The file with their real marriage papers slipped from Wei's hands, and he trembled. Lihua, the cat, felt something wet on her neck, and she vigorously shook her head.

  What is this human doing?

  Her green eyes stared into Wei's black irises that shone with tears and which looked tired. He seemed lost and lifeless.

  Wei let out a sad chuckle. "In the end, I will still lie to you, Lihua. Even though……even though you despise me for lying to you all this time, I am still going to lie once again……That is how…… important your existence is in my life, Lihua…" he blankly mumbled to himself, "You already hate me so much. You don't want to see my face. You want to leave me. Everything is already ruined between us……What will a fake divorce ruin anything more?"

  "But this way…" he gasped for breath, "T-this way I know that we are not r-really separated. That is enough for me. I am breaking your trust once again…" Suddenly he looked even more empty than before.

  *Meow*

  Lihua, the cat, narrowed her eyes and scratched his shirt with her paws.

  Get out of it, human! I don't like the way you are looking right now, she hissed.

  Wei lowered his gaze, and his gaze fell on the cat. He faintly smiled. "You are also Lihua…" his voice choked, "W-will you leave me too just like her? Will you also leave my side?"

  Lihua, the cat, stopped her vicious attacks.

  "You are hitting me because I hurt Lihua, right? I did something bad…… really bad to her…"

  Lihua, the cat, unreservedly slashed his face with her paws. Wei felt the slight stinge on his cheeks as she scratched him.

  Idiot human! Somebody teach him my language! I want you to snap out of your pathetic and gloomy self! Who is talking about leaving you? This home is too comfortable for me to leave! So get it through your head that this Lihua will always stay by your side, human!

  Trying to prove her point, she firmly secured her place in his lap as if she had no intention of moving even an inch.

  *Meowww*

  Hmph!

  Wei's trembling hands reached her, and he gently hugged her, crying hard. Her soft and warm furry body slightly made him feel relieved.

  Lihua, the cat, harrumphed.

  A cat's life is so difficult. I have to take care of these humans too……

  Wei felt a hand on his shoulder, and he slowly lifted his gaze.

  Old Madam kneeled at his side, and her sight fell on the two files. She faintly read the contents and realized that they were two sets of marriage papers. Somehow, she understood what Wei might be thinking to do.

  "Will it be a divorce with only Jiang Lixue so that you would remain married to Song Lihua?"

  Wei said nothing. But his silence was his answer.

  Old Madam placed her hand on his head and sadly smiled. "If I tell you not to do this, then will you listen to me?"

  Wei shook hard and feeling afraid and uneasy, he hugged Lihua, the cat, slightly tighter.

  Yes, yes. I am here. I am not going anywhere.

  "Wei, I understand your fear and desperation. I know you want to hang onto the last thread that will keep you both connected in some way. You are ready to grab onto anything if it means that you won't lose Lihua. But don't do this, Wei."

  Wei took a sharp breath and glared at her. "I don't want to hear anything about this! Why……why does everyone want to take Lihua away from me? I-I cannot live without her. She won't know about this. Even though it will be fake, she……she will still leave me. That won't change, would it? She will still walk away from me, and I won't be able to stop her. B-But this way, I will know that she is still mine," he trembled, "She already hates me……What does it matter if I do this? She will still hate me. She will still leave me. But I know that we will still be connected!"

  Old Madam said, "But you will lose the last shred of respect you have in her heart, Wei."

  He trembled.

  "She asked for a divorce. Somewhere or the other, she is still trusting you that you will accept her decision and truthfully go through it. She thinks her marriage is fake. Now you want the divorce to be fake too. Wei. Did you ever account for Lihua's feelings?"

  He bit his lip hard.

  "You married her, giving her a fake identity. Now, you want to make her think that she would be divorced, but in reality, she wouldn't be. Wei, this time, don't get swept away by your fear. I really know it's a hard time for you. But if you do this, then Lihua would truly hate you from the bottom of her heart, Wei."

  Tears streamed down his eyes, and he felt his heart squeeze in pain.

  "You listened to your fear last time, and it brought you here today. If you listen to it again, that's when……you will truly lose Lihua. You married her the way you wanted. You want the divorce to happen your way too. Where does Lihua come in these important decisions, Wei? Don't make her bridge that gap where you would truly lose her. If she wants a divorce, then," she trembled, "respect her decision. There might still be a way for you to redeem yourself. It looks impossible, but if you sincerely feel guilty and repent your mistakes, then Lihua might forgive you one day…Just don't break her trust now."

  Wei silently heard everything without giving any response.

  Old Madam stared at him and lowered her gaze in sadness.

  "Please think about it Wei. I only want your well-being."

  She slowly got up and left.

  Wei remained kneeled for a long, long time. His mind was empty. But Old Madam's words never left him.

  He sadly smiled…… "I see."