The night light provided enough illumination for Zhang Jiren to see in the master bedroom. Since he and Li Meili moved into this private villa and lived with the housekeeper her family sent, they started sharing a room and a bed but had kept a safe distance from each other.

  Li Meili was already fast asleep and was curled up on their massive bed, her breathing deep and even. He wasn't surprised at all as he always left for work before she woke up and returned home while she was deep in her slumber. She probably didn't even know what time he returned from work at night.

  She looked so small and vulnerable as she slept with her bulging stomach, making it hard for Li Meili to find a comfortable position to sleep at night. She once told him that she likes sleeping on her stomach before, but ever since she found out she was pregnant, Li Meili unconsciously changed her position as she sleeps in fear that she might harm her baby.

  Zhang Jiren slipped his feet out of his shoes and he patted his feet silently on the hardwood floor, trying not to wake her up from her slumber. The slight darkening under her eyes indicated that Li Meili was having a hard time sleeping these days and he didn't want to disturb her when she finally got a chance to get some decent sleep.

  He slid inside the walk-in closet he shared with his wife and shed his clothes before going into the bathroom to get a quick shower and brush his teeth. As he brushed his teeth and stared at his reflection in the mirror, he realized how his life had suddenly changed ever since he married Li Meili.

  He used to come home at night to an empty home with no one waiting for his return. Wasn't this why he had chosen to drown himself at work so he wouldn't have time to think of what was missing in his life?

  Even though he rarely talked to and saw his wife these days, knowing that someone was waiting for his return was enough for Zhang Jiren. Though he had to remind himself that Li Meili wasn't his real wife and the child she was carrying wasn't his. It would be better for him not to get too attached to the two of them or else he might regret it later.

  He crawled on the bed carefully and slid beneath the cover, not wanting to wake her up, but Li Meili moved over to his side and curled against him, sighing in her sleep. Zhang Jiren stayed still, not making a move. This wasn't the first time it happened and he had no doubt that Li Meili had no idea of what she had done while she slept and he didn't dare to raise the issue.

  She was all softness pressed against his hard body and her baby powder scent reached his nose. Unlike other women Zhang Jiren met in the past, Li Meili was one of the women he knew who disliked wearing floral scented perfumes.

  Her left hand rested on his c.h.e.s.t and Zhang Jiren thought that he had gotten used to sharing his bed with Li Meili as he used to sleep n.a.k.e.d before marrying her. It would be usual to see a married couple with less or even no clothes on in each other's company, but since he was only pretending to be her husband, he didn't want to make her uncomfortable during the two years of their marriage.

  The diamond wedding ring sparkled a little in the night light. Zhang Jiren didn't understand why she refused to wear the engagement ring that Tang Beixuan intended to give to her before his passing and chose to wear their wedding ring instead, but he didn't dare to question her.

  There were so many reasons why he cannot fall in love with Li Meili and Zhang Jiren had to recite it every morning, reminding himself to keep distance from his twin sister's best friend.

  As much as he wanted to spoil her and dote on her, he wasn't supposed to fall in love with her, to care for her and her child. But there were times when Zhang Jiren found himself smiling at Li Meili's company and it bothered him. It baffled him how he found Li Meili's company refreshing and that he could easily get along with her.

  If Li Meili found out that he was having this kind of thoughts about her, Zhang Jiren wouldn't be surprised if she demanded for divorce on the spot. How can he not be attracted to her anyway? Li Meili was a kind hearted person, beautiful and talented. She also regarded his twin sister dearly and looked after Tang Moyu at the time he couldn't help her.

  They had only been married for half a year and Zhang Jiren knew he needed to get the reign of control on his feelings and thoughts so he wouldn't get swayed by it. Li Meili wasn't supposed to be his wife. She was Tang Beixuan's woman. He didn't have a single right to care for her.

  Li Meili stirred in her sleep but didn't wake up. Instead she scooted closer to him for warmth. During the first weeks of them sharing the same bed, Li Meili had put a wall of pillows between them, telling him not to dare touch her at will, but how was Zhang Jiren supposed to know that she would be the one who would dare to touch him instead?

  "It was an accident, I didn't mean to coddle you." Li Meili had blurted out the next morning when she found herself trapping Zhang Jiren on the bed with her arm and leg pinning him down.

  A small frown appeared on her brow, clearly she was dreaming of something in her sleep. Zhang Jiren placed a chaste kiss on it, willing it away. Her happiness and safety was his utmost priority right now. Until she deemed that she needed him, he would remain by her side.