Eternal Love: A Love Story Chapter 4 - A Condition

Recalling the agonizing moments from her past, her brow creased, her eyes reflecting a tumultuous blend of regret, love, and pain.

She couldn't fathom why she was unable to swim, given her proficiency as a swimmer. In that moment, it felt as though her body was rendered immobile, incapable of any movement, as she could only witness herself succumbing to the frigid waters and sinking into the encroaching darkness.

This was an artificial pond, meticulously constructed at the behest of Xiao Li. She delighted in feeding the fish and wished to stroll by the water's edge. Consequently, she had commissioned the creation of a pond that was both vast and deep.

And, as was customary, the Empress Dowager acquiesced to her desires.

Zhao Ming was lost in contemplation, pondering whether her demise held any connection to Xiao Li.

Liwei observed Xie Ming, whose face was etched with a bitter and troubled expression.

Perceiving the emotions swirling within her eyes, his own gaze flickered momentarily. Nevertheless, he managed to compose himself, his expression regaining its customary coldness as he met her gaze once more.

He felt a disquietude under her scrutiny as she turned her attention toward him, fixing her stare upon him, yet he endeavored to maintain an impassive facade.

He had anticipated tears or an outburst, a display of her displeasure, but her response left him utterly astonished.

She articulated, "We are married, are we not? While you may not harbor affection for me, surely you possess some modicum of conscience, do you not? I have only just emerged from a coma, with no recollection of my name or anything else, yet the very first inquiry you pose is not regarding my condition, but for a divorce?"

"If a divorce is what you desire, so be it. I shall grant it, but with one stipulation."

Liwei narrowed his eyes, attempting to grasp the unfolding situation.

His assistant, Gu Shao, approached him, providing a detailed explanation in hushed tones.

Following Liwei's directive, Gu Shao had already consulted the physician to ascertain the specifics of her condition. Liwei had been immersed in a crucial meeting when the hospital contacted him with the news that Xie Ming had regained consciousness.

He promptly excused himself from the meeting and hastened to the hospital to see her.

Upon hearing Gu Shao's account, he regarded Xie Ming with a bewildered expression.

He remained uncertain whether Xie Ming was feigning memory loss or had genuinely forgotten.

His gaze remained fixed upon her, attempting to decipher her thoughts through her remarkably composed demeanor. His decision to marry her stemmed not from love.

Rather, it was a prerequisite set by his grandfather: he could only assume the CEO position upon his marriage to her, a condition he fulfilled.

He had harbored the hope that marital life might foster affection, but her excessively possessive conduct only served to widen the chasm between them, leading to frequent disputes.

Consequently, he began spending more time at the office, seeking refuge from her presence. However, this only fueled her suspicions, and she would occasionally lodge complaints with their grandfather, accusing him of infidelity. These actions further estranged him from her, to the extent that even her suicide attempt appeared to be a mere ploy.

After this internal reflection, his expression hardened, and he inquired, "A condition?"

"Now you speak with some semblance of reason. I too was beginning to wonder how a woman such as yourself could possibly speak of conscience."

"Hah. Then tell me, how much monetary compensation do you seek? I shall provide it. After all, wealth and status are the sole pursuits occupying your desires. Love and conscience? What sort of jest is that?" he scoffed coldly.

Xie Ming met his gaze, her deep brown eyes locking with his, and in his eyes, she declared, "I will grant you a divorce, but only once my memories return. Not a moment before that."

"Given my complete amnesia, there is a possibility you could coerce me into accepting responsibilities for actions I did not commit, placing me at a significant disadvantage. Let us set a period of six months. Should my memories not resurface by then, and you still desire a divorce, I shall comply without seeking any recompense. Is it a deal?"

Having uttered these words, a pang of regret began to surface, for she was not the true Xie Ming, and there was no guarantee her memories would ever return.

Should she be compelled to divorce without any restitution, her survival in this world would be precarious. Yet, what recourse did she have? To retract now would be an affront to her pride as an Empress, and her pride was all she possessed at this moment.

She gathered her composure, meeting his gaze with unwavering confidence.

Observing her response and the terms of her proposal, he mused, 'Has she lost her memories, or her sanity?'

'Is she merely acting, or has she truly lost her memories?' After all, she was his wife, albeit only in name. Yet, he still possessed a man's 'conscience.'

After a contemplative pause, he looked at her, his eyebrows arching in amusement as he noted her exceedingly confident and proud demeanor, and declared, "Deal."