Zhi Wan's heart sank at his words.
Though she had already suspected as much, hearing it from her cousin's lips still weighed heavily on her heart.
'He was, after all, her own uncle...'
Seeing her face turn pale and her prolonged silence, Lu Zhan's heart tightened. He asked in a low voice, "Wan'er, do you blame me?"
Zhi Wan snapped out of her daze and looked up into his eyes.
Her cousin rarely called her by her given name. Since they had revealed their feelings for each other, the times he'd done so could be counted on one hand.
For him to call her that so suddenly, she could detect a hint of nervousness in his voice.
'He's afraid I'll be angry, that I'll resent him.'
She sighed inwardly and shook her head. "I don't blame you, cousin. You were only doing your duty. Besides, my uncle brought this upon himself."
It might sound cold-hearted for a relative to say, but it was the truth, and she couldn't make excuses for him.
