202: Chapter 160: I Want a World Without You_3 202: Chapter 160: I Want a World Without You_3 “Boom—” A string in Fu Tingzhou’s mind, wound tightly, snapped.

Even cracks appeared on his face.

Disbelieving, trembling black pupils.

Clasped fingers, squeezed into fists.

No one understood how this sentence smashed viciously into the bottom of his heart, splattering blood and flesh.

His lips, pale and trembling, “Is this what you truly feel in your heart?”

Tang Xi no longer looked at him and closed her eyes, “Hmm.”

Her fingers were taut at the knuckles.

The fingertips congested and turned pale.

Several minutes passed, and Tang Xi had not heard his voice.

She opened her eyes to look at him.

She could never forget Fu Tingzhou’s expression at that moment, a pitiful one, emerging from the darkness, under the dim light of the bedside lamp, half-visible yet cruel and fragile.

Tang Xi couldn’t imagine such an expression on the face of Fu Tingzhou, a man of such cold demeanor.

She was stunned for a few seconds.

“Fu Tingzhou, I only ask you one question, do you love me?

Are you willing to marry me?”

She asked him very sincerely and earnestly.

Tang Xi tightly clenched her fingers, constantly exerting force, yet at this moment, as her breath caught in her throat, she couldn’t feel the pain, only nervousness, with a heavy feeling in her chest.

She looked into Fu Tingzhou’s eyes, waiting for his answer.

In his heart, was she merely a plaything for relief?

A product of his possessive desire?

Or, does he truly love her?

Fu Tingzhou seemed to be stunned, not expecting Tang Xi to ask this question.

To be precise, he didn’t understand what love was, what it meant to love someone?

He only wanted the woman in front of him to stay by his side!

As long as she obeyed, he was willing to support and pamper her for a lifetime.

Everything she wanted – wealth, status, jewelry – he would give it all to her.

But to marry her…

They had once been married.

But that was a marriage he loathed to the extreme, one he would not have agreed to if not for his mother’s coercion.

However, currently, Fu Tingzhou didn’t feel averse to marrying her.

If marrying her meant keeping her, Fu Tingzhou was willing.

But what he needs to face is the stable consolidation of Fu Family’s power, the threats from the Shu Family that require pacification, the necessity to firmly hold the Fu Family in his hands – all of these things require time.

Fu Tingzhou said nothing, just kept looking deeply at her, and after a few seconds, his voice hoarse, he asked, “Tang Xi, are you willing to wait for me?”

Tang Xi scoffed coldly.

Wait?

This word seemed to be a silent response to his question.

The word ‘wait’ holds no promise of a future.

After all, it’s Su Mengshu he plans to marry, or perhaps if not her, then one of the Shu Family’s daughters.

And if not them, then any other distinguished young lady.

And herself?

She could only be the woman kept hidden away.

He comes to dote on her when he’s pleased.

When he forgets her, she faces a lifetime of lonely air.

Waiting for his pitiful charity to pass her days.

Tang Xi’s voice was resolute and hoarse, yet exceptionally clear in the quiet and empty room, her words resounding, “Fu Tingzhou, I am not willing.”

The man’s eyes narrowed sharply.

After these words, there was no more communication between them.

Fu Tingzhou held her in his arms on the bed.

Neither of them could fall asleep.

Tang Xi closed her eyes, but her mind was flashing through memories of the past few years with Fu Tingzhou, starting from their first meeting; her living frugally in need of a scholarship, clad in a plain white shirt, shoes coming unglued as she stood on the award podium, accepting the scholarship from this man.

At that moment, a seed was planted in her heart.

They were secretly married.

Yet he did not even know her name, calling her Su Xi, becoming her sister’s boyfriend.

She started longing for divorce, yet anticipating that he might look at her more, she carefully searched for a place by his side – Tang Xi thought, as long as this man liked her a tiny bit, she would give it her all.

Why is it that he likes Su Mengshu?

Before going to the detention center, she had rehearsed all the words to explain why she had to suffer there, why her child had to be aborted.

Why doesn’t he believe in her feelings for him?

Since the misunderstanding started, she felt like she was caught in a huge vortex.

As if this vortex wanted to swallow her whole.

She had enough of this life in hiding.

After this, he no longer restricted her freedom.

Tang Xi heard from Nie Xiaoyun the next afternoon that she could go out for a walk, but Nie Xiaoyun had to follow her every step of the way.