After Bankruptcy, the Billionaire Asked Me to Marry Him!
Chapter 326: Cause and Effect

Chapter 326: Chapter 326: Cause and Effect

Her expression remained cold, unaffected by Lin Kerou’s half-day of tearful complaints.

Fu Yanci’s voice was icy. "This was your choice—the cause you sowed back then led to the result today, didn’t it?"

Lin Kerou suddenly lifted her gaze.

Fu Yanci’s voice deepened, "When you were pregnant, Aunt begged you to move back to the Fu residence so she could take care of you personally, but you refused. After giving birth, you broke the agreement. Even then, the Fu Family stood by their word and gave you everything that was due—without shortchanging you a penny."

He didn’t clarify what breaking the agreement referred to, but Ye Li understood.

Instinctively, she looked at Xiao Bao and saw him hanging his head, lost in thought.

Her heart ached. Ye Li extended her hand, holding his tightly, only for him to grasp hers even harder.

Tears reappeared in Lin Kerou’s eyes. "So... just because I couldn’t give up my child, I have to suffer the way I do now?"

"That’s right!"

Fu Yanci’s cold affirmation rendered Lin Kerou’s face completely pale. "The Fu Family never demanded that you give him up. From start to finish, they stood on your side, hoping to support your decision and ensure the rest of your life would be happy, that your future wouldn’t be ruined simply because you once had a child. But what did you do?"

"Even when you broke the agreement, Uncle and Aunt never voiced a single complaint. You lacked capability yet insisted on being strong. When that failed, you placed the burden of your incompetence on an innocent child."

"Lin Kerou..."

His tone grew angrier as Fu Yanci’s voice deepened. "Don’t bring up ten months of pregnancy or postpartum depression. Even if you were helpless and pitiful, every single member of the Fu Family extended a hand to help you. Did you accept? And don’t tell me it was your fragile pride that wouldn’t allow it... From the moment you decided to give birth to him, you should have at least acted like a responsible person! But you didn’t!"

Lin Kerou’s face turned ashen, completely bloodless, like thin paper.

Fu Yanci’s words were merciless, but because Xiao Bao was present, he still granted her a sliver of dignity.

Lin Kerou knew that if Xiao Bao weren’t here, his words would have surely been crueller.

For example, "You don’t deserve to be human!"

Or perhaps, "You don’t deserve to be a mother!"

She clenched her skirt tightly to suppress the hatred surging in her heart. Letting her tears fall freely, Lin Kerou raised her head to look at Xiao Bao, who had quickly ducked his head to avoid her gaze. She said, "Muzhi, Mom is truly sorry... If there’s a next life, I hope you can choose me to be your mother again from Heaven, so I can have a chance to make it up to you. Is that alright?"

Her tears fell as she raised her hand to wipe them away. Picking up her handbag, Lin Kerou hurriedly left the room.

The private lounge fell silent.

The sound of chatter from downstairs drifted upward, mixed with the occasional chirping of sparrows.

Fu Yanci turned his head and patted Xiao Bao on the head. "Do you blame me?"

Xiao Bao pursed his lips for a long moment and then shook his head.

"Then... will you forgive her?"

Fu Yanci pressed further.

Xiao Bao said nothing.

"Fu Muzhi... everyone must pay the price for their mistakes. Whether you forgive her or not—it’s entirely your decision. Neither I nor the Fu Family will interfere. But I hope you don’t make a foolish choice like last time, putting yourself in danger. Do you understand me?"

At first, his tone sounded harsh.

But thinking deeper, it seemed less about this particular matter and more about him teaching Xiao Bao.

Teaching him about the unpredictable dangers of the adult world and the law of survival where the weak are preyed upon.

Xiao Bao looked up at Fu Yanci and solemnly nodded.

When they returned to the old house, Xiao Bao locked himself in his room.

Ye Li wanted to follow him but was stopped by Fu Yanci. "Let him have some quiet time alone."

She kept glancing back step by step, but there was no sound coming from the room.

Imagining the little boy curled up on the bed with reddened eyes, too afraid to cry out loud, Ye Li’s heart twisted painfully.

"So, what really happened back then?"

Walking into the corridor across from Xiao Bao’s room, Ye Li tugged Fu Yanci to sit down on a bench and asked softly, "With the Fu Family’s status and reputation, there’s no way they wouldn’t know if a girl was pregnant, right? And what about the Lin Family... didn’t they care about her?"

The Imperial Capital’s elite families didn’t include any from the Lin Family.

From start to finish, Ye Li had never heard Old Mrs. Fu or Fu Yanci mention anything about Xiao Bao’s maternal grandparents either.

It was as if Lin Kerou had emerged from thin air, and then, somehow, had a child with Fu Mingzhen.

The higher the status of families like the Fu Family, the more cautious the men were. Even if they fooled around outside, they would never leave behind the risk of illegitimate children.

The future Patriarch of the Fu Family.

The man destined to lead the Fu conglomerate and stand atop the pyramid of the Imperial Capital’s elites.

Having either identity alone would make Fu Mingzhen a towering figure amongst wealthy elites, let alone possessing both.

"She’s Du Yunshuang’s niece—her parents died early. After her college entrance exams, she was accepted into a university in the Imperial City and came looking for Du Yunshuang. Aunt likely felt that since she was her elder sister’s daughter and she didn’t have a daughter of her own, it was only natural to let her stay at the Fu residence."

Recalling unpleasant memories, Fu Yanci’s expression turned grim. "Grandfather was still alive back then. During holidays and special occasions, everyone gathered together, and she often came over with Uncle and Aunt. At some point, she got acquainted with Big Brother."

"With the Fu Family’s status, there’s no need for marriage alliances to stabilize interests. Big Brother could marry whoever he wanted. But back then, as the future Patriarch, the woman he chose wouldn’t just need good manners and looks—her family background and character must also match his and be worthy of becoming the Matriarch of the Fu Family. Uncle and Aunt had already picked a candidate, but Big Brother didn’t agree..."

"Later, when Big Brother passed away in a car accident and the news reached home, she fainted and was diagnosed as pregnant. At the time, the entire Fu Family only knew they were close but didn’t even know they were dating."

A scoffing smile tugged at Fu Yanci’s lips as he chuckled coldly. "She must’ve used up all her luck in that moment, wouldn’t you agree?"

Too bad she didn’t cherish it herself!

Ye Li caught onto the unspoken continuation in Fu Yanci’s words.

If Fu Mingzhen hadn’t passed away, someone like Lin Kerou—given her background—would never have been approved by Uncle and Aunt for marriage.

In choosing a wife, virtue always came first. Furthermore, someone like Fu Mingzhen, poised to become the Fu Family Patriarch and head the Fu conglomerate, wouldn’t have a woman like Lin Kerou—a schemer with neither family status nor competence—beside him.

If Fu Mingzhen had insisted on marrying her, perhaps the choice for Patriarch would’ve had to be reconsidered. After all, how could the head of the household be distracted by such inconsequential matters as love?

But Fu Mingzhen hadn’t expressed any intention of marrying Lin Kerou.

He hadn’t even publicly acknowledged their relationship before the accident occurred.

In the heart-wrenching moment of losing a young family member, Lin Kerou’s pregnancy was revealed—claiming the child was Fu Mingzhen’s. Who wouldn’t feel a sense of hope and gratitude in such a scenario?

Agreeing to the Fu Family’s request, giving birth to the child, and cutting ties thereafter.

With what Uncle and Aunt had offered her, just by agreeing, Lin Kerou could’ve risen to become a billionaire overnight, living the rest of her life in comfort and luxury.

Even if she changed her mind later, as long as she treated Xiao Bao well, a life of opulence would still be within reach.

A perfect hand of cards—a guaranteed win—played so poorly that it led to the current situation.

No wonder Fu Yanci said that there are causes and consequences to everything.

Ye Li blinked, as if suddenly struck by a thought. "Back then... when she said the child was his, did you all believe her right away?"

Fu Yanci froze, instinctively glancing toward Xiao Bao’s room. "You mean to say..."

Ye Li nodded.