Chapter 400: Chapter 400 Song Shuyan, Death Penalty, Decided!
The Song Family members surrounded Huo Tingdong with fury surging in their hearts.
Mo Ke was startled by the sudden commotion.
He felt somewhat annoyed but dared not erupt.
After all, Mr. Huo indeed owed the Song Family a favor, but that was a debt to Song Shuhao, unrelated to the rest of them!
After Song Shuhao’s death, Huo Tingdong had provided the Song Family with plenty of benefits.
As the saying goes, when one prospers, their kin flourish.
Without Huo Tingdong, how could the Song Family stand where it does today?
But even a massive favor does not warrant infinite tolerance!
This pertains to a matter of principle!
Just as Mo Ke was about to speak up, Huo Tingdong abruptly interrupted them coldly: “Have you said enough yet!”
His voice was deep yet forceful!
In an instant, it overpowered everyone’s chatter.
Huo Tingdong surveyed the crowd: “What I owed Song Shuhao has been repaid! Don’t think I don’t know what you’re scheming! Don’t think I don’t see through your calculations! You all think that because Song Shuyan is carrying my child, you’re working tirelessly to get her released, hoping she might leverage her status as a mother, am I right? You’ve got it all wrong! The child in her belly isn’t mine!”
Everyone’s faces froze in shock!
All members of the Song Family had believed that Song Shuyan was carrying Huo Tingdong’s child.
They exhausted every means to get Song Shuyan released, fully convinced that preserving the child in her belly would secure her future!
“Tingdong, what are you talking about? The child in her belly is obviously yours. Are you refusing to own up to it?”
Huo Tingdong replied, “I have her paternity test report here. Would you like to see it?”
For a moment, everyone exchanged hesitant glances in silence!
They were all dumbfounded!
Could it be…
That everything he said was true?
That the biological father wasn’t him?
Huo Tingdong remained expressionless: “Don’t forget why the Song Family stands where it does today! Don’t assume that just because Song Shuhao was kind to me, I’ll tolerate you endlessly! Lin Qi is my wife. Han and Momo are my sons. Whoever dares harm them—forget imprisonment—I’ll push for the death penalty! Anyone who tries to stop me or play games with me, I’ll deal with them first!”
The room fell silent in terror!
Huo Tingdong swept his gaze coldly around the room: “Now, let me ask again—who’s still holding onto the idea of getting her released?!”
Not a soul dared to utter a word!
Everyone chose silence.
For the first time, Huo Tingdong clashed head-on with the Song Family.
Due to Song Shuhao, he had always treated the Song Family like honored guests. Now, with these harsh words laid bare, one thing was clear: anyone who dared shield Song Shuyan would face the consequences together with her!
This time, he meant it.
The crowd was filled with dread.
In the past, the name Song Shuhao might have been the perfect leverage whenever needed.
But Huo Tingdong was a man who valued brotherly bonds and loyalty.
Yet now, his declaration left no room for negotiation—even if Song Shuhao could return, Huo Tingdong wouldn’t budge!
“Tingdong…”
Song Shuyan’s uncle, Song Zhengguo, tentatively spoke: “Do you really mean what you just said? Please, think about it with your heart. Shuyan grew up with you. Can you truly bear to see her sentenced to death?”
“Exactly! You say Shuyan committed murder. But who did she kill? You say she harmed your wife and children, yet they’re perfectly alive and well, aren’t they?”
“Right… No one’s dead… Why not let this blow over and resolve matters peacefully?”
Huo Tingdong glared fiercely: “Resolve matters? Song Uncle, are you suggesting a life-and-death matter should just be dismissed? Enlighten me!”
Song Zhengguo’s face turned ashen.
Huo Tingdong continued, “You’re a man with a wife and children too! If your wife and children died at my hands, would you be willing to forgive me?”
Song Zhengguo was rendered speechless!
Huo Tingdong spoke each word sharply: “Isn’t that a fine example of ’empathy’!”
Song Shuyan’s aunt suddenly choked up with tears in her eyes: “Tingdong, I know Shuyan crossed the line this time. Her uncle and I have seen parts of the case files. I’m not sure if she truly did those things… But… if she’s truly sentenced to death, then her father’s lineage ends here! Her brother passed away early, and she’s still so young. You grew up with her. Can you bear to watch her face execution?”
Song Zhengguo added: “Exactly. Even a life sentence would be better than death! Tingdong, show some mercy! She just loved you too deeply—she made a rash mistake and strayed. She has a kind heart; there must be a reason behind her actions… Otherwise, how could she…”
“Enough!” Huo Tingdong impatiently interrupted her!
Coldly, he declared: “Let me make this clear—Song Shuyan. Death penalty. Final verdict!”
With that, he ignored them completely and turned to leave!
The car was parked in the underground garage.
Huo Tingdong sat inside for a while.
He lifted his head in confusion, staring at the car’s interior ceiling, feeling a pang of sorrow.
He had always prided himself on maintaining control over his emotions.
Yet for some reason, he felt immense grief.
It wasn’t pity, nor reluctance.
To be precise, he understood perfectly well that the Song Family was pleading on Song Shuyan’s behalf because of their own motives.
For cases like this, if the victim and defendant reach an agreement, the sentence can be mitigated.
But he refused.
It wasn’t for Lin Qi’s sake, but because he had already spared Song Shuyan once—he would never grant her mercy a second time. He refused to allow her to repeatedly hurt the people he cherished.
In court, he would insist on pushing for the death penalty.
Perhaps his sorrow stemmed from Song Shuhao’s dying wish, where he urged Huo Tingdong to look after his younger sister.
Song Shuyan had once been someone akin to family, a little sister he deeply cherished. How had she become so cruel and ruthless?
Huo Tingdong felt troubled.
He had failed to look after her, letting her become this person, allowing her actions to spiral into irreversible disaster.
He had been too indulgent, too lenient, making her arrogantly believe that he belonged to her.
Huo Tingdong sat quietly inside the car for some time. Then, locking the vehicle, he headed upstairs.
By then, evening had arrived.
Lin Qi noticed his grim expression as he came back, thinking something was wrong: “Honey, what’s the matter?”
Huo Tingdong shook his head.
Han asked, “Daddy, why are you home so late today?”
Momo grabbed his hand.
He was keenly observant and could sense that Huo Tingdong’s expression was off.
Huo Tingdong said, “I’m not hungry. You go ahead and eat.”
With that, he entered the bedroom.
Lin Qi glanced at Momo and Han, then said to them, “You two eat first. I’ll go and check on him.”
“Okay.”
Lin Qi followed him into the bedroom.
Huo Tingdong lay sideways on the bed, one arm propped under his head. Hearing the sound of the door opening and closing, he knew it was Lin Qi.
“I just want to be alone.”