For the first time, the man deeply hated his own cruelty and heartlessness.
If only he hadn’t hurt her before, if he had always loved her and pampered her, even if she found out about his identity, she wouldn’t have been too repulsed and would have accepted him quickly.
"Is it because of that child?" he asked in a deep voice.
Lin Xinlan’s eyelashes trembled slightly, but she didn’t answer.
She had always kept a composed façade, and in her heart, she kept convincing herself not to blame him for the death of the child, since she didn’t want it anyway.
But she still couldn’t let go.
The moment he coldly threw her into the swimming pool, her heart completely chilled, shattered, and despaired.
In the water, she struggled painfully, feeling the loss of the child, and even the ebbing away of her own life.
Nobody knew how much pain she was in at that time.
It was a pain that ripped her heart and lungs apart, a hate that tore through her soul!
The hurt he had caused her was etched deep into her bones, and no matter how much love he used to make amends, she couldn’t fully accept him.
Because she was human, not a deity. She couldn’t simply not care about it, not hold anything against him.
She thought she would hate him for a lifetime.
Yet, she had ultimately fallen for him again, and just for that, she couldn’t forgive herself.
How could she have feelings for him? She could have feelings for anyone, but not for him!
Now, with love and hate for him intermingled, this conflicted agony was even more unbearable than the pure hate she felt for him before.
She had to leave him, or she would be in even more pain, even less able to free herself.
"Rong Shaoze, I really can’t forget the pain you’ve caused me..." she said faintly, her tone very calm, but he still heard the sadness in her heart.
A dark shadow passed through the man’s eyes; he was filled with regret and anguish.
Holding her tighter, he made a solemn promise, "Xinlan, I won’t hurt you anymore in the future. You believe me, right? I will treat you well, just don’t leave me. Try to slowly accept me, and I will make you the happiest woman in the world."
He held her hand tight, making a lifelong promise.
And her heart, without any surprise, fell even deeper.
Looking into his dark eyes, she couldn’t bring herself to utter the harsh words she had in mind.
She was strong against the strong, weak against the weak.
When Rong Shaoze was kind to her, gentle with her, she just couldn’t be ruthless towards him, couldn’t hurt him.
As for the road ahead, she really didn’t know.
She wasn’t sure whether he would discover Xiaocong’s existence, and even more uncertain about what their future would hold.
She hesitated, not daring to speak too definitively, too firmly, leaving no room for change.
She was also worried that if her words were too heartless, he might do something she couldn’t accept.
His actions and thoughts were so extreme. If he went crazy, truly imprisoned her, hurt her again, then there probably would be no possibility of reconciliation between them ever again.
Lin Xinlan analyzed rationally, opened her mouth, and gave the best answer she could, "Give me some time, please. I can’t give you a definite answer for now. Moreover, I need time to heal the wounds in my heart..."
Rong Shaoze’s dim eyes suddenly lit up—he hadn’t expected her to say that.
Her words had given him hope.
Hope was good. As long as he continued to strive, he was sure to move her.
He nodded vigorously, saying joyfully, "Okay, I’ll give you time. Take as long as you need,"