The 99th Divorce

All of a sudden, Shen Luo’an smiled and waved at her. “Come here,” he gently said.

Shen Manting was a little hesitant. Upon seeing the smile on his face, she stepped forward.

A little impatient, Shen Luo’an reached out for her and flung her into his embrace.

Shen Manting resisted instinctively. She struggled to free herself with both hands and cried out, “Shen Luo’an, please remember yourself!”

Shen Luo’an loosened his hold on her when he heard that, but his breathing suddenly became urgent. He fell back weakly onto the mattress with his eyes closed. a bitter smile appeared on his face.

He refused to release his hold on Shen Manting’s hand. With a gentle tug, he said again, “Come here.”

Shen Manting had never seen this side of Shen Luo’an. He was lonely, forlorn, and unbearably fragile. This Shen Luo’an was worlds apart from the usually high and mighty Shen Luo’an. It was as if they were two completely different people.

Compassion stirred in Shen Manting’s heart. The initial disgust she had felt ebbed off as she witnessed his loneliness. It soon disappeared altogether.

She took a step forward, and with a twist of her wrist, held to Shen Luo’an hand. She leaned forward and stroked his face. His handsome face was flushed from all the alcohol he had consumed earlier. It was very warm to the touch.

Shen Manting looked the man in front of her. She laid down gently beside him and kept her gaze on him.

This had been her first man, and he was also her brother. By right, she was never supposed to have any relationship with him. He was already married, and to a woman that he’d known since young, no less.

She was supposed to marry another man, but all that had changed. Ever since his violation on her began, ever since the day of her apparent suicide, her life and his life were never going to be the same again.

Feeling the warmth of the body in front of him, Shen Luo’an snuggled closer. His eyelids fluttered open. With a single action, he rolled atop her easily.

Shen Manting cried out in shock. As she took in the flushed face inches away from hers, her heart began to beat rapidly. She could feel her pulse beating throughout her body.

Shen Luo’an held her hand with one hand. His other hand was at her side, propping him up. Slowly, he lowered his head and kissed her warmly on her lips.

His kiss was tender and smooth, but it was also tinged heavily with alcohol fumes. An indescribable jolt flowed throughout her body.

Shen Manting could put her finger on what exactly her emotions were. It was a little unsettling, a little comfortable, and mesmerizingly joyous all at the same time. She had never felt this way with Ou Ming. For that matter, she had never felt that way before when faced with the usual Shen Luo’an either.

She watched as Shen Luo’an closed his eyes and planted gentle kisses on her. His mouth moved slightly lower. With a rumble in his throat, he moaned out, “Youyou…”

Shen Manting’s heart shattered at that very moment. The shock and pain came without any warning whatsoever. She suddenly felt detached from herself and found it hard to breathe.

The alcohol-scented lips continued. But, Shen Manting was no longer lost in her earlier feelings of intoxication. An indescribable and incomprehensible pain filled her heart instantly. She stretched her hands out and pushed him away forcefully.

A surge of heat travelled from her heart to her eyes. For some reason unknown to even Shen Manting, her throat began to ache.

Shen Luo’an had been pushed away suddenly. His eyes shot open. He looked around disorientated. In the dim moonlight, he saw the faint image of someone hugging a pile of clothes and running off.

Was it a dream?