Mr. Xia was horrified when he received the news of Airi’s affair with Valerie’s fiance. None of them had expected that the young girl they took in would betray their family in such a shocking way. Mr. Xia couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of betrayal and disappointnt, questioning how soone they had welcod into their ho could have deceived them so profoundly.
Nathan insisted that they dissolve Valerie’s engagent with Derek, and he refused to allow his sister to marry Derek after witnessing his affair with Airi. If soone managed to see what he’d seen that night, he had no doubt the Xia family would suffer humiliation publicly.
Their father could only look at Airi as she slumped on the floor of his study, weeping incessantly. Airi looked up at him with tear-filled eyes, her voice trembling as she pleaded for forgiveness and understanding. She had no idea that her adoptive father and brother were also aware that she stole so jewelry, only to be bought back by Valerie in the end.
"You’re sorry?" Nathan glared at her. Any sympathy he felt for her was gone in an instant. He couldn’t believe the audacity of her actions and the pain she had caused his sister. The thought of allowing Derek into their family made him sick to his stomach.
If they hadn’t discovered his affair with Airi, Valerie would have had to endure sha once the truth ca out. Nathan’s protective instincts kicked in, and he knew he had to take action. But he didn’t know where to start. It was a scandal that could ruin the Xia family’s reputation, and he didn’t want to put his sister’s future in jeopardy.
Airi continued to sob uncontrollably, begging for forgiveness and promising that it would never happen again. But Nathan knew that she couldn’t be trusted. He had seen how Derek looked at her and how they had embraced each other passionately right in front of his eyes.
He turned to his father, who was watching the scene with a pained expression. "Dad, we have to do sothing about this," Nathan said firmly. "We can’t just sweep it under the rug and pretend everything is okay. Airi needs to face the consequences of her actions."
Mr. Xia sighed heavily, his shoulders slumping. "I know, Nathan," he said wearily.
Mr. Xia’s heart was heavy as he looked at the girl he had once thought of as a daughter for so many years. He took her in because it was his wife’s last wish before she passed away, and he did it to honor her. Who would have known that Airi and her mother had sched not only for his deceased wife but also for his daughter, Valerie? He couldn’t bear to see Airi crying, but he also couldn’t ignore the pain she had inflicted on his family.
"You have hurt us deeply, Airi," he said, his voice stern. "And I’m afraid we cannot overlook this betrayal. You must leave our ho and never co back."
Airi’s face contorted with shock and disbelief. She had never imagined that her actions would lead to her expulsion from the Xia family. She was so used to living in luxury and comfort that she didn’t know how to live like everyone else outside their social circle.
"Please, Father," she pleaded. "I know I have made a mistake, but please don’t make leave. I have nowhere else to go."
If she leaves the Xia family, what will beco of her? Her mother was long dead, and she didn’t have enough money to support her lifestyle. Her useless uncle could give her anything.
Nathan scoffed. "You should have thought of that before you decided to sleep with my sister’s fiance," he spat. "You made your bed; now lie in it."
Mr. Xia’s heart softened as he looked at the girl before him. He knew she had nowhere else to go, and he couldn’t let her be on the street. But he also knew he couldn’t let her stay in their ho. "I will give you a week to find a place to stay," he said firmly. "We’ll also have your na removed from our family registry. You are never to use our Xia family na ever again."
Airi sobbed harder, burying her face in her hands. "I’m so sorry," she whimpered. "I never ant for any of this to happen. Derek told it didn’t matter who he married between us because we’re both daughters of the Xia family. Please, Nate. I beg you. "
Nathan shook his head in disgust. "Sorry doesn’t cut it," he said sharply. "You are nineteen now. I suppose that our Xia family has given you more than enough and has tried to raise you to be a decent person. Too bad you proved us wrong."
Seeing that none of her words were able to move both n, Airi crawled towards Valerie and held on to one of her legs as she continued to weep.
"Val, please. Help . Can’t you forgive just this once? I swear I won’t do it again. Please, just once. I’m nowhere to go if you kick out of here."
Valerie looked down at Airi; her eyes were cold and unforgiving. She couldn’t believe that soone she had considered a sister would betray her in such a way. Adrienne had warned her a long ti ago of what Airi could do, but she refused to listen and gave Airi a second chance instead.
Whenever she thought about it, Valerie couldn’t help but bla herself. She wasn’t hurt because she loved Derek, but she was hurt that Airi seduced him for personal reasons. Valerie couldn’t understand why Airi thought she was entitled to have everything the Xia family had.
"How can I forgive you for what you’ve done to ?" she said, pulling her leg away from Airi’s grasp. "You’ve betrayed my trust, and you’ve hurt in a way that I will never forget, Airi. We grew up together, and I treated you like a sister. How could you do this to ?"
Airi’s sobs grew louder as she realized that Valerie would never forgive her for what she had done. She racked her brain, trying to figure out what went wrong and how Nathan and Valerie caught her with Derek. She’d been careful not to appear with him in places where her siblings went frequently.
Mr. Xia couldn’t bear to see Airi in such a state, but he knew what she had done was unforgivable. He didn’t know what would beco of her, but he couldn’t let her stay under their roof any longer. It was ti for her to face the consequences of her actions and learn from her mistakes.
"It’s ti for you to go," Nathan said firmly, his voice brooking no argunt. "We’ve given you a day to find a new place to stay. Use that ti wisely, Airi. I’m sure your biological uncle, who helped you sell my mother’s jewelry three years ago, could help you get used to your new life."
Airi nodded, unable to speak through her tears. She was led out of the study by Nathan’s secretary. Their father rubbed his temple as he thought of their predicant. His hair was already peppered with silver strands, but the stress of this situation made him feel much older. He knew that their family’s reputation was at stake, and he couldn’t allow Airi’s mistake to ruin everything he had worked so hard to build.
"I don’t mind canceling Val’s engagent, but are you sure about this, Nate?" He asked his son. "You know what could happen if Val didn’t marry Derek."
"I assure you, Father, I’m aware." Nathan said with conviction, "I would rather work late at night and assu more responsibilities than have Val marry that kind of man. We need to make sure Derek is held accountable too. He knew what he was doing when he started his affair with Airi while being engaged to Val."
His father sighed, knowing that Nathan was right. The consequences of Val marrying Derek could have long-lasting effects on their family and reputation. It was important for them to take a stand and ensure Valerie wouldn’t suffer any further than she already had.
"I’ll talk to Derek’s father," he said. "I don’t think his family would push for the wedding, considering the severity of his actions."
He paused and glanced at his distraught daughter. "Val, do you care to share what’s on your mind?"
He knew Valerie only agreed to marry Derek because Nathan’s position in the company wasn’t stable yet. After working at the company for three years, Nathan barely made any progress.
"I don’t want to marry him, Father. I trust Nathan, and I believe he has what it takes to succeed you in the company. He has what it takes to run the company," she told him. "There’s no need to make a connection with Derek’s position in the company to make things smoother for Nate."
As for Airi, as she walked down the street the next morning, she knew her life would never be the sa again. She gathered her things and left the Xia family ho, never to return. The Xia family didn’t allow her to take anything but her clothes and the gifts they had given her. She had lost everything she had ever known and had no idea what the future held for her.
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