177 No need to threaten Me

"Mei Zhen, I would request you to sign the divorce papers and let the process flow in an amicable manner. Else I will have no other option but to share the truth about your involvement in the Moganshan incident. You would be interested to know that I went to meet Fu this week. There is a possibility of him being charged with attempted manslaughter. And that could see him rot in jail for probably ten years. I told him that if he named his accomplice, maybe his punishment could get reduced," Tang told her in a casual, almost amicable tone.

Mei Zhen was fuming inwardly all this while, at the scene which Mrs. Xie had created. But Tang's words sent a chill down her spine. She would rather accept a face of loss because of the divorce than jeopardise her freedom and much more, to fight for a marriage which didn't seem worth so much now.

"There is no need to threaten me, Tang. I would never impose myself on you forcibly. All this while, I had secretly hoped that you would realise my true feelings for you. Since you are hell bent on destructing your life because of that woman, I won't stand in your way. I don't think my heart will be able to see you get hurt because of that cold, unfeeling b****," she said dramatically.

Tang clenched his hands tightly.

"If I were you, I would tread very carefully around the person who holds the card to your possible loss of freedom. Also, please remember this. If I ever find out that you have been bad mouthing my mother, my girl or anyone whom I hold dear, I wouldn't hesitate to destroy you. Manslaughter doesn't have a time lapse on the penalty. I was a victim of it at your hands as well. So think hard about your welfare before you say or do anything in the future," he told her coldly.

Mei Zhen paled visibly at his words.

But Mr. Xie who had stood silently all this while, spoke up.

"What Mei Zhen said, is absolutely right. Jia Li is a cold and unfeeling person. She can't even to begin appreciate all that you have done for her, the sacrifices you have made, the risks which you have taken. While you stand here, fighting against your own family and loved ones, where is she?" He asked sarcastically.

Tang felt the sting of his father's words go right down to his marrow. His father had accurately caught the one point of contention which had been brewing in his own mind as well.

"I don't see how that impacts either of you. Considering you both left no stone unturned to keep her away from me, please don't bother showering me with your care and concern. I won't be able to digest it. Now if we are done with the whole pointless conversation, I will take your leave," he said and left.

"Hello Li Jie, this is Wang Wei," he had picked up the call on Jia Li's phone.

"Oh! Thank God someone finally picked up the damn phone. Where is that girl? She is so dead. I haven't heard from her ever since Tang's accident. Any progress on his return of memory. How are you doing? What's the progress on your love story," he rattled off the questions, one after the other.

Wei took a deep breath. He was already regretting picking up the call. Slowly, he started to explain the whole series of events to Li Jie.

Li Jie disconnected the call abruptly and dialled Tang immediately.

"How could you do that? What were you thinking really?" he shouted through the phone.

"You finally called. Go ahead and get it all out. But after that, just tell her to speak with me. I am ready to accept any punishment which she doles out. All these days, I have been waiting for her to call me. Please put her on," Tang said with relief in his voice.

"What do you mean? You think she is here with me?" Li Jie asked, nonplussed.

"Are you going to play dumb now? Has she asked you not to tell me about her whereabouts? You also know that it is better that she and I speak about it rather than let the hurt fester," Tang cajoled him.

"Xie Tang, I have been trying to call Jia Li for days now but her cell phone was not reachable. Today was the first day that it connected and was picked up by Wei. He is the one who told me about the whole episode, including the nightmare with Fu. Jia Li hasn't been in touch with me or with Deng Chung. I know this because I just spoke to him yesterday. Basically, you are trying to tell me that no one knows where she is. And you are sitting on your a** assuming that she is here in Beijing. When will you stop making mistakes? Are you happy now?"