The 99th Divorce

“Shen Luo’an,” Shen Manting called out as she looked up at him. “I just saw our marriage certificate,” she said.

Shen Luo’an paused and looked at her.

Shen Manting lifted her head up and there was an unreadable expression on her face. “Are we married?” she asked.

After a long silence, Shen Luo’an finally answered her question and said, “Yes.”

“Oh,” replied Shen Manting. Her facial features showed no emotion, making it extremely difficult to know how she truly felt. “What did you do to me in the past two years?” she asked softly.

“I didn’t do anything, Manting,” said Shen Luo’an.

“If you didn’t do anything, then why would I marry you and have sex with you?” Shen Manting asked him in a fit of rage. She then grabbed hold of his hand and led him over to the bedside cabinet. She pulled the top drawer open, pulled out a row of birth control products and screamed, “There are ten per box but there are only seven in here!”

Shen Luo’an remained silent as she raged.

Shen Manting continued her rant, “You can’t possibly be bringing other women back to your house to spend the night.”

From this, Shen Manting was certain that she was the only one who would have used these pills.

He had assaulted her again without her knowledge or consent, or so she thought.

Shen Manting’s heart ached; she felt an overwhelming sense of repulse and grief as this thought crossed her mind.

Her eyes stung and tears flooded out.

Shen Luo’an could not help but reach out to pull her into his arms as he called out her name, “Manting.”

Shen Manting did not resist and allowed him to hug her as her hands hung limply on either side of her body.

Her tears continued to trickle down her cheeks endlessly and as she choked on her own tears, she said, “I don’t even remember marrying you. You brute. I would never have married you if I had been conscious.”

Brute.

She always used this term when she cursed at him back then.

In the past, his heart would be filled with rage and he would react aggressively.

However, now, after three years, all Shen Luo’an felt was heartache.

“Yes, I’m a brute,” Shen Luo’an admitted. “But you’ve already married me…” he trailed off.

He tightened his arms around her and continued on softly, “I’ll never divorce you. I can’t divorce you, it’s for the sake of our child as well as for Mom, Dad and for us. You’re mine in life and even after death.”

Shen Manting could only laugh when she heard this.

She struggled against his embrace for a while but could not break free.

Shen Luo’an’s determination was unshakable; he then replied firmly, “We’re a married couple now, whether you like it or not. You can hate me but our child needs his mother. He needs you.”

Shen Manting stopped struggling as she heard this and tears streamed down her cheeks even more furiously.

“I need you too,” he continued.

Shen Luo’an felt a ripple of emotions in his heart when he said this.

Anxiety and uneasiness washed over him.

However, after he heard his own reply, he was hit by a sudden realisation.

He was still unsure of his decision when Young Manting had questioned him earlier on. But right now, he was absolutely certain and determined.

Shen Luo’an hugged Shen Manting and with great resolve claimed, “I want you.”

Only the conscious Shen Manting was the real one.

Young Manting was a mere accident.

Shen Luo’an had taken advantage of Young Manting many times because she did not know any better.

Ultimately, he only thought of Young Manting as Shen Manting with amnesia, and felt nothing more towards her; he loved the real Manting, not her.

He had never thought of her as the actual Shen Manting.

Shen Luo’an was hugging Shen Manting so tightly that Shen Manting could actually feel his chest vibrate as he spoke.

After he uttered the last three words, Shen Manting felt as if her mind had been punctured by a shrill shriek.

Shen Manting felt quite uncomfortable and pushed him away as she said, “My head hurts…”

All of a sudden, her mind was in turmoil.

She felt an onset of fury, extreme grief and discomfort.

Shen Manting was slightly dazed as she looked at Shen Luo’an and subconsciously, she resisted the negative emotions she felt in her heart.

Shen Luo’an was shocked when he saw her reaction. He then laid her down in bed anxiously and hurriedly instructed her, “Don’t fall asleep. I’ll call Zhilie over. Don’t fall asleep!”