After the divorce, the CEO forced me to have his child.

Chapter 549 He actually started the fire himself!

"What are you thinking about?" Suddenly, He Yi appeared.

As Gu Zhiyao looked at his handsome and mature face, her mind kept overlapping and comparing it with his appearance when he was sixteen years old. Only then did she realize that he was different from then.

He must be 35 years old this year, right?

Yes, I'm not young anymore.

Although he takes good care of himself and doesn't look old, he can't escape the passage of time. In a few more years, he will be forty. Moreover, Gu Zhiyao noticed that there were a few white hairs mixed in with his thick black hair.

"What's wrong?" He Yi asked again when he saw her staring blankly.

“I remember the time you came to distribute gifts to us. You were only sixteen years old then,” Gu Zhiyao said unconsciously.

He Yi's expression froze for a moment, and his memory immediately returned to that time.

“At that time, you looked very aloof and indifferent, making people afraid to look you in the eye. I was so nervous that I couldn’t catch the gift, but you didn’t get angry. Instead, you picked it up yourself and handed it to me again,” Gu Zhiyao continued.

He Yi was filled with emotion as he gazed at her, but he could no longer recall what she looked like back then, just as she had said, he was indifferent to everything around him.

“At that time, my dad had an affair outside. After my mom found out, they argued every day. I was very annoyed. I came here because I didn’t want to disappoint my grandma. Later, I went to the dark room and thought about my parents again. I felt that this world was really hateful and I didn’t want to see these things anymore. So I had an idea.”

He Yi paused for a moment, looked at Gu Zhiyao thoughtfully, and then resolutely continued, "Gu Zhiyao, I actually started that fire! At that time, I felt the world was gray and I didn't want to live anymore. I also had a desire for revenge. I thought if I died, would my parents stop arguing and even regret it?"

Gu Zhiyao was indeed shocked to hear this, and looked at him in disbelief.

Did he start the fire on purpose?

God!

How did he...

"Who knew you would suddenly run in? Your innocence, your kindness, your gentleness, especially your eyes that seemed to sparkle with light, made me abandon that idea. I felt that there was still beauty in this world, that there were things I could cherish. So I told you then that if we survived, I would marry you and make you my wife. That was a promise to you! Unfortunately, I later mistook you for someone else; I mistook Zheng Yuanxi for you!"

I've always felt guilty towards Zheng Yuanxi. If I hadn't done such a childish thing, the fire wouldn't have happened, I wouldn't have mistaken Zheng Yuanxi for you, and none of what followed would have happened. Maybe she would be doing well, finding someone who can truly make her happy. That's why, even knowing she did so many heinous things, I repeatedly let it go. I'm actually very selfish, aren't I? To alleviate my own guilt, I let her hurt you. So, it's my own fault that you hate me.

Looking at his bitter, regretful, and painful expression, Gu Zhiyao's emotions continued to surge, even becoming somewhat chaotic, as she was still unable to shake off the fact that he had set the fire himself.

It turned out he was the one who started the fire.

He has wronged more than just Zheng Yuanxi.

Just because of one of his ideas, he changed so many people's lives!

Including her!

“I’ve never dared to think about or face these things, but I can’t ignore my mind. I often have headaches, especially when Zheng Yuanxi makes mistakes. I used to think that Zheng Yuanxi had bewitched me. I sought medical help everywhere, but I couldn’t find the cause. Until recently, I met a doctor with incredibly high neurological skills. He treated me with psychological methods and finally found the cause. It turns out that the guilt I’ve been carrying all along has been forming in my mind, making me reflexively forgive Zheng Yuanxi. Isn’t that ridiculous? If I really had to feel guilty, I should feel guilty towards you too, right? But I only feel guilty towards Zheng Yuanxi!”

He Yi had known this fact for more than half a month. At the time, he did find it ridiculous and even hated himself, but he dared not tell Gu Zhiyao.

Only today, in this long-lost place, the place where everything began, and hearing Gu Zhiyao recount the events of that year, did he finally find the courage to speak out.

"I'm sorry, Gu Zhiyao. I promise you, I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you. I mean what I say, so please give me a chance? Sometimes I think there's another optimistic explanation for this: subconsciously, I consider you one of my own, while Zheng Yuanxi is an outsider, which is why I feel guilty towards her. Although it's a jerk, I choose to believe this reason. Please forgive me, just remember that my initial love was for you. Give me a chance to fulfill the promise I made to you back then, okay? Please, Gu Zhiyao."

Gu Zhiyao was speechless, staring blankly at his pained and pleading expression. She knew she should hate him, but she found that she couldn't bring herself to do it.

Is it really because of local issues, as he said?

In this place filled with memories, in the very beginning, of that heartfelt beauty and anticipation.

Yes, when she heard him say he would marry her and make her his wife, she was surprised but overjoyed. She fell in love with him at first sight, so she stayed in the fire with him regardless of the consequences, feeling that she would go anywhere as long as she was with him. When she heard him say he would marry her, she was ecstatic and made it her lifelong belief, fighting for it relentlessly.

Although she was later left covered in bruises.

Snap—Snap—

Tears silently streamed down Gu Zhiyao's cheeks.

As Gu Zhiyao looked at him, she recalled the scene from back then. Even though almost twenty years had passed, those images were still so clear and so profound.

His voice was so melodious when he made his promise, and his appearance was so handsome that she was completely captivated by him.

Now she finally has the chance to have him, to be his wife, and they even have three children.

He Yi, can I really forgive you? Will we really grow old together? Stay together for life?

Are you really not going to hurt me anymore?

I'm afraid, I'm afraid I'll fall into the abyss again, afraid that this time I won't be able to make it through!

While crying, Gu Zhiyao threw herself into his arms and hugged him tightly, her tears flowing even more freely.

He Yi was taken aback at first, then felt a surge of joy.

Does her doing this mean she has forgiven him?

Hmm, I think so?

Very good!

He Yi was glad that he had spoken out those hidden truths he dared not face, and even more glad that he had chosen to come here!

Gu Zhiyao, thank you. I will love you well, just as I told you. Although this promise is many years late and full of hurt, I will try my best to heal the wounds left in your heart.

Yes, please believe me!