Reborn Young Miss: Phoenix Burning Red-Chapter 448: Dear Father (2)

The news of Adrienne’s recovery spread around social media with several videos and photos of her smiling and greeting a few customers when she arrived at the Chiangshi Branch of Purple Cloud. It wasn’t long before the news reached Lewis Jiang at the detention cell where he was being kept.

Lewis hadn’t heard any news about his daughter, and he assumed that Adrienne had lost her life after the attack. However, as soon as he heard the news of Adrienne’s recovery from one of the prison guards, he fell to his knees in shock.

He stared blankly at the wall before him, unable to comprehend the sudden turn of events. Lewis couldn’t believe she was still alive. Did he ruin his life only for that child to stay alive?

Lewis was still waiting for the arraignment of his case, and he wondered if Adrienne would testify against him. His lawyer said that there was a chance she might, but they couldn’t be certain. The Zhao family was set to throw him behind bars after what he’d done to Adrienne, and he couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of regret for his actions.

Not because he felt guilty for attacking Adrienne, but because, despite gambling everything he had, she survived the attack and lived. He had lost everything he valued and was left with nothing but remorse.

Lewis thought he would need to wait for the arraignment before seeing his daughter. However, he was surprised when his lawyer informed him that his daughter had requested to see him immediately.

Two guards brought him to the visitation room, where he anxiously awaited his daughter’s arrival. Adrienne entered on the other side of the glass partition and looked at him coldly.

"Why are you here?" Lewis asked bitterly. "Did you come here to rub salt in my wounds?"

Adrienne’s lips curled up. "You know me well, dear father." She said in mockery.

Lewis sneered at his daughter. Seeing her face made his blood boil with anger. Adrienne was still as haughty and arrogant as ever. He did not doubt that she had come to rub salt in his wounds. He regretted not making sure she had died before it was too late.

"You wicked child. I do not understand why the heavens gave me a daughter like you." He sneered at Adrienne.

"I feel the same, dear father," Adrienne said the last words with sarcasm. "I must have done something horrible in my past life to have a father like you. Or perhaps it’s just my unfortunate luck."

Lewis said nothing and instead only glared at his daughter in response.

Seeing the hatred in his eyes, Adrienne knew their relationship had reached a breaking point. She realized that there was no going back from this moment. Their bond was irreparably damaged.

"I’m your daughter, and yet you’ve treated me worse than a stranger. No. Scratch that. You treated strangers better than me. In your eyes, Elise was only your daughter, the pearl on your hands. I’ve been nothing more than a burden and an inconvenience to you. I do wonder, though, if you hated my mother, then why did you allow her to give birth to me? You shouldn’t have children with her if you plan to abandon her." Adrienne said in a matter-of-fact tone.

Her words surprised Lewis, and he wasn’t sure how to respond. At that time, his father said that it wouldn’t be good for the reputation of the Jiang family if Rosemary didn’t bear a child for them. However, if Lewis had known Adrienne would turn out like this, he would have rejected the idea of marrying her mother in the first place.

"I would drop the charges against you, but it doesn’t mean I forgive you, Lewis Jiang."

Lewis was rendered speechless again. He thought Adrienne would use all her power to keep him in prison. He couldn’t comprehend why she would do this or her intention to let him go.

Surely, it wasn’t because she forgave him. If anything, Lewis knew that this daughter of his was quite vindictive. She wouldn’t attack his enemies directly but exploit their weaknesses before striking. Lewis wondered if Adrienne had a hidden agenda, using this unexpected act of mercy to exact a more calculated revenge. He couldn’t shake off the feeling that there was more to her decision than meets the eye.

"Why?" He couldn’t help but ask. "Why are you doing this?"

Adrienne crossed her legs and cupped her chin in one hand.

"Because I don’t need to do anything to destroy you, Father." She smiled at him.

"The reputation and legacy you wanted to leave behind are all gone. I’m sure you know how everyone perceives you now. What kind of father are you to attack and harm your daughter? Even a vicious tiger won’t eat its cubs." She sighed.

"As your punishment, you’ll have to know what it will be after you leave this place," Adrienne said with a knowing smile. "But I’ll have you know Elise hates you more than anything. Can you imagine? Your golden child, the child you cherish the most, would rather see you suffer than have a relationship with you. It’s a shame, really. You had the chance to be a loving father, but instead, you chose to be a monster. Now, you’ll have to live with the consequences of your actions." Adrienne’s voice dripped with disdain as she delivered her final blow.

Lewis jolted from his seat and shouted profanities towards his daughter as he hit the partition between them with his fist. Adrienne could see the rage in his eyes, but she couldn’t help but hurt him where she knew it would hurt the most. Elise was his golden child. Even Cayden can’t compare to her.

"But it’s not your daughter who will be judging you now. It’s the world. The world that you shattered with your actions. The world that saw your descent into madness. The world will remember you as a father who hurt his own child. And as you sit there, in your shame and despair, know that you brought this upon yourself. You chose this path. You chose to betray your family, wife, and flesh and blood. And now, there’s no turning back. If anything, you should only blame yourself for the outcome of your actions, Mr. Jiang. For me, you are nothing but a sperm donor who allowed me to be alive. I hope this is the last time I’ll see you. Let’s not meet again."

Lewis could hear the finality in her voice, and he knew this was the end of their relationship. He had lost everything he held dear, and now he was left with this bitter reminder of his own actions. He would never be able to escape the pain he had caused or the stigma that would follow him for the rest of his life.

Adrienne turned and left the visitation room, leaving Lewis alone and furious, his heart heavy with the knowledge of his daughter’s rejection and the truth of his actions.

Outside the visitation room, Adrienne was startled when she saw her husband. She only came with her mother today with a few bodyguards to protect her.

"Addie, you should have waited for me," Lennox said as he kissed her forehead and touched her arm.

"But Mom is with me. I thought you agreed with my plan?"

Lennox nodded but wasn’t entirely happy with Adrienne’s decision to drop the charges against her useless father. He wanted Lewis Jiang to suffer a life worse than hell if possible. Thinking about it, he remembered Uncle Shark’s previous offer, and he wondered if Uncle Shark’s offer still stood.

"But you didn’t tell me you would meet him alone. He’s dangerous, Addie. We don’t know what else he’s capable of and what he would do once he gets out of here." he pointed it out.

"It doesn’t matter. If anything, he would try to hide his face from us or anyone who could recognize him. Elise would surely reject him and wouldn’t welcome him anymore. He would also be forced to live knowing that the daughter he hated the most was the one who gave him freedom. His pride and ego would not let him accept any of this. So, he loses either way," Adrienne said, her voice quiet but firm.

Lennox sighed and shook his head. He didn’t like Lewis Jiang being set free, but he couldn’t deny Adrienne’s plan was solid. She was right; as her father’s reputation worsened, he would have no choice but to live with the consequences of his actions.

"Alright, I understand. But if you ever change your mind, tell me, alright?" Lennox said, his eyes never leaving his wife’s face.

Adrienne smiled slightly, feeling grateful for her husband’s support.

"I’ll let you know if anything changes, Lennox. But until then, trust me on this."

She knew that Lennox was still concerned, but he was her husband, and she felt it was important for him to trust her.

"Since you’re already here, why don’t you join me and Mom for lunch? I know a place where we can enjoy some good food." she smiled at her husband as she stood beside her mother.

Lennox sighed and nodded. He then watched as Adrienne hooked her arm with her mother and led her out of the detention building. As he stood alone in the hallway, Lennox’s eyes darkened. He pulled out his phone and dialed Uncle Shark’s number.

"Uncle, if your offer still stands, I’ll take it. Addie let him free, but I will not. "