572: [Bonus chapter] No one divorces in the Zhu family

[Bonus chapter] No one divorces in the Zhu family

Meanwhile, while Silas was spending his time with his cousin, Olivia and Grandma Zhu sat quietly in the room. Grandma Zhu stared at her daughter-in-law in dismay as if she didn't like what she just heard just now.2

"Olivia Zhu." Grandma Zhu's stern voice pierced the silent air after a moment. She clutched the end of the armrest she was sitting on, eyes on the woman sitting on the long couch. "Is that really what you want?"

"Yes, Mother." Olivia slowly lifted her eyes to the Old Madam. "That's what I want. I'm sorry that I can't control my husband anymore. But I did a lot of thinking and consideration before coming here. I know you will not be pleased about it and worse, get angry. However, this is what I truly want."

"I want to divorce Leon and cut all my ties with the Zhu family," she continued, finding more courage to speak her mind. "This had nothing to do with the entire Zhu family. You've always been kind and welcoming to me, Mom. And I know how ungrateful and spiteful I sound right now. But… my hatred toward your son is beyond repair. Just the thought of him makes me sick. He turns my stomach."

Olivia took a deliberate pause to refrain from breaking down. "I don't want to raise my son as a Zhu anymore. I want to raise him without any trace of his father. Leon didn't deserve him."

"He'll take my family name and I'll raise him on my own," she added, forcing a smile on her face, but failed miserably. "Also, I don't want him to be tied to the complicated family matters this family is facing. I'm not trying to offend you, Mom. But we both know this family can break or make them. I don't want to risk it."

At this time, the Zhu family was very traditional. It had always been like this ever since Olivia married the family. Even though Grandma Zhu was friendly, Olivia still struggled with the pressure of appearing a certain way. The expectation from their relatives and from everyone around them was close to unrealistic.

Being a part of the Zhu family was already pressuring in itself. And Olivia had to be perfect just so she wouldn't put shame on the family. People were expecting them to excel, after all. Her concern solidified after hearing that Dominic was showing interest in the family affairs.

Olivia had been with this family long enough to know that Dominic was setting a standard for the new generation. It wasn't just a prediction, but was the inevitable future. Therefore, she was worried Silas would be pressured or forced to keep up with his cousin. Before anything like that could happen, Olivia wanted to save her son from that inevitable future. 

She didn't want her son to live the life she had to live, carrying the Zhu family name. Thus, she wanted to cut all ties with them. 

"All I'm asking is… please, Mom, convince Leon to divorce me," she whispered. "I told him to let me go, but he doesn't want to. I know him, and I know he will do everything to keep this marriage just to spite me."

Her eyes shone with helplessness. "Mom, please… let me go."

This time, a tear rolled down her cheeks. Her eyes were still fixed on the woman she called mother for many years. 

Grandma Zhu studied her daughter-in-law, keeping her lips in a straight, tight slash. "No one gets divorced in this family," she said, making Olivia's heart sink. 

"Mom…"

"Olivia, unless you become honest with me, I will not help you." Grandma Zhu shook her head whilst holding Olivia's gaze. "Tell me. Your decision doesn't only come from his inkling of keeping multiple women on the side. There should be more. Because if that is your only reason, then I don't think it is valid."

"Mom."

"I — my husband also kept mistresses when he was alive, Olivia. That fool also makes me sick and I pray that he dies in his sleep day in and out," Grandma Zhu said in a knowing tone. "However, I didn't leave him because divorce is not allowed in the family. And it will be that way in the future as well. We only marry once, Olivia, and that is a pledge even our ancestors made to heaven."

She paused as she let that sink into Olivia's mind. "Now, I can make an exception. Allowing you to break the family rules and the oath that this family had kept for generations also breaks my principles. I will only do it if you are honest with me. I think that is a fair trade, Olivia."

"What is the real reason you want to leave my son?" Grandma Zhu inquired. This time, her voice was even firmer, determined to know what her son had been doing to this lovely woman to have such a gloomy aura. 

There must be something else other than those women Leon was sleeping with behind his wife's back. Olivia was a strong and clever lady. She wouldn't leave Leon because of that. Although having a cheating husband was painful, Grandma Zhu knew her. Olivia would keep her husband just to spite him and just to make sure that in case Leon was stupid enough not to use protection, all his children except Silas would be bastards. 

That was the woman Grandma Zhu knew Olivia was. 

There must be something else.

"If he truly makes you sick, then stop protecting him, Olivia," Grandma Zhu remarked. "I will punish him just as harshly as how he treated you."

Olivia bit her inner bottom lip in hesitation. She didn't want to make it big anymore. Therefore, she only gave a small piece of the truth. But now, Grandma Zhu wanted the entire truth.

"He thinks… he thinks Silas isn't his," she confessed under her breath. "Over a year ago, he accused me of having an affair with Lionel. At first, I tried defending myself. I feel very ashamed that my friendship with Lionel was put in such a malicious light, but no matter how I defend myself, he wouldn't listen."

A bitter smile turned up on her face. "So I went along with it to taunt him. That's where the beating started."

Grandma Zhu's expression turned hard as she listened to Olivia's confession, and how Leon sounded as if he was an entirely different person than the son she knew. However, Grandma Zhu believed her. She believed Olivia without a shadow of a doubt.

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