Lin Qian hadn't expected that what was a seemingly advantageous situation for her just moments ago would turn into a disadvantage.
It was all Fu Yan Ting's fault; if it weren't for him, she wouldn't be standing here with these reporters pointing fingers at her.
The thought only intensified the hatred Lin Qian felt for Fu Yan Ting.
Fu Yan Ting looked at the reporters and said, word by word, "I believe many of you were curious about where I was during my absence from the company. Now, I will tell you."
With that, Fu Yan Ting began to unbutton his shirt, revealing a scar that snaked across his chest like a centipede.
The scar looked agonizing, and a collective gasp rippled through the crowd, a chilling sense of fear washing over them.
Fu Yan Ting turned to face Lin Qian and asked softly, "This scar, you are not unfamiliar with it, are you, Mother?"
Although Fu Yan Ting addressed Lin Qian as his mother, his tone conveyed no affection or respect for her as such.
Lin Qian could not bear Fu Yan Ting's torment.
She ground out the question, "What exactly do you want?"
"It's not me, it's you. You should be asking yourself that question."
Lin Qian understood why Fu Yan Ting had been able to establish himself in the business world for so many years, and why people spoke his name with only fear.
In the past, Fu Yan Ting had always been respectful towards Lin Qian. No matter how much she made things difficult for him, he remained unmoved. In fact, he would go to even greater lengths to show kindness to the Lin family and to her. Over time, Lin Qian had come to believe that Fu Yan Ting couldn't live without her. She thought the worse her attitude towards him, the better he would treat her and the Lin family. The Lin family's business relied on Fu Yan Ting's support, so Lin Qian had consistently leveraged their kinship to manipulate Fu Yan Ting, enjoying his provisions while treating him poorly.
Now, Lin Qian finally realized that Fu Yan Ting wasn't incapable of being harsh towards her; he had simply been giving her chances all along.
Unfortunately, Lin Qian's realization had come too late.
A wave of regret washed over Lin Qian. Why had she ever decided to provoke Fu Yan Ting?
But now, as Lin Qian wished to regret her actions, she wondered if Fu Yan Ting would still grant her that opportunity.
At this moment, Lin Qian finally understood that Fu Yan Ting was not someone to be trifled with, and she had been pushing his boundaries all these years.
When he could no longer tolerate it, he would retaliate.
Regrettably, Lin Qian's realization had arrived too late.
The reporters could hardly imagine that a mother could be so cruel to her own flesh and blood.
Especially when her son was Fu Yan Ting, the helmsman of the Fu family.
How heartless could Lin Qian be to be so utterly cold and unfeeling?
Fu Yan Ting turned to look at Lin Qian and stated, word by word, "You find this turn of events hard to accept, but you cannot blame me. I gave you opportunities; you were the one who failed to cherish them."
Lin Qian clenched her fists tightly. She hadn't expected that she, who had held the upper hand before these reporters just moments ago, would be so quickly overturned.
Now, all the reporters were siding with Fu Yan Ting.
They were even beginning to berate Lin Qian on his behalf.
Having grown up in the Lin family, Lin Qian had never endured such humiliation. Even though her marriage to Fu Yan Ting's father was a business arrangement, she had resolutely chosen divorce upon discovering his infidelity.
In Lin Qian's eyes, neither the Lin family nor Fu Yan Ting was more important than her own happiness. She always put herself first in everything she did.
It was precisely this selfishness that had led her to where she was today.
Lin Qian glared at Fu Yan Ting, who had completely shattered the carefully cultivated image she had maintained for years.
How could Lin Qian not hate Fu Yan Ting?
If she could, Lin Qian wished she could plunge the fruit knife in her hand into Fu Yan Ting's heart.
However, Lin Qian knew she couldn't do that. So many people were watching. She couldn't commit murder; that was illegal, and she wouldn't go to jail. If she were to have someone killed, she would hire an assassin, not do it herself.
She feared dirtying her noble hands.
Lin Qian pursed her lips and remained silent for a moment before speaking, "Son, I know I was wrong. For years, I have tried my best to make amends. I know you won't believe anything I say now, but I truly love you. After I divorced your father, I suffered from severe depression, and I couldn't get out of that emotional state for a long time. I did many things that hurt you, but you have to believe me, I never meant to treat you this way. In this world, what mother doesn't love her son?"
If this had been in the past, Fu Yan Ting would have believed her without hesitation.
But now, after Fu Yan Ting had been given hope by Lin Qian time and again, only to be disappointed repeatedly, those disappointments had made him no longer believe her words.
Fu Yan Ting knew very well that no matter how eloquent Lin Qian sounded now, deep down, she had never truly accepted him as her son.
In fact, acknowledging his existence was an impossible luxury for Lin Qian.
Since that was the case, Fu Yan Ting no longer sought anything.
He had grown indifferent to familial affection.
Fu Yan Ting let out a cold laugh, completely unconcerned by Lin Qian's words.
Lin Qian was surprised by Fu Yan Ting's heartlessness. She had poured her heart out, yet he remained unmoved.
His heart was harder than stone.
She didn't want to die, but now that Fu Yan Ting had humiliated her in front of all these reporters, leaving now would make her look utterly defeated, something Lin Qian desperately wanted to avoid.
Yet, if she stayed, she would only become a laughingstock.
Lin Qian racked her brain and finally decided to feign a fainting spell.
Only this way could she avoid facing their mocking gazes and escape this predicament.
Just as Lin Qian was about to speak to Fu Yan Ting, she suddenly clutched her head and then collapsed onto the ground, feigning unconsciousness.
Faced with Lin Qian's collapse, Fu Yan Ting calmly instructed his assistant to call an ambulance, then returned to the company to work, paying Lin Qian no further mind.
The onlookers seemed to have something to say about Fu Yan Ting's indifferent and heartless demeanor, but they didn't know where to begin.
Sensing the reporters' unspoken thoughts, Fu Yan Ting asked coldly, "Are you children of Lin Qian as well? Are you planning to stand up for her?"
The reporters, understanding the implied threat in Fu Yan Ting's words, quickly dispersed.