489 Just Once

"You— "

"No… father, listen to me. This is not true." Demi trembled under the disappointed gaze that her father gave her. "It was a complete accident. I was not r*ped… It was only the old man's words to threaten Lily. I am innocent here!"

"Demi is this true?" Her brother asked her. "Is this true?"

"No! No…" she shook her head. "No! I would never agree to an arrangement like that. I would never agree. This must have been manipulated as well!" Tears immediately streamed down her cheeks. "Please… father, you have to believe me. Brother…." She held her brother's arm. "I know you dote on me the most. You have to believe me! This is not real at all. Zhou Jingren liked me. It was with consent. He slept with me because he liked me!" Seeing the disappointment in her father's eyes immediately made her feel as if someone stabbed her in the chest.

Demi had always craved for her father's attention since she was a child. Sadly, her father was just not there for her. And when he is there… he would only read news and start talking to her brother about business.

True, her father gave her everything that she wanted. He spoiled her. However, this was not what she needed. She needed his approval, his attention. She needed to make him proud. "Father please… this is only Lily's way to make you angry with me. Can't you see? She is jealous! Her husband slept with someone prettier, younger. She is threatened, so she wanted to ruin me. Please…"

"Miss Liang must be hallucinating." Lily's crisp voice interrupted her. "My husband never slept with you." She smiled and looked at Jun. "Your daughter and Isaac Lee wanted to trap my husband. So they created a scheme to make it look like something happened and he forced himself into her. If you look at her body, it was full of bruises. Didn't you even wonder why someone would wear a turtleneck in this kind of weather?"

"Lies! That — that is not true." Once again, she tried to attack Lily. How could Lily ruin her like this? How could she ruin her reputation and family? Of course, in Demi's mind, this was still Lily's fault. Lily was scheming. Lily was the devil. Everything was Lily's fault. "Your husband… slept with me. We have proof of him leaving the room before me. We have CCTV videos!"

Lily only lifted an eyebrow before looking at Jun. "See? She said it herself. They planned all this. They wanted me to divorce my husband or they will reveal that he r*ped her."

Demi looked at her father as she closed her mouth. The sad realization hit her! She had fallen into Lily's trap!

She balled her hands into a fist, her knuckles turned white. It was as if a bucket of cold water was poured inside her.

"Demi — you — " Her father stared at her for a few seconds, speechless at his daughter's actions. "When have you become like this?" He took a step back, sadness flashed in his eyes. "How could you do this to yourself?"

"Father… why can't you just believe my words? I am your daughter! Why are you listening to her words?" she pointed a finger at Lily. "That woman is scheming against us! She is trying to ruin us. Father… please… don't listen to her." She pleaded. "Father… once Zhou Jingren will know this, he will surely leave that woman. Can't you see? No man would want a woman like her! Father… please…"

"Demi, what makes you think that he will leave her for you?" Her brother asked. His voice was a little hoarse. "Did you take a look at yourself?"

"Once I get pregnant, he will surely leave her. Isaac said that Lily cannot bear a child! If I get pregnant…"

"Will you listen to yourself!?" Tim's cold voice interrupted her. "You — when have you become like this? What happened to you? How could you become this… delusional?"

"Brother?" Demi swallowed her non-existent saliva. "How could you think that I— "

"Demi… I beg of you. Stop this nonsense." Her father uttered. His voice low, his face tired. It was as if the man had aged ten years in a few minutes.

"What do you mean? Father… I am bearing Zhou Jingren's child. Can't you at least back me up? Can you at least grow some spine and protect me?" He asked. Her shoulders shook as she sobbed. "All my life… you were not there to protect me! Can't you at least do it now!?"

"Demi! That is enough!"

"I am telling the truth! When father told me that I am marrying someone I don't know… I told him that I would never do it. Did you see the disappointment in his face? Did you hear his sigh as if I just killed a person? No, you didn't! You were busy! Everyone was too busy! You and father did not even asked me if I am happy! You give me everything that I wanted but you never… not even once asked me if I am happy!" she let out a sharp breath.

"I thought this will finally make you see me!" She yelled. "This marriage! This pregnancy! Everything… I did it because I wanted you to see me!"

"Demi…"

"I want you to see me, care for me, and for once… just once you stay to attend to my needs! Father… Brother��� I thought marrying him would make you happy! I learned to like him, love him and worship him because… because I thought this will gain your attention! Why can't you see this? Why?"

Demi fell back and sat on her chair as she covered her face. Her sobs became even more apparent. "Why can't you just stop blaming me and support me, instead! Just this once!" She said in a muffled voice.

"Darling, there is no way that they will support you." Lily's voice interrupted the tense atmosphere. "Not when… you slept with the wrong man."