Chapter 24

After the fiasco earlier, I persuaded A'liu to leave me be but it was futile, she proposed to get me home which I confirmed after much careful deliberation.

The drive back home was filled with silence, A'liu's vibrance dimmed along with the night as I watched the city lights fade and the familiar villa that I lived in for the past five years appeared before my very eyes.

A'liu stopped and I felt the burning stare from the corner of my eyes. I looked at her, she looks like a wilted flower, the ruddy dress she wore was a great contrast on her mood.

"I'm fine A'liu"

I really am fine, if it was in the past, I would have my eyes swollen like a walnut and tears staining my face.

I no longer feel anything to An Yi Wei.

I'm exhausted, my capacity of loving him was already stretched to the limit, it's just a thing of the past now.

"Caia, yo-you don't have to say those words. Just divorce him, you don't have to worry, my family and I will help you" I shook my head then she clasp my hand and continued. "I'm here for you, I still have some connections here in this city, you don't need to be afraid"

"I'm fine, I really am" I stressed the word really which made her burst into tears.

"Why... ugh... why do this happen to y-you?!" She wailed as I hugged her and patter her back in comfort.

It was a bit comical, amidst the atmosphere, the person who needed comfort is the one doing the comforting to the person who should do it.

Funny.

"I'm fine, I'm already used to it, besides..." I trailed off, I know I can't say any spoilers because this world won't allow me to. "He won't hurt me"

I believe in An Yi Wei, though he's a devil in everyone's eyes and he was to me, in the past. He would not hurt me nor divorce me if I didn't step on his line.

He's a principled man, but once you step on his line, he would embody the devil itself.

Besides, when A'liu joined with me, her family was implicated and they were soon sent to the streets without mercy. A'liu's ending was the worse, she was married to man with a tendency to abuse woman and that lead her to kill herself.

I don't want that to happen to her and that's what I'm aiming for, to at least prevent her from courting disaster because of me.

...

In the study room, a man was seen working, his captivating eyes were hidden with a rimless glasses creating a solemn ambiance. But it was broken the moment a knock snap him out of his work.

"Come in"

He didn't even looked up and continued to type on his laptop, meanwhile, the door opened and a woman came out of it.

The woman stood away from his table, her eyes lowered to the ground as if she wanted to limit her existence in this closed four walls. Eventually, she couldn't stand the silence and made the first move.

"C-can we talk?"

The man stiffen for a second before he lift his gaze towards her and pointed his eyes to the chair for her to seat on.

"A'liu she... I hope you don't get offended by her" the only thing she have on her mind was to let A'liu out of this situation.

"You're my wife, I've been with you for the past five years, you should have known me better than any outsiders. You're in the An family, you should be clear that the media would take too much interest on us, you should have been clear about those... rumors"

She hid the shock from her eyes and lower her sight to the ground. This is the first time that he spoke to her with long words, it didn't happen in her past lives.

"I know" she said softly, like a buzz of a mosquito.

He looked at her pointedly, his brows were in a frown and he couldn't help but spat out another sentence, it was too late for him to think about it and had already happened.

"Don't act stupid anymore"