Chapter 424 - You’re Just an Illegitimate Daughter
There was a large photo attached to the news on the cover of the magazine. To her horror, it was a photo of her behaving atrociously at Zhou Tianyu’s birthday party.
She could remember clearly the way that she acted at the birthday party. However, it was not lewd enough to be called a nude photo. The photo was taken from an angle that made her seem like she was lying on the ground in a sensual manner. That’s why…
Her vision turned black and she almost fainted. Her temples began throbbing continuously.
She was not too bothered by it back then because she thought that she had simply embarrassed herself. Yet, there were actually photos taken of her…
Flipping through the pages of the magazine with trembling hands, she read that the news articles first mentioned about Black Sunday being raided by the police, followed by the prostitution ring run by Black Sunday. There were even some photos of social escorts working for Black Sunday. Next up was the news of her, including some photos of her blushing red and laying sensually with her eyes glassed over after the fever. The reporters had also compared her to the social escort.
The juxtaposition of the photos had already caused her reputation to be tarnished.
The reputation that she had worked hard to build over the past twelve years, had been completely ruined. All of her efforts had gone in vain.
Feeling as if a million daggers were piercing through her heart, she grabbed the sheets and coughed uncontrollably.
It was the first time that Xia Ruya had ever felt flustered and at a loss for what to do. Tears welled up in her eyes and she stared at the glowering Xia Mingde. Xia Haolin had a fierce and austere expression on his face, while Chen Linfang had a look of disdain and nonchalance. Pangs of panic engulfed Xia Ruya.
“No, it’s not real, it’s not real at all. Grandpa, Father, you guys must believe me!” Xia Ruya lost control of her emotions and let out a loud shriek. She then tore the magazine into shreds, unable to put on a pitiful and innocent look anymore.
Chen Linfang could not stand how pretentious Xia Ruya was and sneered in disdain. “Are you sure it isn’t true? Your photo is all over the newspapers and magazines. Do you dare say that the girl in the photos is not you?”
Xia Ruya began coughing violently, unable to speak the words that she had in mind. It was as if she had consented to Chen Linfang’s words.
The more she panicked, the worse her cough got.
Chen Linfang guffawed sarcastically and chastised. “What are you pretending for? Do you really think that I don’t know that you’re just trying to gain our sympathy? You’re just a shameless and slutty shrew. How dare you implicate Ruxue and try to make use of her to clear your name? Dream on!”
Xia Mingde and Xia Haolin had initially felt a little sympathetic towards her, after seeing how much pain she was in. However, all feelings of pity vanished at the instant that they heard Chen Linfang’s words.
Glaring at her in exasperation, Xia Mingde rebuked. “Ruya, have you any idea that you’ve disgraced us greatly this time? When we arrived at the hospital just now, the reporters came swarming towards us like bees to honey. They continued to chase after us in a frenzy and business at the supermarkets in the city have taken a plunge this morning. Some people even threw eggs, rubbish, spat and splashed red paint at the entrance of our stores.”
Back then, they were only willing to let her reunite with the Xia Family because they were planning to use her to get close to the Wen Family and reap some benefits from the association. Yet, things went awry and they became embroiled in a scandal instead.
Xia Haolin chimed in. “We’re currently in the midst of transitioning to high-class luxury malls. Yet, you had to create such a scandal and ruin our family’s reputation. No wealthy heiresses or socialites would be willing to patronize our malls anymore. All you do is ruin our plans!”
They were initially planning to use her as a pawn to coerce the Wen Family into agreeing to invest in their company to aid them in expanding into luxurious malls. However, not only did she fail to help, she had even gotten herself involved in a scandal.
Smirking at her sarcastically, Chen Linfang said, “Like I said, we shouldn’t have acknowledged her at all. The Wen Family is so wealthy and powerful. Even if they find out that she’s not the biological child of the Wen Family, they would continue to let her stay behind as an adoptive daughter. After all, they had already raised her for twelve years. They wouldn’t mind feeding another mouth. I bet the Wen Family found out about how vicious and horrid she is. That’s why they went through such extreme means to get rid of her.”
Xia Ruya’s heart wrenched in pain upon hearing their hurtful words. Staring at their despicable faces, she felt extremely repulsed and nauseous.
Xia Ruya lifted the duvet and began walking barefooted on the cold, hard ground. The biting cold seemed to shoot up to her heart, causing her to shiver uncontrollably.
Xia Ruya walked on an unsteady gait and swayed from side to side like an injured butterfly. Struggling to keep her balance, she walked towards Xia Mingde feebly with tears streaming down her face. “Grandpa, please believe me. This issue isn’t true at all. I was maligned. I’m innocent…”
Chen Linfang snorted with laughter and gibed. “Maligned? Innocent? Fancy you having the cheek to say that. I’m telling you, your father and grandfather have looked into the matter and verified the photos the moment the news reports were out. They’re all real, they’re not digitally altered at all. Who’d believe that you’re innocent!?!”
Xia Ruya collapsed onto the ground like a clump of putty and a flower that was withering. “Grandpa, Father, please believe me…”
Since there were photos as proof, no amount of explanation could clear her name. Others would simply think that she was just covering up for herself.
Staring at Xia Ruya on the ground, Xia Mingde said, “There’s solid evidence. How are we supposed to believe you?”
Staring at her coldly, Xia Haolin questioned, “Things have been blown out of proportion. How are we supposed to clear this mess? You’ve completely disgraced the Xia Family. How are your grandfather and I supposed to face the public?”
Chen Linfang stared at her from above and smirked smugly. “Shameless wretches are just that pretentious. Things have already come to this and you still have the cheek to claim that you’re innocent and that you were maligned. You’re just an illegitimate daughter. Who’d accuse you for no reason? Aren’t you thinking too highly of yourself…”
Xia Ruya’s splitting headache got worse. She looked up at Chen Linfang whose lips were as red as a cherry. Her harsh and nasty words rang in Xia Ruya’s ears and pierced through her soul relentlessly. She blacked out and collapsed onto the ground.