Tang turned around and closed in the distance swiftly.

He whispered in her ear, "are you scared to be with me in a public place now? Think you will lose control?"

She hit him in anger, "do you think this is a joke? You are about to get married. You spent the past few hours in her arms and now you are indulging in this…this banter with me. Yes, I don't want to be around you right now. But it is not for the reasons you think. It is because I am ashamed of my actions and myself. You may have been drunk but I was in my senses. I should have known better".

Seeing the tears gather in those bewitching eyes, Tang put his arms around her and held on despite her resistance, "none of us had planned this and I know that does not justify our actions but I don't want you to blame yourself for it".

He released his hold on her and ran his fingers through his hair, "it happened, Jia Li! Dammit, I had seen you after such a long time and you are the most beautiful woman in this world for me. I lost control and I am sorry. But please don't take away the few precious moments of togetherness that we have for the next couple of days".

He forestalled the protest on her lips, "I know what you are going to say and you are right that this is not how I should be feeling especially on my wedding eve but would you have me behave like a hypocrite instead?"

She steeled her thundering emotions and replied curtly, "I believe that if a man cannot be true to his woman, no matter the temptation, he is not worthy of being her man".

He looked in disbelief at the stony woman who had been a wild, pa.s.sionate creature in his arms only a few moments ago.

"Do the same rules apply to women as well? Did you not admit being an active, sane partic.i.p.ant in what happened just few moments ago? So what does that make you? Forget it, don't bother answering. Anyways, if that is how you want it, we shall play by your rules…today and always", he snarled and walked away.

She crumpled on the floor where Li Jie found her sobbing after half hour.

"What is wrong sweetheart? Are you hurt? Is everything ok back home? Talk to me…you are scaring me", he implored.

She looked up and smiled through the stream of tears, "let's see, shall we? My divorce is finally coming through after four and half years of infidelity and umpteen number of marriage counselling sessions. My ex-husband wants me to be his new best friend and help him convince his girlfriend to marry him. The love of my life has finally decided to get married and seems to have found the perfect mate. Amongst all this, is my poor battered heart which seems to have given up on its self-control finally and is unable to handle the proximity between the intended couple".

She took a deep breath and said evenly, "I am sorry. I guess I am just fatigued and the last few weeks have taken a toll on me".

He scooted over closer to where she was sitting on the floor and took her cold fingers in his own, "Cheng Fu is a bas**** and needs to be hanged for what he did to you. I also agree that Tang's wedding news couldn't have been more ill-timed. But I had begged you then also to tell him the ugly truth of your marriage. I am very sure that Tang would have gladly shrugged off the engagement, no matter the repercussions".