Chapter 161: Chapter 161: Arrested—It Is Over
After He Yuchen left, Madam He scoffed and took her seat. She looked at the jewellery around her wrists and her lips curved faintly.
"Sooner or later, everything I wish will be a reality." She smiled, having that calm, knowing smile of someone who believed she could never be brought down.
"He Yuchen thinks he’s free of me... but in the end, the He family and everything in it will belong to my son."
Unbeknownst to her, Father He stood partly hidden behind one of the marble pillars, his eyes red with fury, his face pale with disbelief.
Around the corners of the vast hall, two maids paused mid-step, their eyes widening as they exchanged anxious glances. None dared move or make a sound.
Madam He continued softly, unaware she had an audience. "I’ve done it all for years. I pretended to care, played the role of a loving mother. But he was never mine. He was a mistake that should’ve been erased long ago."
Her voice faltered when a deep voice cut through the silence.
"That’s enough."
The words echoed like thunder.
Madam He froze, her head snapping toward the source of the sound. Father He stepped out from behind the pillar, his face gloomy but his tone was icy.
"Old He..." she whispered, her confidence wavering. "You’re home?"
He stopped a few feet away, the pain in his eyes sharp. "So this is who you truly are. I thought you accepted him as your son. That you raised him out of love."
Her lips trembled, before hardening. "Love?" she scoffed. "You call it love when you never saw me? When you kept clinging to the memory of your dead wife? He Yuchen is her son, not mine. He was a living reminder that I would never be first in your heart!"
Father He’s jaw clenched, anger simmering beneath his calm. "And for that... you tried to destroy him? Poison his wife? All because of that?"
"I did what I had to do!" she shouted, her composure slipping. "For my son! I wanted to protect my son and his interest! For the future that belonged to us! I won’t apologize for protecting what’s mine!"
From the hallway, a few more maids peeked cautiously in, their hands trembling as they clutched their aprons. The grand house that had always stood proud now felt suffocating under the weight of her confession.
Father He took a deep breath, his disappointment evident. "You didn’t protect anything, Madam He. You ruined what little peace we had left."
The wail of sirens grew closer, echoing through the gate.
Madam He turned sharply, panic flashing across her face. "What’s that sound?"
Before she could move, the front doors swung open, and uniformed officers entered the mansion.
The maids’ faces flashed with panic seeing the police officers.
"Madam He," one of them said, holding out a warrant, "you are under arrest for attempted murder, conspiracy, and obstruction of justice. You have the right to remain silent."
The maids gasped loudly, one of them dropping a tray with a sharp clatter that rang through the hall.
Madam He’s eyes widened in disbelief. "No... no, this can’t be happening! You can’t do this to me!" She turned desperately to Father He. "Old He! Say something!"
He didn’t look at her. His voice was heavy, and filled with finality. "You’ve done enough, Madam He. This ends here."
The officers stepped forward, clasping her wrists in metal cuffs. The sound of clinking jewellery against steel echoed harshly.
"This isn’t over!" Madam He screamed as she struggled against them. "Do you hear me? None of you have seen the last of me!"
Her voice echoed through the grand hall as the maids huddled together, wide-eyed and trembling. The officers led her away, her cries fading into the distance.
Father He stood motionless, watching until she disappeared beyond the doors. Then, slowly, he exhaled slowly, filled with half grief and half exhaustion.
For the first time in years, the He mansion fell completely silent. Only the maids’ quiet sobs and the ticking of the old clock filled the emptiness she left behind.
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The soft hum of the heart monitor filled the hospital room, a steady rhythm that brought quiet relief to everyone within. Yun Li was sitting up now, her complexion brighter, the faint color returning to her cheeks.
He Yuchen sat beside her, his hand resting over hers. For the first time in days, there was a fragile calm between them. Though they both knew it was only the eye of the storm that had just passed.
The door opened quietly. Father He stepped in, his face lined with weariness and his lips pursed into a straight line.
"Father," He Yuchen said, standing immediately.
"Sit," the older man said softly, his tone gentle but firm. His gaze drifted to Yun Li. "I’m glad to see you recovering, child. You’ve been through too much."
Yun Li smiled faintly. "Thank you, Father He. I’m doing much better now."
He nodded slowly before taking the seat across from them. For a moment, silence hung in the room, heavy and thoughtful. Then, Father He drew a deep breath.
"It’s over," he said finally.
He Yuchen frowned slightly. "What do you mean?"
"Your mother—" The older man paused, the words heavy on his tongue. "Madam He was arrested this evening. The police have taken her away. She... confessed to everything."
Yun Li’s lips parted, her heart twisting. She looked to Yuchen, who sat frozen, his hand tightening around hers.
Father He continued quietly, "She said some bitter things, things that can’t be undone. But she will face the consequences of her actions. I only wish I had seen through her sooner. I could have protected you more."
He Yuchen exhaled shakily, the reality settling like a stone in his chest. "After everything she did... she still didn’t regret it."
"No," Father He murmured. "But you must not let her darkness take root in you too. You’ve both been through enough pain. Let this be the end of it."
Yun Li reached out, placing her hand gently over his. "We will, Father He," she said softly.
The older man smiled faintly, though sorrow still lingered in his eyes. "Rest, both of you. Tomorrow will be a new beginning."
As he rose and left the ward, the door closed softly behind him, leaving He Yuchen and Yun Li in the dim light of the evening. He turned to her, brushing his thumb over her fingers, his voice barely above a whisper.
"It’s really over."
Yun Li nodded slowly. "Yes. Finally."
Yun Li stared at him, wondering how he would be able to take the news. But she was glad... it was finally over.