Liu Leah might have changed two months ago, but that change worked well for their plan.
On the main entrance of the eighteenth-floor private hospital where Liu Leah was recuperating…
“Go back and do not come again until the Lius contact you. These are Liu Aiden’s words,” a towering Zed said indifferently to Zhao Bolin before going back inside and closing the main door. Four additional guards blocked the doors with their bodies after they were shut.
+++++
In Li Mei’s room, the doctor had just announced that the fetus was still not completely safe, but full recovery seemed not far behind. While Li Mei and Aunt Hi were busy chatting with the doctor, Wang Haoran suddenly received an email notification. He frowned as he read the subject of the email.
‘I’m Sorry’ by Liu Leah.
Upon opening, he saw a list of Liu Leah’s impulsive acts against Li Mei, all written with a starting 'I'm sorry' phrase.
I am sorry I poured lukewarm water over Li Mei’s head last Tuesday once
I am sorry I lied to Li Mei about the new HR office last Monday
I am sorry I ripped the document she was supposed to submit last Friday
…..
….
…
..
.
While reading down to the bottom, Wang Haoran's frown deepened.
He had heard everything written here, but something didn't seem right. He heard more accusations against Li Mei, but Liu Leah claimed that she only did what she listed in the email.
Li Mei noticed Wang Haoran's silence and asked, 'What's wrong, Haoran?'
Wang Haoran looked up. “Liu Leah sent me an email,” he said with a confused expression. Li Mei gripped the blankets, her expression filled with worry.
He approached her and showed her the list. "Are all of Liu Leah's wrongdoings here? Nothing is missing?" he asked with uncertainty.
Li Mei took her time to read and absentmindedly nodded. "Why would Liu Leah send this?" she thought aloud.
Wang Haoran stiffened. He was surprised that what Liu Leah said in the email was all true. He noticed that all of Liu Leah's actions were petty. It was like a child throwing a tantrum. It seemed more like an attempt to humiliate Li Mei rather than cause serious harm.
"What about the time when you were accused of stealing the company's confidential documents?" he asked again.
"That was a mistake made by a colleague, but she apologized, so I did not report her," Li Mei answered back with a confused expression.
"What about the time you got locked on the top floor during winter without winter clothes on?" Wang Haoran continued to inquire.
"That was a mistake made by another co-worker from the sales department. However, she also begged me not to tell anyone because she has a sick mother at home and she cannot afford to be fired," Li Mei answered again.
Before Wang Haoran could open his mouth to ask more questions, Li Mei spoke quickly. "These are all and only Liu Leah's misdeeds against me," she pointed at the laptop.
"The other incidents are just accidents by others, and I promised them not to tell anyone, so you cannot ask me, okay?" Li Mei added with a determined look, prepared to defend her promise.
Ding!
Another notification arrived. Wang Haoran hesitantly clicked on it.
‘I Was There’ by Liu Leah was the title.
Wang Haoran glanced at the content.
June XX, XXXX
16:15:00 - 17:30:45
Image 1
Image 2
The content consisted of a simple text with a date and time. Two images were attached to the email. The first image showed a blurry but discernible security image of Wang Haoran and Li Mei, naked in the car. The second image depicted Liu Leah sitting in her car, crying. Both images were time-stamped.
An afternote was added: "Two videos are heavy, so I did not include them. Now we're even."
Li Mei had been observing Wang Haoran's expression. At first, his face showed confusion with some hesitation, then it turned into doubt and finally settled on guilt.
Worried, Li Mei asked, "What's wrong, Haoran?"
Noticing the serious atmosphere brewing in the room, the hospital staff quietly left. Even Aunt Hi silently departed to prepare dinner in the private kitchen provided on the hospital floor. She sent a text message to inform the couple of her whereabouts and intentions.
Wang Haoran closed his laptop and joined Li Mei in bed, smiling weakly at her as he hugged her close. "Nothing. I'm just tired," he said softly.
With closed eyes, he added, "I'm just going to take a nap. Wake me up when it's dinner time."
"Alright, rest well," Li Mei replied with relief, smiling before kissing Wang Haoran's forehead. She then took her tablet and resumed the wedding preparations. Finally, she thought. Wang Haoran would become her official husband in just one month. She reflected on the risk she took by not taking the morning-after pill after their first meeting and encouraging him not to use protection while making love. It seemed to have paid off.
Wang Haoran told her everything before he left the country. He mentioned how many times she almost lost her life, including himself, due to his half-brothers’ plots. He also mentioned that he does not have the ability to protect her and that even if he relinquishes his right of inheritance, his half-brothers will not stop until he dies and the people around him are harmed.
To protect Li Mei, himself, and the people important to him, Wang Haoran decided to move far away. He would distance himself from all the people important in his life until he could stand against his enemies. He officially broke up with her with the intent of not looking back.
When Wang Haoran left, Li Mei stopped doing anything for a whole year. She was devastated and felt like she went back to the day she lost her parents.
She moved to another city, far from anything that reminded her of Wang Haoran and her parents. She relied solely on takeout for food, groceries, and necessities. It wasn't until she heard rumors that Wang Haoran was about to be engaged to the heiress of the Liu conglomerate that she was able to pick herself up.
Her competitiveness ignited when she saw Liu Leah's profile online. Her passion to win back Wang Haoran was reignited, reminiscent of when she was first rejected by him before university. From then on, she lived her life while dreaming of being reunited with Wang Haoran and marrying him.
She returned to school while keeping a vigilant eye out for any news, whether real or not, about Wang Haoran and Liu Leah. Unfortunately, she only came across false news about the two for years until she graduated.
Li Mei's love for Wang Haoran bordered on obsession. He became the ultimate goal she set for herself from the moment she laid eyes on him. It felt as though they were destined for each other, like two puzzle pieces fitting perfectly together. Wang Haoran became a necessity, not just a desire, for Li Mei. She neither wanted nor could extricate herself from him.
Her fixation on Wang Haoran grew stronger every time he pushed her away.
While looking at venues for the upcoming wedding, Li Mei frowned when she noticed a bar next to the place she was interested in. It reminded her of the night before she confronted Wang Haoran. That bar was where she made the worst decision of her life. It was where the real father of her unborn child slept with her that night.
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