"But I don’t regret doing it. I will never allow you to bear another man’s child."
"Even if there is a second time, I would still kill him. Lin Xinlan, you are my wife; you can’t betray me..."
She slightly pulled up the corners of her mouth, lifting into a mocking curve: "Have you ever treated me as your wife?"
Rong Shaoze’s eyes darkened as he walked over and embraced her from behind, his arms wrapped around her chest, holding her tightly against him.
His hot lips pressed against her cheek as he spoke in a deep voice:
"How could I not? Didn’t I just announce to the public that you are my eternal wife? Lin Xinlan, do you think if I didn’t acknowledge you, I would make such arrangements? I’ve been so good to you, why would you deceive me?"
Lin Xinlan looked towards the distant horizon, her tone still so calm: "It was also on that day that you gave me hope, and then you personally dragged me into hell. Is this your way of being good to me?"
"You were the first to betray me!" he growled lowly, holding her even tighter, as if he wanted to crush her into his very flesh and blood.
"Xinlan, forget him; let’s start over. As long as you no longer associate with him, don’t have him in your heart, don’t betray me again, I will forgive you. Then I will continue to treat you well, and let you always be the Young Madam of the Rong Family. Sounds good, right?"
Lin Xinlan laughed again, her laughter growing more piercing:
"Rong Shaoze, I have never betrayed you. All of this is just your paranoia playing tricks on you.
Haven’t you realized? There’s something wrong with your mind. You don’t trust people; you suspect everyone’s motives. The slightest rustle of the wind, and you become cruel, snuffing out all potential threats before they can hurt you.
Even without evidence, even if you’re not completely sure, you still eradicate them. Suddenly, I thought of a saying that suits you well."
She turned her head slightly, looking at him coldly, her delicate lips parting slightly: "I’d rather betray the whole world than let the world betray me."
The man staggered back in a panic, staring at her with a horrified expression, a flicker of abashment passing through his eyes.
Soon, he regained his composure.
But his momentary loss of control had already been fully witnessed by her.
"See, wasn’t I right? You really are sick in the head."
Rong Shaoze’s face darkened, and his gaze became unfathomably shadowy.
He really had underestimated Lin Xinlan. In such a short time, she had seen through to his true nature.
A wicked smile curled upon his lips as he boldly admitted:
"That’s right, I am that kind of person. Xinlan, you’ll never understand the outcome of trusting others. That’s why I’d rather disappoint the entire world than let the world harm me."
Although he said it with a smile, as if it were a trivial matter,
Lin Xinlan could hear the pain in his words. Had he once trusted others, only to meet a terrible end?
She had no interest in his past. She lowered her eyes and said softly, "Rong Shaoze, if you don’t trust people, nobody will trust you."
After a long while, he spoke in a low voice: "Xinlan, from now on I will trust you. Can you make sure not to hurt me?"
Lin Xinlan stiffened all over, saying nothing.
She didn’t realize the courage it took for Rong Shaoze to make such a promise.
What she knew even less was that this very promise almost cost him his life one day in the future...
She changed the subject, not wanting to continue the conversation.
Flipping through the pages of her book, she stared at the content but couldn’t absorb a single word.