He was silent for a moment, then reached out and embraced her, stroking the top of her head, and whispered, "...Yes!"
Xiao Yisheng sobbed, "...I almost...I almost didn't get to see you, I almost gave up on you, sob—why did you only come back now...If I had been any later, you would have sent me to an arranged marriage, Xiao Yiting...to be pushed out for an arranged marriage by your own hands, how cruel..."
He unconsciously tightened his grip on her, but Xiao Yisheng seemed oblivious, sobbing intermittently, "Over the years, I've tried countless times to awaken you, so many times, but each failure has robbed me of the courage to try again. I even...thought that you might never come back, that you'd forever remain the second personality..."
Her tears and accusations were like a cruel torture, slowly shattering his heart into pieces. Xiao Yiting held her even tighter, as if trying to meld her into his very bones. Aside from that, he only pressed his face against the crook of her neck, repeating over and over, "I'm sorry, Xiao Sheng, I'm sorry..."
It seems that such intimate and affectionate gestures can alleviate his inner guilt and struggle.
He had no right or qualification to explain to her that what he had done to her over the years was not his own will.
For nearly a decade, he had displayed inhuman indifference and repressive, cold-blooded violence, giving her almost all the darkness and coldness that belonged to his second personality...
How could such a far-fetched and weak explanation possibly cover up or erase this...
The heavy melancholy in his eyes deepened, and a hint of panic gradually emerged from the depths of his pupils. Was it too late for him to make amends now?
Is there any future to discuss between him and Xiao Sheng?
As night deepened, the dimly lit living room returned to its previous quiet, with only the faint sounds of Xiao Yisheng's sobs remaining. He continued to hold her, and she did not struggle, obediently staying in his arms despite the pain from his tight embrace.
In just one day, so many things had happened that left her mentally and physically exhausted. Then came this emotional outburst and a good cry. And after learning that the real Xiao Yiting had returned, the tension that had been building for nearly ten years suddenly eased. An unprecedented sense of relief made her slowly close her eyes, snuggle peacefully in Xiao Yiting's arms, and fall asleep.
The night passed with the ticking of the clock. Xiao Yiting leaned against her side, quietly watching her peaceful sleeping face in the dim light of the bedside lamp. He couldn't help but reach out and pinch her cheek as he used to, but the slight indentation of her cheek made his long, slender hand pause in mid-air...
The pain in his eyes was faintly visible...
I still remember her as a pink little bundle of joy back then, with a small, chubby face that felt like a sweet candy to the core.
Over the years, she has become so thin...
He abruptly withdrew his hand, clenched both fists, stared at her for a few moments, then got up and left.
He owes Xiao Sheng an explanation; this is something the Xiao family and he himself owe her...
The next morning, the ordinary morning tranquility of the people of Liangcheng was shattered by two explosive news stories.
— Mr. Xiao Yiting has officially stepped down from his post as governor of Liangcheng.
—The Xiao Group was acquired and controlled by an unknown person, and the rising star of Liangcheng, the Xiao Group, changed hands overnight.
The city of Liang was in an uproar. People were shocked by the downfall of the Xiao family, saddened by the departure of the approachable Governor Xiao, and heartbroken for countless girls who admired him.
Xiao Yiting sat quietly on the sofa, his gaze deep and dark, watching Xiao Wei like an onlooker as he raged in the living room like an ant on a hot plate, a far cry from the refined and gentle image of the Xiao Group's president that outsiders perceived.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
