At this time, when everyone learned of Lin Coen's true identity, they each had a difficult time accepting it—especially their mother, Jo Yong. Ever since Lin Coen had entered the family, Jo Yong had cradled him in her arms and kept him close to her heart. If there were someone in the world who could be sadder than her at this moment, it would be hard to imagine.
Li Shio and Li Ying exchanged glances, their eyes full of quiet worry.
"Mom, you didn't rest well last night, did you?" Li Shio said gently. "You look so haggard… Come, sit down and have a glass of milk first."
While speaking, Li Ying had already reached out to support Jo Yong's arm with care. But Jo Yong waved her hand dismissively and asked with barely concealed anxiety, "Where's that boy? Why did he go out so early in the morning?"
Hearing her mother bring up Lin Coen again, Li Xia quickly lowered her voice and leaned in, whispering, "Mom… Little Coen said he had a class reunion today. He left early to meet his old classmates. It's good he got out—so he doesn't find out anything."
Only after learning that Lin Coen wasn't home did Jo Yong's tightly strung nerves ease—if only slightly.
The table was filled with a variety of breakfast items: warm steamed dumplings, crispy donuts, small savory dishes, and fresh milk. But Jo Yong had no appetite. Her eyes scanned over the food with disinterest before falling into a solemn stillness.
"I'm going to make a trip to the Z family today," she declared suddenly. "Things will proceed as we discussed earlier. You all need to be cautious—do not reveal anything, no matter what."
Li Shio sighed quietly. Even now, their mother was the one giving instructions, fully aware she was the family's most unstable variable.
Thankfully, Lin Andong hadn't come back today. If he had, no one could guarantee how Jo Yong would react after seeing him again.
Just a short while ago, the three sisters had been whispering about how shaken their grandfather would be once he found out what had truly happened within the Lin family. Li Ruan, in particular, was too anxious to sit still. Hearing her mother say she was visiting the Z family nearly made her lose composure on the spot.
Fortunately, Li Shio calmed everyone with a few more reassuring words, and only then did their expressions return to normal.
Several minutes passed. Li Ruan returned to her room to try to sleep again, while the others quietly left the Lyn family villa one after another.
From the moment she stepped outside the house until she arrived at the gates of the Jo family estate, Jo Yong didn't say a single word.
Once inside, she marched straight toward Master Jo's study.
As the head of the Jo family, Jo Guangzu maintained a strict daily routine. Every morning after breakfast, he would lock himself in his study to practice calligraphy, and during that time, no one was allowed to disturb him.
So when the housekeeper saw Jo Yong heading directly for the study, panic flashed across his face.
"Madam! Master is inside—he's not to be disturbed right now!" the housekeeper began to protest.
But Jo Yong cut him off mid-sentence with firm resolve. "I need to see Father. It's urgent. No one is to interrupt."
The housekeeper hesitated but ultimately stepped aside.
Footsteps echoed across the corridor. Inside the study, Jo Guangzu's calm expression slowly turned to one of irritation. He had just dipped his brush in ink when the door swung open.
He immediately set the brush aside, scowling.
"To barge in like this—what sort of rules are these?" he snapped. "What is so urgent?"
But upon seeing his daughter's tear-streaked face and trembling form, his tone softened, replaced with concern. "What's wrong? Did something happen?"
At those words, Jo Yong could no longer hold back the storm inside her heart.
She shut the door behind her and dropped all pretense. Tears spilled from her eyes as she cried out, "Dad, I need your help. I'm truly desperate this time!"
"That bastard Lin Andong—he lied to me! He lied to all of us!" Her voice cracked with anguish. "It's bad enough he's been keeping that mistress on the side for all these years… But the son I raised—the one I believed was mine—he's actually the child Lin Andong had with that woman!"
Her voice trembled with rage and grief.
"Lin Coen has left us. He said nothing and signed a severance agreement just days ago… Dad, what should I do? Please… Help me come up with something."
She spilled the truth in one breath, as though she'd been holding it in for years. The moment the words left her lips, Jo Yong felt as if all the blood had drained from her body. Her legs gave way, and she barely managed to steady herself.
Across from her, Jo Guangzu was stunned.
His breath caught in his throat as the truth hit him. The affair, the betrayal—that was bad enough. But the part about the child…
Taking a deep breath to control his fury, Jo Guangzu finally asked through clenched teeth, "Are you saying… Lin Coen is the biological son of Lin Andong and another woman?"
Jo Yong nodded with a bitter expression. "Yes. He is. I was lied to, Dad… completely deceived."
The room fell into a heavy silence.
Then, suddenly, Jo Guangzu slammed his palm onto the desk with such force that the inkstone toppled over.
"You… You really are a fool! After all these years, did your brain rot?! You've been raising your husband's bastard son—his flesh and blood—and didn't even realize it?"
"You've disgraced the Jo family!" he roared, each word like a hammer to Jo Yong's chest.
The old man's fury was thunderous.
"I told you back then not to marry that man! But no, you insisted, you believed in him so deeply… And this is what it's come to."
He glared at her, eyes red with anger. "Don't you think it's strange that your own son—your biological child—has been missing for so many years, with no trace at all? And yet this boy shows up, and you… you adopt him without hesitation?"
"Can't you see now? You were blinded—blinded by that man's illusion! Lin Andong used your love and used our family!"
Each word from the old patriarch was sharp as a knife.
Jo Yong fell to her knees beside him, clutching the armrest of his chair. "Dad… please don't be angry. I'm sorry. I was wrong. I didn't know…"
Jo Guangzu's body was trembling from the rage welling up inside him. "That white-eyed wolf! He didn't just lie to you—he played us all. He wants to hollow out everything we've built!"
Jo Yong could only bow her head, tears falling without end. "Please, Dad. Don't get too worked up. I need you now more than ever…"