The enduring bond between parents and children is often cited as one of life’s most steadfast relationships, a connection built on unwavering devotion and unconditional love. Parents frequently go to extraordinary lengths to protect and nurture their offspring. However, a recent case from China dramatically challenges this perception, revealing a disturbing betrayal of familial trust.
Former Bank of China chairman, Liu Lianghe, recently received a suspended death sentence for corruption, having accepted bribes totaling 141 crore and distributing illegal loans amounting to 3,887 crore. While this crime itself is shocking, a subsequent revelation has cast an even darker shadow on his character. In 2023, Lianghe married for a fourth time, a union that stemmed from a deeply unsettling manipulation of his own son.
Lianghe’s son had been courting a young woman, intending to marry her. Upon meeting her, however, Lianghe became infatuated. He allegedly manipulated his son into ending the relationship, falsely portraying the woman as unworthy, emphasizing her humble background and suggesting she was solely interested in his wealth. Despite his son’s reluctance, the relationship ended, and Lianghe swiftly orchestrated his son’s marriage to his friend’s daughter.
Having removed his son from the equation, Lianghe then used his considerable influence to find the young woman and showered her with lavish gifts. She subsequently accepted his marriage proposal, and they wed just six months after her breakup with his son. The devastating consequence of Lianghe’s actions was his son’s profound shock upon discovering his former girlfriend was now his stepmother, an event that required hospitalization. Ironically, Lianghe’s illicit marriage was short-lived, ending abruptly with his November 2023 conviction and death sentence. The case serves as a stark reminder that even the strongest familial bonds can be irrevocably fractured by greed and abuse of power.