Chapter 223: Reaping What You Sow

When Chen Jianxiu’s scandal broke, the entire Chen family sprang into action—but what Chen Jianxiu had done was utterly disgraceful.

Mrs. Chen was heartbroken, especially since it was all to protect Bai Ge; Chen Jianxiu’s actions had wounded every member of the Chen clan.

Chen Jianxiu certainly had talent, but he couldn’t have succeeded without Mrs. Chen’s support.

Mrs. Chen had always known that Chen Jianxiu harbored feelings for a woman named Bai Ge.

Yet she was a shrewd woman: those who wear shoes fear those who go barefoot, so there was no point in making a scene—doing so would only hurt her own interests. Thus, she kept quiet.

Not only did she keep quiet, she even tolerated Chen Jianxiu’s desire to be with Bai Ge, pretending not to know about it.

Her motive was simple: to put pressure on the Chen family.

After all, she still had three sons and a daughter.

Now her children were either working or studying, and her daughter was no longer young.

Mrs. Chen could turn a blind eye to her sons’ marriages, but she had to be extra vigilant when it came to her daughter’s match.

To ensure a peaceful life, Mrs. Chen made enormous concessions—just to keep the family stable.

As long as no major trouble arose, she wouldn’t hold grudges.

But this time, Chen Jianxiu had gone too far, and the Chen Group was dragged into the mess as well.

The entire Chen family ended up being ridiculed because of this affair. Mrs. Chen went to see Chen Jianxiu, hoping he would think about the children and not push things to the limit. If he simply admitted that Bai Ge had agreed willingly, the Chen family might yet be saved.

But Chen Jianxiu flatly refused.

This infuriated Mrs. Chen. Not only did she present evidence proving that everything between Chen Jianxiu and Bai Ge was consensual, she also filed charges against him for bigamy—and even alleged that Chen Jianxiu had once killed someone on Bai Ge’s behalf.

Once these allegations were brought forward, Chen Jianxiu would undoubtedly be found guilty of murder, which carried the death penalty.

Bai Ge, too, couldn’t sit idly by after being implicated.

She had the cast removed, evaded the reporters, and went to visit Chen Jianxiu.

Although Chen Jianxiu was already quite elderly, he remained naive and willing to do anything for Bai Ge.

He hired a lawyer to bring Mrs. Chen to see him, handed over all his assets to her, and declared that he had been abusive toward his family and was already divorced from her.

Mrs. Chen had concealed their divorce solely for the sake of the children.

Only after receiving a large sum of money Chen Jianxiu had hidden overseas did Mrs. Chen finally let go.

In the end, Chen Jianxiu faced life imprisonment or the death penalty, and the matter was settled.

The Chen family also received appropriate compensation in this case, and all four children moved abroad.

With that money, they changed their names and identities and started over.

Before leaving, Mrs. Chen visited Chen Jianxiu one last time. By then, Chen Jianxiu looked extremely aged.

Seeing Mrs. Chen’s vacant stare, it was clear he no longer possessed his former vigor.

Mrs. Chen looked at Chen Jianxiu—after all, they had been married for many years.

A flicker of sympathy still lingered.

But Mrs. Chen had no intention of rescuing Chen Jianxiu.

Public opinion had already nailed Chen Jianxiu to the pillar of moral condemnation. How could anyone forgive a man who abandoned his wife and children and forced others?

Mrs. Chen sat down, dressed impeccably.

Chen Jianxiu stared blankly at her: “Why are you here? Do you still think I’m rich?”

Mrs. Chen gazed at him for a moment: “Whether you’re rich or not doesn’t matter anymore. My children have already gone abroad, and their futures look bright—I’m completely satisfied.”

Chen Jianxiu was puzzled: “Then why did you come?”

“To see if you’re still stubborn and unrepentant.”

“Are you still trying to drive a wedge between me and Bai Ge?” Chen Jianxiu still believed Mrs. Chen’s real motive was jealousy.

Mrs. Chen took out some photos and placed them before him. At the sight of those pictures, Chen Jianxiu’s eyes widened in shock.

The photos were of Bai Ge, caught in a secret rendezvous with a man.

But the man in the photo wasn’t Chen Jianxiu—not even Song Haichang; instead, it was another man who appeared to be of equally high status.

“That’s impossible! Impossible!” Chen Jianxiu blurted out in anger.

Mrs. Chen stood up: “There are some things I’ve always understood clearly. I thought that after bearing you four children and bringing you a substantial dowry, even if I didn’t deserve credit, I’d at least have earned some gratitude. But all you ever cared about was that woman, Bai Ge. Have you ever considered that if she truly loved you, given her temperament back then—no one in her family dared to challenge her, she always got her way—if she wanted to marry you, how could her parents possibly have the final say?”

Mrs. Chen was utterly disappointed: “In your eyes, I’m ugly. Yet when we got married, it was you who proposed to me. I didn’t beg you to take me as your wife. You said you’d love me well—did you really keep that promise?”

Mrs. Chen wiped away her tears, her expression now resolute.

“You’re supposed to be smart, yet today you’re ruined by a single woman. Maybe it’ll bother me to think about this in the future, but someone like you isn’t worthy of me. I’m leaving with Secretary Kong—take care of yourself.”

“Secretary Kong?” Chen Jianxiu was astonished.

“Yes. We’ve been together for many years. Moreover, your daughter is actually my child with him. So he won’t just stand by and watch us fall apart.”

With that, Mrs. Chen turned and left, leaving Chen Jianxiu collapsed on the floor. He was rushed to the hospital and suffered a stroke.

End of Chapter 223: Reaping What You Sow