Chapter 0281

"I really don’t have any money left, husband. I spent it all when you were hospitalized last time."

Lin Jian gave Liu Yuemei a strange look, thinking to himself, Wasn’t that my money he spent?

But he couldn’t say it out loud because Lin Tianba had no idea they’d been stashing away private savings.

Lin Tianba sighed helplessly. "It’s all because of that bastard Lin Ran. He’s driving me mad."

Liu Yuemei quietly slipped her phone into her bra. She was lying—she still had money.

It was from tips given by her "clients." No one else knew about it, not even Brother Dao.

But she couldn’t use it now. This was her last lifeline.

Not much, just over ten thousand yuan.

Ever since Lin Tianba found out about Liu Yuemei’s side hustle, he’d been keeping a tight leash on her, barely letting her leave the house.

A few times, Brother Dao’s men had forcibly restrained Lin Tianba so she could slip out—though she always had to return eventually.

First, because Lin Jian was still with Lin Tianba. Second, because she wanted to see if Lin Tianba could actually convince Lin Ran.

"Husband, what are we going to do? We can’t keep living like this. Forget about the debts—we can’t even afford basic food and shelter anymore. I’ve been with you all these years. You wouldn’t make me suffer like this forever, right?"

Lin Tianba felt a pang of guilt and quickly reassured her.

"Don’t worry. I’ll go find that ungrateful son Lin Ran right now. No matter what, I’ll make him cough up the money to pay off our debts—including yours. If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have had to borrow money and end up like this. It’s all my fault for being useless."

"I’m going to see that little brat right now. Wait here for me."

Liu Yuemei didn’t speak, but her eyes silently encouraged him.

Lin Tianba frowned in confusion.

"Why aren’t you saying anything?"

Only when he asked did Liu Yuemei respond, "Go ahead, husband. We believe in you. Our son and I support you."

Lin Jian also forced himself to speak up. "Dad, you have to see Brother. If he can give us the money to solve our problems, you don’t have to make him kneel and apologize."

"Fine. Let’s see if that little bastard comes to his senses. If he still wants to call me his father, I’ll spare him the kneeling—just an apology will do. And that Luo Yao..."

At the mention of her name, Lin Tianba’s face twisted in rage. He slammed his fist on the bed.

"That woman ruined my son!"

Before Liu Yuemei or Lin Jian could react, the bed collapsed beneath him.

Lin Tianba stared blankly at the wrecked bed, then sighed after a long silence.

"Let’s just sleep like this. If the landlord finds out, he’ll make us pay for it."

He ran a hand through his graying hair—stress had aged him prematurely.

Just as he was about to leave, a knock came at the door.

All three of them froze.

After days of online harassment, they were jumpy at every sound.

The knocking turned them into frightened birds.

"Shh! Stay quiet."

As the head of the household, Lin Tianba stepped forward.

"Who is it?"

"It’s the landlord. Someone dropped off a document for you."

Lin Tianba frowned.

"I just checked in. How would anyone know my address?"

Liu Yuemei nervously chimed in, "Husband, have we been exposed? Did someone send us a threat?"

Lin Tianba scoffed. "We’re not novelists. Why would anyone send us hate mail?"

"Maybe the netizens just don’t want us to live in peace," Liu Yuemei speculated.

Enraged, Lin Tianba yanked the door open just enough to snatch the document from the landlord’s hand.

Why not open it fully? Because he couldn’t afford to pay for the broken bed.

"Let’s see what kind of trick someone’s playing on me now."

As he opened the envelope and read its contents, a heavy silence fell.

"Husband? What is it?"

Lin Tianba didn’t answer. His eyes were fixed on the words [Confirmed Non-Biological]—and something inside him shattered.

"Husband?"

When he remained motionless, Liu Yuemei tugged at his sleeve.

Lin Tianba violently shook her off.

"Don’t touch me, you slut."

"You dare call me that?!"

Lin Tianba slapped her across the face.

"Call you that? I’ll do worse! You lying whore. You’ve deceived me all these years!"

Lin Jian watched his parents fight but didn’t intervene—just observed silently.

Liu Yuemei screamed, "Lin Tianba, have you lost your mind? How dare you hit me?"

"I’ve stayed with you through everything, bore your children, and even now, when you’re at your lowest, I’m still here! And this is how you repay me?"

Her words only fueled Lin Tianba’s fury.

Bore my children? For me?

"You’ve got some nerve lying to my face. I’ll kill you!"

No man could stomach raising another man’s child—if he could, he wasn’t a real man.

Lin Tianba was no exception.

Liu Yuemei shrieked as he beat her.

"Stop! Stop hitting me! Lin Tianba, I’m your wife!"

As the violence escalated, Lin Jian could no longer stay silent.

If this continued, someone might die.

"Dad, stop! You’re going to kill Mom!"

Lin Tianba froze, then turned to Lin Jian.

His eyes were bloodshot with rage.

"Dad… don’t look at me like that. You’re scaring me."

Finally sensing the gravity of the situation, Liu Yuemei clutched her bruised face.

"Husband, what’s wrong with you?"

She picked up the document Lin Tianba had thrown aside—and her blood ran cold.

If she didn’t handle this carefully, neither she nor her son would leave this room alive.

What do I do?

Lin Tianba roared at Lin Jian, "You’re not my son, and I’m not your father! My only son is Lin—no, wait… Lin Ran! You’re the bastard your mother had with some other man!"

Lin Jian stood frozen in shock. He never imagined Lin Tianba would find out.

"Dad… maybe it’s just a prank?"

For a second, Lin Tianba hesitated. Could it be? People online were capable of anything.

But then he dismissed the thought.

The document bore the official seal of the most authoritative institution in the country. No one would dare forge that.

"A prank? Fine. Let’s go get another test. If I’m wrong, I’ll kneel and kowtow to apologize. But if you’re not my son… you know what’ll happen."

Liu Yuemei knew a second test would yield the same result. There was no way she’d agree.