"That Lin Cohen," Lyn Xia began with icy calm, "he stole Big Sister's bracelet and framed Xiao Mo. Then he pretended to be a savior—just like he did last time when Xiao Mo came back to the house. And that's only what we know of. Who knows what kind of schemes he's hatching behind our backs."
Joy Fang's expression suddenly shifted, panic creeping into her voice. "Then… could Shao Mo be in danger? If something happens to him… I won't have a son anymore."
"Exactly," Lyn Xia said, nodding gravely. "If Lin Cohen dares to pull stunts in front of us, imagine what he's capable of doing when no one is watching. If anything were to happen to Shao Mo, Lin Cohen would be the sole heir to the Lyn family, especially with Father's current attitude. You saw it yourself—he clearly favors Lin Cohen."
"Then we must bring Shao Mo back," Lyn En declared, her tone firm. "As long as he's out there, Lin Cohen sees him as an obstacle. And with Father holding half of the company shares and the formula for the new drug, we're dangerously outmatched."
"If Father hands everything to Lin Cohen, we won't be able to stop him at all," Lyn Xia added, crossing her arms.
Joy Fang slammed her palm against the table. "How dare he? If it weren't for the Qiao family's R&D funds over the years, would he even have developed that damn formula? Back then, when he didn't even have money to eat, it was my Qiao family that saved him!" Her voice trembled with fury. "I'll talk to him tomorrow. He must send Lin Cohen away and transfer the company shares to Shao Mo. Otherwise, the Qiao family pulls out all support."
Lyn Xia shook her head. "That might've worked in the past. But now? He's got the formula. He doesn't need us anymore. He could rebuild the Lyn family on his own—and even stronger than before. And after all these years, do you really think he hasn't built his own network?"
Joy Fang slumped in her chair. "It's all my fault. I was blind. I listened to that lying son of a—" she cut herself off and buried her face in her hands. "Xiao Mo… he's my real son. Why did I treat him like that? If only… if only Little Mo was still around."
Suddenly, she sprang up, panic flashing in her eyes. "Wait. What if they really do something to him? I need to warn him!"
She fumbled for her phone, quickly dialing Shao Mo's number.
Call Failed. Number Blocked.
She blinked in disbelief, then looked to her daughters. "Try calling him. Quick."
One by one, the Lyn sisters checked their phones. One by one, their faces fell.
"Blocked."
"Me too."
"Same."
A suffocating silence settled over the room.
Then, Joy Fang—desperate now—switched SIM cards and dialed again. This time, the call connected.
Yang Mo had just finished an exam and was lying on his bed, trying to relax. Seeing an unfamiliar number, he almost didn't answer—but something told him to pick up.
"Hello? Who is this?"
"Xiao Mo… it's Mom." Joy Fang's voice trembled with emotion. "Why did you block my number? What if something happened and I couldn't reach you?"
Yang Mo's expression hardened. He recognized the voice immediately—and his heart sank.
"Ms. Qiao," he said flatly, "I made it clear last time. We're strangers now. If that's all, I'm hanging up."
"Wait! Don't hang up! I—Mom still has something very important to tell you!" she cried, her voice rising.
Yang Mo stayed silent, his patience thin.
"Lin Cohen is your father's biological son. Your father has developed a new trauma medicine—it's huge. You must come back to the Lyn family right away! We'll support you, all of us, and help you fight for the inheritance. If you don't—"
Yang Mo cut her off with a cold chuckle. "Stop. From beginning to end, I've never once cared about your so-called Lyn family inheritance."
"But it was always yours, Shao Mo!" she insisted. "If you don't come back, it'll all go to Lin Cohen!"
"Let him have it," Yang Mo said, his voice steady. "Didn't you all accuse me of eyeing your property before? Fine. I don't want any of it now. Keep your distance. I'm not interested."
Joy Fang hesitated, then pleaded, "Blood is thicker than water… Can't you find it in your heart to forgive us? We know we were wrong—please."
There was a long pause before Yang Mo replied.
"Why should I forgive you? Just tell me—why? Why, when Lin Cohen and I are both your sons, did you treat us so differently? Even when I left, you still chose him. And now, what? You changed your mind because he turned out to be the illegitimate son of some mistress? If that hadn't come out, would you still be favoring him? Don't pretend it's love—it's calculation."
Joy Fang could say nothing. Tears streamed silently down her cheeks.
"From the moment I stepped out of the Lyn family's house, none of you were my family anymore. This life—we're done."
She sat frozen with the phone to her ear, every word cutting like glass.
Finally, she forced herself to speak again. "It's okay if you can't forgive me. But please, just be careful. I'm afraid Lin Cohen might hurt you. Let me send someone to protect you—"
"No need," Yang Mo said firmly. "I've survived this long without your protection. I don't need it now—and I never will."
The line went dead.
Joy Fang sat motionless, the weight of her regret pressing down like a mountain.
And for the first time… she truly realized what she had lost.