"I am also feeling guilty of causing so much worry to everyone around me. But…" Ethan cut him short before he could complete the sentence.

"You don't need to explain it again and again to me. Had I not been convinced of the necessity of this action, I would have not supported you in this mad scheme of yours," he consoled Tang.

"By the way, there is a new complication. I just overheard Mei Zhen malign Jia Li on the phone to Wei's mother. It seems like that Mrs. w.a.n.g wasn't even aware of her existence let alone her importance in Wei's life. Unfortunately, I could only be a mute spectator in the whole episode. She was really painting a bad picture of Jia Li in front of Mrs. w.a.n.g, so much so that I started to cringe standing there after a point in time," he narrated apologetically.

Tang frowned fiercely before realisation hit him.

"This is actually good for us," he said with a smile.

Ethan looked at him in confusion. Maybe the head injury had made Tang temporarily crazy. Someone had belittled the woman that he loved and he thought it was a good thing.

At Ethan's sceptic expressions, he clarified, "if Mrs. w.a.n.g doesn't approve of Jia Li, she would ensure that her son stays away from her. Irrespective of whether she is successful or not, it gives us some respite as Wei's attention would hopefully be engaged in fighting or pacifying his home front. For now, it is important that I find some time with Jia Li away from Mei Zhen and Wei's presence."

Ethan thought back to the conversation which he had had when Tang had first told him about attempting a reconciliation with Jia Li.

Few days ago

"You cannot be serious about this. Do you even know what you are suggesting?" Ethan was shocked.

He was aware of Tang's feelings for Jia Li but he had thought that the change in circ.u.mstances would put a clamp on them.

"Have you given enough consideration to your marriage and Mei Zhen's feelings in this matter?" he stressed further.

"Do you know that every night I sleep with one woman but wake up with another woman's name on my lips and in my heart? Forget anyone else, it is not fair to Mei Zhen especially. But she lives in denial. What am I supposed to do?" asked Tang hoa.r.s.ely.

"No, it isn't fair. But you haven't given her and your relations.h.i.+p a chance ever. Your feelings for Jia Li have overshadowed and marred any chance for this marriage to work. It isn't Mei Zhen's fault nor is it Jia Li's. Neither of them forced you to get married. It was your own decision. You had told Chu that you were ready to leave your past behind and make a new start. I remember her telling me that she wasn't sure if this was the right decision but you had convinced her. In your own words, Mei Zhen seemed like the perfect choice for it. So where is that conviction now?" Ethan argued.

Tang knew that everything that Ethan said was valid. But he had hopelessly lost the war against his heart.

He started, "for years now, I have struggled against my guilt of not being there when Jia Li needed my support. I had chosen to hide, both from my father and her, when I should have stood up and taken a decision. My procrastination resulted in acute unhappiness of four people and many relations turned sour. Had I manned up and taken the responsibility for Jia Li five years ago, none of this would have happened. But I was immature and a weakling. At the time, I had honestly believed that I would tackle the issue once my father would calm down a little and also, I would be qualified enough to stand on my own feet by then."

After pausing for a breath, he continued, "but at that time I didn't want to acknowledge the fact that I was running away from the scene. I couldn't say all this to Jia Li. I couldn't face her after the humiliation which her parents had received at the hands of my father. Also, there was an arrogant part of me which had kept me quietly complacent that she would always belong to me, always wait for me. Never in my wildest dreams had I imagined that she would look elsewhere as a solace to her wounded pride."