The 99th Divorce

As Shen Manting spoke, she stared squarely at Shen Luo’an.

When she observed that his continued silence, grievance built up in her heart.

Tears poured out of her eyes and with renewed vigor, she couldn’t help but tighten her hold on Shen Luo’an as she cried out, “Hubby, Hubby! The one you love is me, not that woman! Don’t fall in love with her, please!”

Hearing the desperate sound of her sobs brought an ache to Shen Luo’an’s heart.

Her anxiety and fear were clearly displayed.

Shen Luo’an hesitated for a moment before eventually hugging her tightly. With her wrapped in his embrace, he gently said, “You’re being silly. The one I love is Shen Manting, and it has always been. Don’t cry. You’re going to look ugly if you continue to cry.”

“No! No!” Shen Manting was very persistent. She held him tightly and yelled, “You know that isn’t me! I’m not her, and she isn’t me! I know… that she hates you. And you know… that she hates you too. Why can’t you just… love me and only me?”

She choked out these words desperately as she sobbed.

Every word she uttered poked at Shen Luo’an heart.

Indeed, Shen Manting hated him. Even Little Manting knew that.

Why was he still being so persistent?

Perhaps… it was because to him, both the original Shen Manting and the 12-year-old version of her were the same person…

Upon seeing that Shen Luo’an had fallen silent again, Shen Manting cried even harder.

With her face red from crying, she looked up at Shen Luo’an and she reached out to cup his face lovingly.

Shen Manting kissed him directly on his lips. Her actions were awkward and anxious as she nibbled at his lips.

Shen Luo’an did not reject her but neither did he respond.

He looked at her with a sense of serenity in his eyes despite feeling extremely conflicted inside.

Shen Manting wept and said, “She hates it when I do this to you and doesn’t want me to.”

Thereafter, she wrapped her arms around his neck. “But I love it. I love it when you kiss me, Hubby. Will you please kiss me and hug me again?”

Shen Luo’an pressed his lips into a thin line when he heard that.

Shen Manting shuddered and sniffed, she looked like she was about to cry again.

She looked every bit like a child as tears rolled down her face. She said, “Hubby, why aren’t you saying anything? Why aren’t you answering me?”

Shen Luo’an sighed softly and reached out to wipe the tears from her cheeks. In a gentle tone, he said, “To me, you are Shen Manting, and Shen Manting is you. I can’t treat both of you as two different people. Manting, you are my wife and the mother of my child.”

“No…” Shen Manting whined, “She’s not your wife! I, alone, am your wife! I love you! She doesn’t love you! Don’t be fooled…”

Shen Luo’an felt his heart getting stabbed repeatedly.

Shen Manting sobbed and grabbed Shen Luo’an’s hand. “I was the one who put this ring on for you!” she protested. “At our wedding next month, I’ll put it on for you again, and you’ll do the same for me. As long as you don’t want the other Shen Manting to return, I’ll be able to continue staying by your side. Hubby, I beg you. Love me, please?”

Shen Luo’an was startled. “What do you mean by that?” he asked.

Shen Manting’s eyes were filled with tears as she met his, and she slowly explained, “I don’t know. It’s just a feeling I have… if you love her, she will kill me. If you love me, I’ll stay by your side forever.”