Several underlings turned their heads in unison to see Brother Dao walking in with Lin Ran and Luo Yao.

"Master Lin, President Luo, Brother Dao," the subordinates greeted in perfect sync, their order of address flawlessly precise.

Lin Ran nodded, then lowered his gaze to the disheveled figure of Lin Tianba sprawled on the floor.

Lin Tianba strained to lift his head, his eyes brimming with tears.

"Don’t recognize your own father now? Can’t even greet me properly?"

Lin Tianba’s lips trembled, his overwhelming emotions rendering him speechless—only choked sobs of regret escaped.

Filthy scraps of food clung to his face, mixing with his tears as they dripped down.

At this moment, Lin Ran was his only light.

Abu entered and handed Lin Ran and Luo Yao gas masks. Only after putting them on did they block out the room’s nauseating stench.

Masked, Lin Ran slowly crouched down, narrowing his eyes as he studied Lin Tianba.

Six months ago, this man had been the proud CEO of a listed company. Now, he was reduced to a state more pitiful than a beggar.

Bruises and wounds covered his body, his clothes stained with blood. Without the mask, the stench of decay and filth would have been unbearable.

Lin Tianba struggled to raise his head further, desperate to see his son clearly—to imprint the face he’d wronged in his dreams.

Since being locked away here for days, he’d had no conversation, no food.

The eerie silence was terrifying, but it also forced introspection.

As he reflected on the past, he finally saw Liu Yuemei for the venomous woman she was, his hatred for her reaching its peak.

And when he thought of how Lin Ran had suffered all these years, he realized just how gravely he’d erred.

Only when a man loses everything does he truly see his own heart.

He was a father—yet he’d become a demon aiding tyranny.

"Lin Tianba," Lin Ran’s voice cut in, devoid of emotion, "do you regret any of it?"

Regret?

He’d regretted it long ago. He regretted never treating Lin Ran better.

He regretted marrying Liu Yuemei.

He regretted being blind in heart and mind.

So, with great effort, he nodded, finally forcing out words.

"I regret it so much, son. We’re father and son. I’m begging you—"

Lin Tianba pressed his lips together, then uttered the inevitable line.

"I’m begging you to kneel, kowtow, and apologize to your father. Do that, and I’ll forgive you."

Lin Ran stood up and glanced back at Luo Yao, who smiled sweetly and wrapped her arms around him.

"You win, A’Ran. For the next month, you can be on top."

That’s right—they’d made a bet before entering. They’d wagered on whether Lin Tianba’s opening words would be this classic line.

And Lin Ran had guessed correctly.

So, in the end, Lin Tianba was just a prop in Luo Yao and Lin Ran’s little game.

"Tianba, you know what I admire most about you?"

Lin Tianba blinked in confusion. He couldn’t understand why, even at death’s door, this unfilial son still refused to bow and apologize.

Would he really wait until his father’s death to kowtow at his grave?

But regretful lamentations would be meaningless by then. Too late for remorse.

"Son, if you treat me like this… you’ll regret it one day. I don’t want you to live in regret like I do—it’s agony. Listen to me. Kowtow and apologize."

Lin Ran’s lips twitched in exasperation. Slowly, he pointed a finger downward, aiming it at Lin Tianba’s heart.

"What I admire most is your heart. You never forget your roots. And that delusional confidence of yours—so strong you’ve fooled even yourself. Today, I crown you Emperor Tianba. May you stay true to yourself for the rest of your days."

"Pfft—!"

Lin Ran’s words successfully made Luo Yao burst into laughter. The others kept their heads down, unsure what she found so funny.

But then again, they couldn’t fathom how a father like Lin Tianba even existed.

To neglect his own outstanding son in favor of a bastard who wasn’t even his own flesh and blood.

Lin Ran wrapped an arm around Luo Yao’s slender waist, finding his wife utterly adorable when she laughed.

"What’s so funny? Share it with your husband."

Luo Yao leaned into him. "Fools are laughable by nature, but those who refuse to repent after wrongdoing are beyond redemption."

Lin Ran nodded in agreement, glancing at Lin Tianba on the floor. "He’s like a toad swallowing a fishhook—his own damn fault. Yet he still acts like the world owes him."

Faced with Lin Ran’s merciless mockery, Lin Tianba’s heart plunged into an abyss of despair. The world around him turned into pure terror.

"You… you really won’t kowtow and apologize? You’d really throw away a father’s love?"

"See? Emperor Tianba’s confidence knows no bounds," Lin Ran remarked, gesturing at him.

"Too bad I couldn’t care less about your so-called ‘fatherly love.’ It disgusts me."

Boom.

Lin Tianba’s spirit finally shattered. The light in his eyes dimmed to gray.

No—he couldn’t give up yet.

He hadn’t won Lin Ran back.

He hadn’t taken revenge on Liu Yuemei.

He hadn’t… lost all hope.

He couldn’t surrender. He had to make Lin Ran call him "Dad" again, force Liu Yuemei to her knees in repentance, and strip Lin Jian of any real paternal love.

"Son, I’m still your father. You—"

Lin Ran’s expression turned icy, his tone dripping with disdain.

"Remember what I told you in Chapter Seven? Don’t call yourself my father, or I’ll slap the shit out of you."

Originally, Lin Ran had planned to teach Lin Tianba a lesson himself, but the man’s current state was too revolting to touch.

Abu, as if reading his mind, volunteered.

"Master Lin, this is my specialty. Let me handle it."

Punishing Lin Tianba? Abu was more than happy to oblige.

Lin Ran patted his shoulder. "Lucky you—getting to have all the fun. Go ahead."

As Abu approached step by step, Lin Tianba recalled some very unpleasant memories.

"Stay back! Son, Dad was wrong! Make him stop!"

Lin Ran’s mocking tone was unrestrained. "Daddy’s not sticking around. Starting today, you’re disowned. We’re done."

"Enjoy the rest of your life. Barring miracles, we won’t meet again." With that, Lin Ran turned to leave.

Lin Tianba panicked. "No! Dad Lin, don’t go! Take me with you—!"

Abu crouched and slowly reached out.

Lin Tianba’s face twisted in horror as he screamed.

"STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM ME—!"

Lin Tianba: "STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM ME."

Outside the cell, Lin Ran gave Brother Dao his orders. "Unless fate intervenes, I never want to see him again. But don’t let him die. Dump him in a busy district to beg. If he refuses, beat him until he complies."

Brother Dao nodded. "Understood."