Because I Cannot Hurt You

When An Guoting hurriedly stepped into the Han villa, Han Tian had almost jumped at him, enraged. But Han Liqin quickly came in between.

"Tian! Don't start a fight please…"

"Fight? This won't be just a fight. This will be bloodshed! He dared assault my sister!"

An Guoting froze.

So it was true. She really…

He couldn't believe it. To think that Han Zongying would accuse him of assaulting her blew his mind in shock. He shook hard.

Han Liqin faced him with tears in her eyes. "Guoting…"

An Guoting said nothing. 

"I don't know what's going on, but please... Please tell me that this isn't the truth. I know you! You won't even think about harming her!"

Han Tian clenched his jaw. "You still doubt Zongying? He took revenge because he lost it when she brought the past. Even though he cheated on her, he acted as if he was tired of all the accusations!"

He trembled.

Han Huizhong slowly came out of his room, slightly breathless. His forehead was covered in sweat. "An Guoting…You will pay for this," his eyes were slightly red he icily spoke.

Han Liqin cried and shook her head. "Dad, let him speak please…He would never…Guoting," she looked at him, "Please tell us what happened."

From the corner of his eye, he saw Han Zongying's figure standing in the corridor. She was fidgety and nervous.

An Guoting curled his fingers into a fist. The only reason he came here was because she mentioned An Yueqin. He didn't know what she knew about her, and it sounded crazy when she said that his wife was alive. He couldn't believe it. She was dead. There was no doubt about it.

But a tiny part of his heart believed her. Ever since he had lost her, he had dreamt countless times that her death was a lie, and she would come back to him. He really wanted it to be a bad dream.

But he would always wake up with misty eyes as he saw the other side of the bed empty. Han Zongying's words lit a hope in his heart, and no matter how faint it was, he wanted to have it. He wanted to catch it.

And he was ready to do anything for it.

An Guoting faced Han Liqin. His chest surged in pain, seeing her stand up for his defense. She was desperately looking at him with hope that he would reject all the accusations. But…

"I... really did it."

She froze.

"Zongying said the truth. We got into an argument. I got furious and I attacked her."

Han Liqin stared at him. 

An Guoting trembled and lowered his head. "I am really sorry…" his voice choked.

"Guoting…" tears streamed down her cheeks as she gasped. "Y-you cannot…"

"I have," he said with certainty.

She raised her hand and slapped him across his cheek. It stung in pain, but he didn't say a word.

"You...How could you!?"

Han Zongying stiffened, and she clenched her fists. She felt relieved that he took the blame. But somewhere in her heart, it pained her too. But when she remembered Caihong and his wife, rage filled her chest again.

She threw away the guilt she felt for making him do this.

Han Huizhong gritted his teeth. He didn't want to, but his eyes teared up too, thinking of the monster who touched his daughter.

Only if I hadn't sent her…

He had a lot of things to say, and a lot of fury to express, but he couldn't. A sharp pain shot in his chest, and he collapsed.

"Dad!" 

Everybody stood frozen at their place. An Guoting had his lips parted in shock. There was chaos in the Han villa.

Han Zongying paled. "Dad…"

Han Tian quickly called the doctor. For the moment, everyone focused on his health rather than An Guoting.

The doctor gave Han Huizhong some mild sedatives as he checked him. Then as he stepped out, he said with a grave expression. "It was a heart attack."

Han Tian stammered. "H-Heart attack…?"

"The stress was too much, Mr. Han. He could have...even died."

An Guoting stared at him.

Died?

Han Liqin burst into tears. "No…"

"I don't know what happened, but you really need to keep him away from tense things. He cannot be triggered anymore, or it will be fatal. Don't tell him any such news or things that will put pressure on him or are too shocking to him. He is not in the condition to take another attack."

An Guoting silently listened to him.

He wondered what would happen if Han Huizhong came to know what had actually transpired that night.

Will he be able to bear to listen to what his daughter did? 

The shame and embarrassment he would feel would be heartbreaking. There would be no cure to that pain of knowing that Han Huizhong, who had pride in his daughter, turned out to be like that.

Confessing the truth was like killing Han Huizhong now.

An Guoting silently went away. He met Han Zongying outside.

There was silence.

"Tell me about Yueqin."

Han Zongying stiffened. She stared at him.

Why does he…

He agreed to take the blame for her, and the first thing he asked was about her.

"You…" she dryly laughed. "You really love her that much?"

"Yes," An Guoting didn't hesitate.

She trembled.

"Zongying. If you are lying to me, then I warn you to confess it right now. I am desperate for her. Even if I know that she is dead, I cannot help but believe you, no matter how stupid it might be. So please."

Han Zongying felt a little dizzy. She was riled up with too many emotions in her pregnancy, especially anger.

But if she confessed now, An Guoting would step back too. At this point, if Han Huizhong realized her truth, he wouldn't be able to bear it.

"I don't know much about her...But I think I saw her passing in a car."

An Guoting froze.

"R-really? Was it really Yueqin? A-are you sure of it?"

She felt extremely jealous of her.

"Yes.. But I curse you that you never find her! You betrayed me and then dared to marry another woman and have a child with her while I was suffering! You will never be happy, Guoting. You will also live a lonely life like how you left me with!"