unknowingly raised another man’s child—also served to vindicate his innocence and expose the Li Family’s heartlessness, simultaneously devastating their reputation.
Combined with the recent online exposure of stepmother Li Wanying’s abuse of Shangguan You, this latest proof meant the Li Family was entirely ousted from the political arena and even earned a notorious reputation. Furthermore, the truth about Li Wanying using her pregnancy sixteen years ago to force her marriage into the Shangguan Family was also dug up. It was now being feverishly discussed in private circles. Although no one dared to report these matters on television or in newspapers at this time, the news had spread throughout their social circles. Many rejoiced at the Li Family’s downfall; even families who were usually on good terms with them began to keep their distance.
「At the Shangguan Residence.」
Old Mistress Shangguan also received the news around the same time. When she heard it, her ears buzzed for a long time, and she barely registered how she even made it back home.
While she had formerly been indifferent towards Shangguan You, she now felt overwhelming guilt. She had treated her own granddaughter, her flesh and blood, as insignificant while favoring an outsider, repeatedly wounding her family’s hearts. She had even driven away her two sons, her daughter-in-law, her grandson, and that very granddaughter until they could bear it no longer and left. Recalling her own unreasonable behavior, Old Mistress Shangguan was overcome with such intense anger and regret that she fainted. Truly, one reaps what one sows.
Gazing at the empty villa, where, except for a single maid who cared for her, the entire building felt desolate and devoid of life, Old Mistress Shangguan was filled with remorse. I want to find my husband, explain everything, and beg for my granddaughter’s forgiveness... But ultimately, she couldn’t bring herself to swallow her pride and continued to live alone in the villa.
「In the Shangguan Family’s study.」
Shangguan Zhi sat at his desk with a stern face, flanked by Shangguan Yu and Shangguan Hao. Shangguan You stood behind her father. Even though we took precautions, the news still leaked out, she thought, instinctively shrinking back a little at the sight of her grandfather’s fury.
Shangguan Zhi was seething. I’ve been a pillar of strength in the military my entire life, and now this scandal... where can I possibly show my face? Although the trouble with the Li Family is resolved, those looks of pity from others only stoke my anger further. To lose all face like this in my old age! Don’t think I’m too old to understand anything. What on earth is this girl thinking? Even though the Li Family has been ruined and can no longer survive in the political sphere, the Shangguan Family’s reputation has also been tarnished! How can Hao face his troops and subordinates now? The Shangguan Family has become a laughingstock in both military and political circles! How could You do such a thing? He glared fiercely at Shangguan You. She could try to hide, but he could still see her.
"Shangguan You, step forward!" Shangguan Zhi barked.
Shangguan You flinched visibly. Facing her fuming grandfather, she hesitated, then finally stepped forward, calling out meekly, "Grandpa."
"Hmph!" Shangguan Zhi snorted coldly.
"So, you still remember your surname is Shangguan, and that I am your grandfather? You’ve utterly disgraced our family name!" Shangguan Zhi began to shout, his voice growing louder with each word. Shangguan You’s head bowed even lower, her ears ringing from his tirade. Grandpa is so fierce... This is the first time I’ve truly felt the full force of his anger, she thought.
