It wasn't until we were sitting at the lunch table in our new home together, which was as foreign to me as the children and also the employees, that I really realized what was happening. I suddenly overnight and unexpectedly got a husband and two kids. Buy one and get two free, something like that.

So we were sitting there at the table, which had been set lavishly, and I was looking at my new family and feeling as if that was, at that moment, exactly what I had always wanted without actually knowing it. I was incredibly happy to see myself and my family sitting at a table and eating.

When we went outside after lunch together and Zhan and I watched the kids play, Zhan told me that he took Yuan in just a few weeks ago. He was the son of a cousin of Wen Qing, he said. This cousin apparently died in an accident and there was no one else for little 4 year old Yuan. And since Zhan already knew him and Yuan always felt comfortable with him, Zhan took him in.

It was also at that moment that we really talked about Wen Qing and Wen Ning for the first time. Whereas Zhan didn't have much to say about the two of them. They apparently always went their own ways and wanted nothing to do with the family. Unless they were getting money. They didn't care about anything else. "The two of them still think Wen Rouhan killed their mother." Said Zhan when I asked him why they didn't want to have anything to do with the family.

"I also heard the rumors at that time that Wen Rouhan killed not only his first wife but also his second wife." Replied.

"Well now. Wen Rouhan's first wife died of a heart attack at the age of 42. Wen Rouhan was so shocked by his wife's sudden death that he himself demanded an autopsy. He never accepted her death from heart attack. Because he never understood how an all around healthy woman, could die of a heart attack at that age. So it was not murder. And his second wife, the mother of Wen Qing and Wen Ning, committed suicide. She was severely depressed, so Wen Rouhan usually never left her unattended and regularly took her to the psychiatrist himself. But all the therapies and medicines were ineffective. And then, when he was away for a night, for a business dinner, she took the opportunity. She made tea for her guard and added sleeping pills. She was so twisted by then that she put several sleeping pills in his tea and he didn't fall asleep, but died from it. She secretly left the house and drove off in her car. She drove into a wall at top speed. However, since Wen Rouhan had well hidden and concealed Qing and Ning's mother's depression, even after her death, they always thought Wen Rouhan had killed her. Even when they found out the truth later, they still blamed Wen Rouhan."

"Why, even when they knew the truth, did they still blame Wen Rouhan for their mother's death?"

"Well, it's just easier to blame someone else you hate anyway than to accept that your own mother was sick and took her life, leaving her children behind knowingly. What child would find it easy to believe that their own mother committed suicide? Especially when the children only found out afterwards that she was depressed? They accused Wen Rouhan that he should have taken her to a psychiatric hospital and not kept her at home. But it's not that simple either. Because she had been in a clinic. For three months, even. And yet it was of no use."

"I see. And since their mother's death they've hated him?"

"No. They hated him from the beginning. No matter how good he was to them, they never accepted him. Although, thanks to him, they had a very good life and also liked to take his money."

"Now I understand all this too. The biological sons had been uncontrollable. The stepchildren hated him. And then only you were left. That's why you had been Wen Rouhan's favorite. You had always been smart, hardworking and respected him. You were his pride and joy."

"In that way, yes. He put all his hopes in me."

"And thus he dragged you into his criminal business."

"Yes and no. When I started working for him as a middleman, Wen Rouhan had long since given up trying to be the bad guy. He wanted to make up for his mistakes and tried to become a better person. But slipping into crime had been easier than leading a law-abiding life again. He tried, but failed again and again. So he left it to me. He expected me to do something good with his money. And I think I am doing my job quite well. After all, what could be better than protecting innocent children?"

"You're right. And yes, you are actually doing it very well." I said. Now I finally understood why Zhan was doing all this. So it had not come from Zhan alone, but already his father wanted to become a better person again. It was a pity that no one knew this. Even now, everyone still thinks Wen Rouhan is a monster.

"Now, Zhan, tell me when you and I got married!" I demanded of Zhan.

"Why do you want to know that now?"

"It's obvious, I need to know when our wedding anniversary is. Besides, I think we should at least have a wedding party. And how did you come up with this idea about getting married anyway?"

"Yes, to the wedding party. The wedding date is on the paperwork. To your other question. Your brother gave me the idea. He said more casually that if you and I were married, your mother couldn't do anything to you. Since I would have more rights as your spouse than she would. I certainly could have found another way. But I think eventually it would have come to the two of us getting married anyway. So I just skipped the proposal step."

"And how did you manage to get our marriage legally recognized? That's not really possible by law."

"The law is tough on that, it's true. But there are loopholes."

"I suppose they're not that legal, though, are they?"

"Well, if a contract suddenly appears confirming that this marriage was arranged by the grandparents before we were born, and that contract is legal, and then the uncle, who is a defense minister, interferes and insists that the contractually arranged marriage be held, that's not illegal."

"But there was no such contract."

"Really? I like to think you acknowledged with your signature that such a contract existed and that you agreed to the Arranged Marriage."

"Ah now I understand. I guess that's why I shouldn't read through all these documents and just sign them. You tricked me. But okay, I'm glad in this case."

"See, I knew you were going to say that. That's why I didn't ask you."

"And the adoption of the children?"

"That's what you signed up for, too. And I hope you'll be good to them."

"Even though I had no idea about anything, I'm glad. For one thing, I like them a lot, and for another, it proves to me that you really trust me. Otherwise, you would never have let me near them. Wouldn't you?"

"That's right. I had to be sure with you first. And I asked Chen Lu beforehand if she agreed. She put a condition on it. She wants you to train her as a special agent."

"I'll be happy to do that. If you're okay with that, too."

"I am. It would be good for her to be trained as early as possible. It's better for girls to learn to defend themselves early anyway. I'm happy to entrust her to you."

"I thank you Zhan. And I promise I will train her very well. You tell me, what do you actually think will happen to my mother now?"

"Well it is likely that a psychiatric report will be made on her and then it will be decided whether she is guilty or not. Since there are great doubts about her culpability because of her freak-out, I think the prosecution will demand a psychiatric report. And then it will be decided whether she is fully competent or not."

"And what happens if she is not?"

"Then she will be committed to a psychiatric hospital. Where she will stay for a very long time."

"What do you think will happen?"

"I assume she will be committed to the hospital. Yes, she did a lot of things wrong and was even willing to have you incapacitated. But in the end, she remains your mother and I think she needs help. Maybe all her power really went to her head and at some point she couldn't decide for herself between right and wrong. In the end, I think it's better if she gets help there than to sit in prison and rot."

"Aren't you mad about what she did to your family? Well, I'm still mad at her."

"You know Yibo, sure I'm still mad at her. But in the end, she's your mother. In her own sick twisted way, she wanted to protect you, her son. Look at what Wen Rouhan was capable of when it came to his brother. What he made of his own children. He too took the law into his own hands, claiming as his reason to protect his family. Back then, your mother did everything she could to protect your brother. And now that she saw you in danger, she wanted to protect you. She went off the right path because in her concern as a mother, she didn't realize where the boundaries were."

"Mhhh, I never got the impression that she loved me like she loved my brother. I mean yes, she loved me. But when it came to my brother, I didn't seem to exist."

"Maybe she never showed it to you that way. But look at what she was willing to do to protect you. She loves you like your big brother. I'm convinced of that." Explained Zhan to me.

I had to think about the conversation for a long time that day. Yes, in a way, Zhan was right. She was practically like Wen Rouhan, just lost her way, because she took one step too far without realizing it. I really hope she gets the help she needs.

However, I already know that I will never let her near my family. I will protect Zhan and my children. From her and from all other evil in this world!

In the evening my brother called me and told me that my father, after he had made a complete statement, would be allowed to go home again, since he is not a fleeing risk. He will also be facing a court hearing soon.

My brother also told me that a new leader has been temporarily appointed in the agency. I don't know who he is, because he was sent from the top and never worked actively as an agent in the Agency. But I don't care either. Zhan and I are establishing our own agency and that is all I will focus on now.

However, in the coming days I will first take time to get to know my family better. Spend time with them and do some things together. I am now a husband and father, my priorities are now completely with my family. My husband, my daughter and my son!