Chapter 18

"Apology accepted",

"How did you find me here the whole world thinks I am dead?", Chen Lihua asked the question she has been wanting to ask, this was the first time someone apart from the people who initially knew she was alive came to see her in the past 19 months.

"Even I had thought that you were dead, until my friend saw you at that park four days ago", Jiang Zihan said and Chen Lihua looked at him stunned

"Then why are you here, you didn't come all the way here to find me just for an apology right",

"Am not that petty", Jiang Zihan said and laughed lightly

"Then why are you here", Chen Lihua asked and Jiang Zihan who had been looking out of the window turned to look at her directly in the eyes, he opened the document he bought and placed it on her lap.

Chen Lihua looked at the papers on her lap and her eyes opened wide in shock as she read it, after she was done she burst into laughter, Jiang Zihan patiently waited and after a while she stopped laughing but he could feel that the room temperature had dropped several degrees lower, her natural coldness that she hid before was back.

"Are you mocking me right now", Chen Lihua asked glaring fiercely at him

"A contract Marriage, what's the meaning of this", Chen Lihua yelled, did this man have to remind her of all the flaws in her life.

"Would you believe me if I told you I had fallen in love with you within those one month?, would you believe me if I told you that afer my friend found you I had investigated what happened 19 months ago and found out about how your accident happened up until your present state?", would you believe me if I said that I am not joking with you right now?", Jiang Zihan asked one by one looking straight into her eyes.

"The only thing I believe is your second statement, you didn't look shocked about seeing me on a wheelchair or meeting my younger brother so you had obviously found out about everything before coming here, but I don't believe anything else you say", Chen Lihua said looking back at him straight in the eyes.

"I knew you wouldn't believe me", Jiang Zihan laughed lightly, he had already anticipated that she wouldn't believe anything he said about his feelings.

"What made you think I would accept this contract marriage", Chen Lihua asked

"Its partially because of my feelings but it is more because I want to help you take revenge for everything that has happened to you", Jiang Zihan said and Chen Lihua smiled lightly

"What made you think I wanted revenge, if after waking up I decided not to go back to China nor expose myself to the world isn't it obvious I don't want revenge", Chen Lihua replied and Jiang Zihan smiled lightly.

"So have you forgiven them for everything they did to you",

"I haven't forgiven them but I certainly don't want revenge", Chen Lihua replied in a fierce and clear tone.

"What of your company, your parents blood, sweat and tears, your parents promise to you and your father's faith in you. What of your family home, the place you grew up in, the only place that carries whatever memories you and your brother have of your parents and your childhood. Are you not going to take this things back" Jiang Zihan asked and Chen Lihua didn't know what to say.

"Are you trying to make me feel guilty about my decision", Chen Lihua asked glaring fiercely at him.

"No I am not because deep down you yourself very well know how much you miss your company, your home and your country, Chen Zixi doesn't know but you very well know how much Paradise Entertainment meant to your parents, you also gave all your youth into bringing that company to where it is today and you are just going to let everything go", Jiang Zihan didn't shift his gaze away from her and carefully watched all the changes in her emotions.

Chen Lihua looked at him for a moment before opening her mouth,

"You found out everything about me didn't you, then you should know the kind of person I became after my mother's death", Chen Lihua asked and Jiang Zihan just smiled

"No one is a saint Chen Lihua, you have done lots of bad things but so is everybody, the business world is a place where people kill your each other without leaving blood behind. Yes the person you became after your mother's death was definitely not the best part but it is still a part of you",

"You hurt people, you threatened people and you used people's weak points against them, you even led some people to their deaths but Chen Lihua don't you think you have already been punished for all that. Have you ever stopped to wonder why instead of dying in that accident you are alive but in this state?", Jiang Zihan asked and Chen Lihua looked up at him waiting for his answer to the question that she has always asked herself in the past year.

"Fate kept you alive for a purpose, you are alive but incapacitated and confined to a wheelchair, you can't do anything by yourself without the help of others, isn't that already enough punishment for all the bad things you have done, life has already punished you Chen Lihua, don't punish yourself further", Jiang Zihan said and Chen Lihua could feel hot tears stream down her eyes, this was the first time in her whole life she cried in front of a stranger but she could care less at this moment.

"You are an eagle you are meant to fly not a sparrow to be caged, stop leaving a life that's not yours because deep down in your heart you know you aren't truly happy here, you wish to go back to who you used to be, you want to go back to the life that really makes you feel accomplished. You are an independent woman don't let this wheelchair kill that confidence and fire in you, this is not your life Chen Lihua, you don't belong here", Jiang Zihan said and bent down to wipe her tears.

"Its true that I love you but its also true that you don't feel the same. I could have proposed to you directly but this contract is to give you back your freedom whenever you want it, the contract will last for two years and within those two years I will help you get back everything you have lost, if after two years you wish to continue the relationship the contract will be annulled but if you don't wish to then we will get divorced", Jiang Zihan said and Chen Lihua just stared at him

"As the next heir of the Jiang Family, will your family be okay with you marrying a woman who is disabled", Chen Lihua asked and Jiang Zihan smiled lightly

"My family is so fed up with me they would agree to whoever I decide to marry as long as I get married and they are not the one getting married if I don't have a problem why should they",

"Are you toying with me right now, its not a walk in the park to marry a woman like me and you say you are in love with me. You fell in love with me when I was still normal now I am not and your love is still the same", Chen Lihua asked mockingly she just couldn't get herself to believe that the man really loved her.

"Who said you aren't normal, in my eyes you are still the same woman who confidently called me a thief two years ago, I am in love with you as a person, your heart and your soul not your physical appearance or body and true love doesn't die just because an accident happened", Jiang Zihan said patiently looking at the woman in front of him, the accident had more of an impact on her mental than her physical balance, the woman In front of him has lost that Self Confidence, Self Reliance and Self Respect that always radiated within her, Her pride and confidence as a person is no more there, she seemed so broken but no problem he would help her to rebuild that Self-Confidence at all cost.

"Can you leave, I will think about it", Chen Lihua said and Jiang Zihan stared at her, he nodded after a while and stood up. She could think about it for as long as she wanted it was enough if she didn't throw the papers on his face.

"Okay how much time do you need", he asked and Chen Lihua stared at him for a while before opening her mouth

"Ten days and within those ten days I might will call you to ask some questions I hope you will be available",

"Of course I am very much available and I am living just right opposite you, my phone number is at the back of the folder just call me and I will be here", Jiang Zihan replied grinning happily and Chen Lihua opened her mouth to say something but at the end remained quiet.

"Bye", he grinned sheepishly and walked out of the room, Chen Lihua watched his back for a while before looking back at the contract on her lap which was already stained with tears.

"Thank you", Jiang Zihan said to Chen Zixi when he got downstairs, he looked around but didn't see his two friends anywhere

"They already left", Chen Zixi answered his unasked question and Jiang Zihan smiled at him before bowing to the old man and a middle aged woman he hadn't met earlier, they all nodded in reply to his greeting and he left the house smiling happily.