The Mafia King's First Love

Chapter 440 - Behind The Mask (3)

Wei blinked his eyes. He parted his lips, but he didn't know how to answer her question.

"I...am your friend…"

If it had been before, Wei would have instantly answered it. Why wouldn't he care about his wife he loved so much?

But now, the situation was different.

"Really? Only because you are my friend? Only because you see me as your friend?"

He pursed his lips.

Lihua looked at him. "Do you know who you remind me so much of?"

Wei stared at her and shook his head.

"My... ex-husband, Jiang Wei."

He twitched unnoticeably.

"You are very much like him. The way you look, talk, and the way you care about me much is just like him. Whenever I am with you, I always feel as if Wei is around me. I really didn't understand why."

Wei didn't know why but a gulp passed down his throat. "I-I see…"

"It was really strange. How can two people be so similar? And how can some other man make my heart skip a beat? It is impossible. You know. Whenever you stood closer to me, I felt my heart flutter in joy."

Wei's gaze softened.

"My heart raced faster. It was like those times when I used to live with Wei," her eyes showes a flicker of some emotion. "But when...I realized that I was acting strange whenever you were with me or I felt those feelings I was only supposed to have for Wei, I was confused and troubled for a long time. There are differences between him and me now, but it doesn't mean that I can forget him. I told you this before, right?"

He nodded though he didn't understand where she was going with this. He felt unsettled.

"Really, there is nobody in this world that can take Wei's place in my life, yet I was beginning to give that place to you. Whether it was us going back and forth to college together, having a ramen meal or us studying in the library, I started to feel your presence more and more. You were growing special for me. I wasn't supposed to feel this way. I know my feelings for Wei. It is impossible for me to fall in love with another man. It is just impossible. Unless…"

She didn't tear her gaze away from him. "I fell in love with the same man again."

Wei rapidly blinked his eyes. He felt his voice stutter, "W-What?"

"Who is behind the mask, Huang Liangshi? Or should I ask you to remove it...Wei."

He froze. It was so sudden that he couldn't say anything in his defense.

Before he could speak, Lihua already raised her palm up, "If you really care about me even a little bit, then don't lie to me."

Silence.

Wei's mind was in a mess, and all his thoughts were jumbled up. But he didn't want to give any excuses because he cared about her.

So, he painstakingly raised his hand and removed the mask. It peeled off, and the real Jiang Wei stood before her.

Who was hell scared now.

He couldn't meet her gaze, so he just looked left and right before he lowered it, not daring to look at her.

Lihua folded her arms, and under her scrutiny, Wei felt beads of sweat form on his forehead.

"I always wondered how in the world could I move on from you and already fall in love again? Well, if it is the same man, then it shouldn't be surprising."

Wei shivered. He didn't know what to say anymore. Lihua already hated him for lying to him, and now he lied to her yet again.

How was he supposed to save himself?

He said with a hoarse voice, "This wasn't my plan…"

Her brow heavily twitched.

"It was Lanying, Ruiling and Fai's plan."

"..."

"They forced me into this."

"..."

"So, please do not be a-angry at me…"

"..."

If the trio had been here, they would have puked blood by Wei's betrayal.

Lihua grimaced. "Do you really think that they can force you into doing something that the Mafia King doesn't want?"

He had no answer.

It was impossible because Wei only listened to Lihua and nobody else.

"If you agreed to this plan, then it means that you wanted to do this."

He opened and closed his mouth numerous times, and then he fell silent.

Lihua softly gritted her teeth as she accusingly glared at him. "What did you achieve by doing this, Wei? What was your purpose? We are already separated now. You should go your way, and you should let me go my way. Then why are you making things difficult for me?" A tear trickled down her cheek. "I am trying to stay away from you. Do you think it's easy for me? No! So why are you pouring cold water over my efforts…" She felt tired.

She ran past him, but he quickly pulled her back and hugged her from behind. "Because I cannot live without you, Lihua…"

Lihua cried and trembled.

"I am sorry for lying to you again. I didn't want to trick you like this, but I just wanted to stay beside you…" he bit his lip and hugged her tighter, "I just wanted to be where you are. I...It feels lonely without you, Lihua. I want to be with you and our child. I want to take care of you."

Lihua tried her hardest not to cry, but she couldn't hold back her tears. "Then whose fault is it that we are suffering like this? Why can't you say that you didn't kill my sister? Why was it you? Do you think I am enjoying this? Do you think I don't feel lonely? When I was...when I was shopping all by myself for the baby, do you know how horrible I felt!? I felt envious of the couple who were shopping together. And I wondered why couldn't we be like that?"

She turned and pushed him away. Her wet eyes made him feel as if he was walking on thorns.

"Our whole lives have been turned upside down. Everything you do is meaningless…"