Chapter 22: I, Too, am Heartbroken
"Shut up!" Meng Nianyao couldn't bear it any longer and opened her eyes, glaring at Gu Wencheng. "If you don't want to sleep, then give me the room." As soon as she finished speaking, she saw Gu Wencheng's teasing smile, which caused a pang in her heart.
Meng Nianyao was rendered speechless. She simply turned her back to Gu Wencheng. Gradually, the person behind her ceased moving, and his breathing became steady.
Meng Nianyao didn't budge. After an uncertain amount of time, she slowly closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep. When she awoke again, the sky was already bright, with sunlight streaming through the window. She got up, realizing she was alone in the bedroom. She massaged her temples; her head ached, and she felt quite uncomfortable.
After a while, the phone on the bedside table rang. Meng Nianyao answered, "Hello?"
Ping Yang's voice came through, "Lady Boss, it's Ping Yang. Boss asked me to let you know that we're discussing a collaboration outside."
"Yes." Meng Nianyao checked the time and nodded. "I understand." After hanging up the phone, she leaned against the headboard and rested for a while. Just as she was about to doze off again, her phone rang once more. She opened her eyes impatiently.
Meng Haotian's name flashed on her phone's screen. He had the audacity to call? Meng Nianyao raised an eyebrow. Just as she was about to reject the call, she decided to answer.
"Why did you only pick up now?" Meng Haotian sounded displeased for a moment before his tone softened. "I'm sorry, Nianyao. I thought you didn't want to answer my call."
"I didn't want to answer it. We're no longer related." Meng Nianyao walked to the balcony.
"Nianyao, please don't speak to me that way; it makes me sad..." Meng Haotian sounded crestfallen.
Meng Nianyao opened the curtains, letting sunlight flood in. "Meng Haotian, if you're calling just to say meaningless things, I'm hanging up."
"Wait... I want to see you," Meng Haotian hurriedly said. "Let's meet."
Meng Nianyao held her phone and sneered, "Sure." After saying that, she hung up. It seemed that the bait had been taken.
Half an hour later, Meng Nianyao arrived at the location Meng Haotian had mentioned. It was a chic restaurant, with soft music in the background, white tablecloths, and lush green plants—everything Meng Nianyao loved.
Meng Nianyao looked at Meng Haotian, dressed in a white shirt and casual pants, his hair neatly combed. He looked clean and much like the gentleman she had once known.
Seeing Meng Nianyao approach, Meng Haotian pulled out a chair for her, the picture of a gentleman. "Do you like this place?"
Meng Nianyao was disgusted by the charade but couldn't help smiling sardonically. "Meng Haotian, what game are you playing now? Tell me, what do you want?"
"Nianyao..." Meng Haotian's expression showed obvious hurt. He paused and then spoke with a hint of bitterness. "I know you blame me for hurting you, and you hate me, but Nianyao, I had no choice. My mother forced me."
He wiped his face and continued, struggling to explain. "We've been married for nearly three years, but you never allowed me to touch you. My mother wants grandchildren, but we... You can't overcome your psychological barrier. My mother pushed me, and I truly had no choice. She raised me alone, and her greatest wish is to see me married with children."
Meng Nianyao retorted, "So, you conspired with your mother, found a woman to pretend to be your cousin, and openly cheated on me right under my nose. Your whole family plotted to push me into another man's bed just to get a divorce?"
"Nianyao! I didn't want any of this!" Meng Haotian's eyes were red, and he seemed to be in genuine pain. "I had no choice. Truly, I had no choice. They were all pressuring me, one of them being my biological mother, and the other pregnant with my child."
Despite recognizing Meng Haotian's shamelessness long ago, Meng Nianyao still felt disgusted. She grabbed the glass of lemon water and splashed it onto Meng Haotian's face. "You make me sick."
"I love you, Nianyao! You're the only one I've ever loved!" Meng Haotian declared almost simultaneously.
Meng Nianyao remained unmoved and stared at him. Meng Haotian's face was wet, but he didn't seem to care. He gazed affectionately at Meng Nianyao and implored, "Honey... Whether you believe it or not, you're the only woman I've ever loved. Even when I did those things, my heart was in torment. My heart ached, Nianyao. Please don't hate me... I'm truly heartbroken..."
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