Chapter 144: Chapter 145: Did You Cheat on Me?

Gu Qichen began, "Disappointed? Xia Yangyang, 'divorce' isn't in my vocabulary. End things with Chen Yu, or I'll be forced to take action."

"Chen Yu again!" Xia Yangyang exclaimed. "Gu Qichen, stop using him as an excuse! You cheated first. You're about to marry Shen Manbing—why expose our relationship? Are you looking for trouble?"

Gu Qichen frowned. "Who said I'm marrying Shen Manbing?"

Xia Yangyang felt unjustly wronged. He still denied it. Did he think she was a fool? How long would he keep up the charade?

"I saw it with my own eyes!" she blurted out. "The day Shen Manbing was hospitalized, you visited her. I was there too. I heard her say you married me for revenge because she rejected your proposal. At Lake Bay, you claimed a business trip, but you were vacationing with her. At Alexander's masquerade ball, she proposed, I saw it, and youkissed. You're together! Why treat me like a fool? I may be young, but I have self-respect!"

Tears welled, but Xia Yangyang held them back. The constant lies, the feeling of being a plaything—that was the worst part. He maintained his good-guy image, even with another woman. Lu Haotian had done the same, and now Gu Qichen.

After a two-second silence, Gu Qichen said, "Since you were there, didn't you see me refuse Manbing's proposal?"

Xia Yangyang was stunned. She'd seen Shen Manbing lean in to kiss Gu Qichen, then Chen Yu had pulled her away. But Gu Qichen had refused?

Gu Qichen guessed she'd only seen part of the incident. The media had also omitted details, though the news was old. Rumors, however, persisted.

"I refused her proposal," he explained seriously. "I was on a business trip at Lake Bay. Shengyuan was planning a project there; my meeting with Manbing was coincidental. I didn't know she'd propose. The hospital visit was my fault—I should have told you. I did propose to Manbing, but that's over. Xia Yangyang, if this bothers you, should I bring up your ten-year relationship with Lu Haotian?"

Xia Yangyang felt guilty. Had she been agonizing over a misunderstanding?

Gu Qichen stood, approaching her. His expression cold, he said, "And you. You secretly went to Lake Bay with Chen Yu, then took a ten-day vacation in Europe. You called it a reunion with an old friend, that 'Brother Yutou' nonsense. Xia Yangyang, tell me the truth—did you cheat on me?"

Xia Yangyang was stunned, shaking her head vehemently. "No, Chen Yu and I are innocent."

Gu Qichen closed in. "Oh? But I heard he proposed a year ago?"

"II didn't accept."

"So it's true?"

"He's an orphan my mother sponsors. He probably wanted to repay her—I didn't agree."

"And what else didn't you accept?"

"Hisconfession."

Gu Qichen had her cornered, against the conference table. His hands on either side, he encircled her. Their breaths mingled.