"Abstinent, Overbearing CEO"

Chapter 5: Return to the Lin Family

When Wang Sao led her through the door, Lin Xiao’s mother, Yuan Qing, immediately rushed forward to greet her. “Rosalina! You’re finally back!” She warmly grasped Rosalina’s hand. It had been a long time since they had seen each other, and Yuan Qing seemed to have aged considerably. Her skin, once fair and flawless, now appeared slightly yellow, and her eyes were sunken.

“Hmm, Aunt Yuan, I’ve just been very busy lately,” Rosalina smiled gently.

She could feel the subtle tension in the air. Yuan Qing had never been fond of her. For years, she had overheard Lin Xiao complaining about her to his mother: “Mom! What’s the deal with a childhood betrothal? Why do I have to marry that strange orphan?”

“I know, I don’t like her either. My son is so handsome—he deserves someone of the same status.”

The car accident that had taken her parents had left Rosalina alone in the world. The Xiao family had once been wealthy, and in his final days, her father, Xiao Ming, entrusted Wang the lawyer with selling all of the Xiao family’s shares, splitting the proceeds evenly—half for Rosalina and half for the Lin family. He had hoped that the Lin family would raise her with love and care.

Using the Xiao family's money, Lin Xiao’s father, Lin Tianhao, expanded the Lin family business significantly, and in time, grew increasingly disdainful of Rosalina, the orphan with no background. The Lin family had fulfilled their obligation to raise her, and that was enough. Rosalina had never expected more.

But now, suddenly, the Lin family, who had always ignored her, was inviting her to dinner again and again. Clearly, they had an agenda. It wasn’t hard to guess, especially since she had heard that Lin Group’s financial situation was in trouble. Poor investment decisions, coupled with the financial crisis, had pushed Lin Group to the brink of collapse.

Rosalina walked into the dining room, and Lin Tianhao stood up.

“Rosalina, it’s been a long time,” he greeted.

“Aunt Yuan, Uncle Lin,” Rosalina replied, giving them a polite smile. Her gaze then shifted to Lin Xiao, who was sitting off to the side, absorbed in his phone. He nodded slightly when he saw her, a half-hearted acknowledgment.

Everyone sat around the table, and Wang Sao brought out an array of delicious dishes—each one something Rosalina loved. It had been so long since she’d experienced a family meal like this, a moment of warmth that reminded her of home. But deep down, she knew it was all an act.

As they ate in silence, the tension was palpable. Then, Yuan Qing suddenly spoke up.

“Rosalina, do you have a boyfriend?”

“No, Aunt Yuan,” Rosalina replied, feeling the awkwardness deepen.

Yuan Qing’s face broke into a bright smile. “Perfect! Lin Xiao doesn’t have a girlfriend either. I think you two would make a great match.”

Yuan Qing knew that Rosalina had liked Lin Xiao since she was young. When their families had been close, she had always trailed behind him like a shadow. But Lin Xiao had never shown her any interest.

Rosalina stole a glance at Lin Xiao. To her surprise, he didn’t object this time. Perhaps the financial problems Lin Group was facing had forced him to swallow his pride. As someone who had spent years in the business world, Lin Tianhao shot his wife a disapproving look, clearly thinking she was being too direct.

He helped Rosalina serve some braised pork. “Rosalina, eat more. You look so thin. Are you overworking at Desmond’s company?”

“Thank you, Uncle Lin,” Rosalina said softly.

The mention of Desmond's name immediately made her understand. Aside from wanting the remaining shares Rosalina held, the Lin family likely hoped to use her connection with Desmond to their advantage. Thinking of him brought a sharp pang of pain in her chest, and she suddenly felt lightheaded, almost unable to sit still.

At that moment, Lin Xiao put down his chopsticks.

“Rosalina, can we talk for a moment?”

Suspicion clouded her mind as she stood and followed him to the corner of the living room by the stairs. Lin Xiao looked down at the girl who had once followed him around like a lost puppy. She had grown into a stunning woman, her delicate face flushed with a faint pink tint, her large eyes sparkling, and her cheeks still holding the softness of youth. She was innocent yet alluring, and any man would be drawn to her.

“Rosalina, what do you think about why my parents asked you to come back for dinner?” Lin Xiao’s gaze locked onto her face, unwavering.

“I have an idea,” Rosalina replied calmly, a knowing look in her eyes.

“So?”

“Do you want me to consider it?” Lin Xiao took a step closer, his voice dropping an octave. “We could give it a try.”

Rosalina almost laughed out loud. What had the Lin family taken her for? After her parents died, she had once believed that Lin Tianhao and Yuan Qing were her real family. But reality had shattered that illusion again and again.

She had been bullied in school, her backpack and homework torn to shreds, her hair yanked around in fights, yet they turned a blind eye. When she had suffered from stomach pain, they had only half-heartedly offered her some medicine. They never gave her pocket money, and when she had bought Lin Xiao a birthday present, it was with money she had saved from working part-time jobs. If it weren’t for the kind-hearted lawyer Wang, who had managed her inheritance until she was of age, the Lin family might have swallowed it all up.

“Have you lost your mind, Lin Xiao? Go beg Qin Mengyan! You still have history with her. Why come to me? Do you think I’m some fool?” Rosalina’s voice was sharp, cutting through the air. “In your eyes, I’m not even worth the dirt on your shoes.”

“I know I was wrong, Rosalina,” Lin Xiao’s voice quivered with emotion. “It was my fault. I was blinded by things and made terrible choices. Can you give me a chance?”

He reached out toward her, his voice desperate. But Rosalina instinctively took a step back, her face a mask of disgust. She had been a fool before, giving the Lin family chance after chance, only to have her sincere feelings trampled underfoot. She wasn’t blind—she could distinguish between true affection and false pretenses. The money from Xiao family’s shares had long been enough to repay the Lin family for raising her.

“You’re delusional, Lin Xiao. My ties to your family are over,” she said, her voice firm and final.

Lin Xiao stood there, stunned, his body trembling slightly. He had always believed that he was Rosalina’s ideal man, that she would come running to him whenever he called. He had never cared for her, but now, as she rejected him outright and turned to walk away, he realized he couldn’t bear it.

Seeing no reaction from him, Rosalina walked back to the dining room. Her phone buzzed, and she glanced down. It was a message from Desmond.

“Sorry, Uncle Lin, Aunt Yuan, but I just remembered I have something important to take care of. I’ll come back to visit when I have a chance,” she said quickly, grabbing her bag and heading for the door.

She would never come back to this house.

Lin Tianhao and Yuan Qing watched her retreating figure with growing unease.

“Tianhao, do you think Rosalina knows about what happened all those years ago?” Yuan Qing asked, her voice anxious.

Lin Tianhao clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white.

“How could she know? There’s no way she knows.”