204 The Apology 2 (2/2)

When Joann saw Mrs. Xu come to her, she assumed her mother-in-law was there to persuade her to forgive Xu Jing. It would be understandable for her to do so. After all, Xu Jing was her flesh and blood while Joann was the daughter who married into the family. Furthermore, Joann had always known that her mother-in-law had a soft spot for her husband.

Therefore, it was to Joann's surprise that the first word out of her mother-in-law's lips was, ”Joann, I understand should you want a divorce. If that is your intention, you'll have my full support. Don't worry that you might not be able to get Xu Jing to sign the agreement, I will make him do it.”

”But, mother, why would you...” Joann was too shocked to even finish her sentence. However, Mrs. Xu understood her perfectly well. Mrs. Xu sighed and answered, ”Because like you, I'm also a wife and a woman.”

Mrs. Xu didn't elaborate more than that but Joann got what she was trying to say. Mrs. Xu might love Xu Jing but she ultimately empathized better with Joann. As a woman, she understood the sting of betrayal and as a wife, she could imagine how painful it must be to suffer the ultimate betrayal.

When Joann helped the Xu family overcome the crisis related to Lin Corps' hostile take-over, the relationship between her and her mother-in-law had started to improve. Ironically, it was the betrayal of Xu Jing who ultimately brought these two crucial women in his life close together.

Mrs. Xu empathized with Joann enough to support her in whatever decision that she chose to make and Joann was thankful for her mother-in-law's understanding and support. She knew it wasn't easy for Mrs. Xu to do that, after all, she was required to go against the interest of her son.

...

”Mother, as I've said, it was a drunken mistake. I swear on my life that it'll never happen again. Can't we just put that behind us? Mother, please, I beg you, help me talk to Joann. I'm sure she'll listen to you.” Xu Jing pleaded and begged, from how he saw it, his mother was one of the best ways to convince his wife to forgive him because he knew Joann still had some respect for his mother in spite of their rocky relationship.

”Just a mistake? Put it behind us?” Mrs. Xu shook her head before she branded Xu Jing with a look. ”Xu Jing, ask yourself. Will you say the same thing if the table is turned and it was Joann who cheated on you?”

That stymied Xu Jing. He knew the answer well and it did not reflect positively on him. He definitely wouldn't get past Joann's betrayal, if ever... so what did that say of his own betrayal?