Louis had spoken to the investor if they could shift the dinner and they agreed so less responsibility on his shoulder.
The Yu mansion stood illuminated under rows of warm golden lights when Louis's car pulled in.
The gates opened slowly.
Inside, the entire family was already gathered in the grand sitting room. It wasn't normal. And it definitely wasn't casual.
Tabitha stepped in beside Louis.
Her dress turned heads instantly.
The maids along the hallway whispered openly now.
"She looks different tonight…"
"Is that really Madam?"
Grandpa Yu sat at the head of the room, calm but imposing, his cane resting by his side.
Tabitha noticed the tension immediately.
"Did something happen?" she asked politely.
Jemima gestured beside her. "Come sit here, Tabitha."
Tabitha walked over and sat gracefully.
Camilla clicked her tongue. "Grandpa didn't need to summon the entire family just for Tabitha's issue."
Tabitha tilted her head slightly and smiled. "I didn't know I was that important. Should I start charging family appearance fees?"
A few soft chuckles escaped.
Louis cleared his throat. "Grandpa, what is this about?"
Grandpa Yu adjusted his glasses. "There will be an interview."
Silence.
"The public perception of Tabitha has changed since the party," he continued. "The media is speaking positively about her. We will use the interview to announce your second wedding anniversary."
He paused.
"And the child."
Tabitha blinked.
"The child?" she repeated slowly.
Grandpa Yu frowned. "Your pregnancy."
There was a beat of silence.
Tabitha felt every eye on her.
She didn't know anything about any plan. No one had told her. No one had prepared her.
So she simply said the truth.
"I'm not carrying a child."
The room froze.
Louis's head snapped toward her.
Grandpa Yu's cane hit the marble floor sharply. "What nonsense are you saying?"
"I'm not pregnant," Tabitha repeated, this time more firmly.
Murmurs erupted.
Camilla leaned forward instantly. "So you deceived us?"
Tabitha's mind raced.
She didn't know what the previous Tabitha had done. She didn't know what lie had been told. But she could feel the suspicion building.
So she adjusted her tone.
"I… allowed assumptions to grow," she said softly. "There was pressure from everywhere. Questions every day. I didn't know how to respond without disappointing everyone."
Jemima looked conflicted.
Grandpa Yu's voice rose. "You made this family look foolish!"
Tabitha swallowed and lowered her eyes slightly.
"Not being pregnant isn't a crime," she said gently. "And it's not something I can control alone."
Her voice trembled just enough.
"And when your husband barely comes home…" she added quietly, "what exactly is expected?"
The room shifted.
Jemima turned sharply to Louis. "Louis?"
Louis's jaw tightened. He said nothing.
Lewis, his younger brother, shrugged casually. "They don't even share a bed most nights. How were they supposed to produce a miracle?"
"Lewis!" Camilla snapped.
Before the tension could explode further
Small footsteps echoed from the staircase.
Laila appeared, holding hands with her two children.
David and Danielle.
This time, they didn't hide shyly behind her.
They walked straight toward Tabitha.
"Auntie!" David said boldly. "Did you bring chocolate?"
Danielle nodded seriously. "If you didn't, you're not sleeping here tonight."
The sudden innocence cracked the heavy mood.
Tabitha blinked, then smiled warmly. "I always carry extra chocolate."
The children gasped in delight.
"But," she added firmly, "not now. It's late."
Both children groaned dramatically.
Laila sighed. "You two need to brush your teeth and go to bed."
"Nooo!" Danielle protested.
Tabitha leaned forward conspiratorially. "If you brush your teeth properly… you can come to my room after and we'll play for a bit. Then I'll give you chocolate in the morning."
The kids looked at each other.
"Promise?" David asked.
"Promise."
Without hesitation, they ran upstairs.
Everyone stared.
"That usually takes an hour of threats," Laila muttered in disbelief.
Tabitha just smiled.
At that moment, Raphael walked into the room, car keys spinning around his finger.
"I heard there was drama," he said casually.
Camilla's face darkened instantly. "And where have you been? Racing those stupid cars again?"
Raphael rolled his eyes. "It's called professional racing, Mother."
"Professional foolishness!" Camilla snapped. "Instead of focusing on the company, you're chasing your father's childish ambition."
The room stiffened.
Tabitha spoke before thinking.
"And what's wrong with that?"
All eyes turned to her.
Camilla narrowed her gaze. "Excuse me?"
"You said he's chasing his father's ambition," Tabitha continued calmly. "Aren't you doing the same? You followed your father's path into business. Why can't he choose his own?"
Raphael looked surprised.
Camilla's lips trembled in anger. "Stay out of matters that don't concern you besides I have a boutique"
Tabitha smiled faintly. "I just think everyone deserves to choose their own direction."
Louis knew that tone.
She was about to escalate.
He stood abruptly. "We're tired. We'll rest."
He didn't wait for permission this time.
He gestured for Tabitha to follow.
Their bedroom in the villa was spacious, well decorated with aesthetics.
Soft lights. Large bed. Floor to ceiling windows.
Louis closed the door behind them.
Silence.
Then he turned to her.
"Why did you say that?" he asked.
Tabitha looked genuinely confused. "Say what?"
"The truth about the pregnancy."
She shrugged lightly. "It wasn't worth pretending."
Louis stared at her.
"You faked that pregnancy because the family was preparing to announce our divorce," he said coldly. "You used it as leverage to stay in this family."
Tabitha's heart skipped.
Divorce?
Leverage?
So that's what happened.
She kept her expression neutral.
"I didn't want to continue a lie," she said simply.
Louis laughed dryly. "Since when?"
She didn't answer.
Instead, she picked up her towel.
"I'm going to shower."
And she walked into the bathroom, closing the door behind her.
Louis stood there alone.
Something about her felt different.
Too honest.
Too unpredictable.
And for the first time in a long while…
He wasn't sure what game she was playing anymore.
The bathroom door opened with a soft click.
Steam rolled out first.
Then Tabitha.
Her hair was damp again, loosely falling over her shoulders. She stepped out, toweling her hands dry, and paused.
Louis was on the floor.
He was spreading a blanket carefully over the marble, adjusting a pillow like it was routine.
She blinked. "What are you doing?"
He didn't look up. "Sleeping."
"On the floor?"
"Yes."
She folded her arms. "Why?"
Now he looked at her like she had lost her mind. "It's what I always do."
She stared at him.
He raised a brow. "Why are you acting surprised? This isn't new."
Tabitha turned away, walking toward the closet. "As long as I'm not the one sleeping on the floor, I don't have an issue."
Louis paused mid movement.
There it is.
Selfish as usual.
At least that part hadn't changed.
He scoffed quietly. "Of course you don't."
She stepped out in silk pajamas, catching the tone. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing."
She leaned against the closet door, studying him. "You think I'm selfish."
"I didn't say that."
"You thought it."
He smirked faintly. "You always put yourself first."
"And you always act like you're sacrificing something grand," she shot back. "No one asked you to sleep on the floor."
"You want me on the bed?" he asked suddenly.
The air shifted.
She blinked.
"That's not what I said."
He slowly stood up.
The distance between them felt smaller.
"You were surprised I was on the floor," he said quietly. "So what? You expected me to suddenly share a bed with you?"
Her heart skipped but she masked it with sarcasm. "Don't flatter yourself."
He stepped closer.
"You don't look very disgusted."
She swallowed slightly. "You don't look very comfortable."
They were too close now.
Too aware.
His eyes dropped briefly before returning to hers.
"You hit me earlier," he said softly.
"You deserved it."
He almost smiled. "You're bold tonight."
"Maybe you're just finally noticing."
For a second
It felt almost playful.
Almost romantic.
Almost dangerous.
A knock on the door shattered it.
They both stepped back instantly.
Louis cleared his throat and went to open it.
David and Danielle stood there.
Tabitha followed behind him, giving Louis a ridiculous look as she passed.
"We want cake!" David announced.
Danielle nodded enthusiastically. "You promised fun!"
Tabitha hesitated.
"I'm not very good at baking," she admitted.
"We don't care!" Danielle said.
Tabitha pulled out her phone confidently. "Technology is advanced. We'll manage."
Louis leaned against the wall, watching her walk away with the kids like a determined general heading to war.
Ten minutes later
The fire alarm screamed.
Smoke poured from the kitchen.
Everyone rushed downstairs.
Tabitha stumbled out of the kitchen coughing, covered in flour and smoke. Her hair was a disaster. There was a streak of batter across her cheek.
She looked like chaos.
Camilla was the first to speak.
"How reckless!" she snapped. "You could have hurt the children! Just because you don't have kids doesn't mean you should harm other people's!"
Tabitha didn't even look at her.
" Just shush" she said calmly, waving smoke away. "You won't like what I say next."
Grandpa Yu's face darkened. "Is that how you speak to elders?"
"I haven't even said anything yet," Tabitha replied.
Jemima quickly intervened. "Tabitha, just apologize so this doesn't escalate."
Tabitha frowned. "Apologize for what?"
Louis stepped forward.
Without saying a word, he gently brushed flour off her hair.
Then her cheek.
The room stilled.
"My wife didn't do anything wrong," he said evenly. "She was trying to make the kids happy."
Camilla scoffed. "She almost burned the kitchen!"
"It was smoke," Louis replied sharply. "Don't exaggerate."
Danielle suddenly burst into tears.
"It wasn't Auntie's fault!" she cried. "I turned the oven on! She tried to stop it and hurt her hand!"
Everyone froze.
Danielle ran and hugged Tabitha tightly. "Grandma Camilla is bad!"
Tabitha knelt slightly, hugging her back. "She's not bad. She's just concerned."
Inside?
She wanted to flip the entire kitchen table on her head
Louis's gaze turned ice cold as he looked at Camilla.
"You accused her of harming the kids," he said lowly. "But she was protecting them."
He paused.
"And if you want an heir so badly, you can make one yourself."
The insult landed like a slap.
The room gasped.
Without waiting, Louis grabbed Tabitha's wrist gently and led her upstairs.
It was the first time he had ever defended her.
And the first time he had spoken to Camilla like that.
Inside the room, he sat her down.
Tabitha opened her mouth. "I.."
"Show me your hand."
She blinked.
He grabbed her wrist carefully. There was a small burn near her palm.
He sighed and reached for ointment from the drawer.
As he applied it gently, his voice softened.
"It's not every time you have to act tough."
She watched him closely.
This was the first time she had seen him gentle.
Not cold.
Not distant.
Gentle.
Her chest tightened.
Just as she was about to thank him—
His tone changed.
"Why would you try baking when you don't know how?" he demanded. "You could have burned the entire house."
Her brows shot up. "Excuse me?"
"You could've been more careful."
"You think I don't know that?" she snapped. "I was trying to make them happy!"
"You don't need to impress anyone!"
"I wasn't impressing anyone!"
Their voices rose again.
A knock interrupted them.
Louis opened the door.
Laila stood there with the kids.
"I brought them to apologize," she said softly.
The kids looked guilty.
"We're sorry," David mumbled.
Tabitha smiled warmly. "It's fine."
She shot Louis a deadly glare behind their backs.
The kids tugged Laila's sleeve. "Can we sleep with Auntie Tabitha?"
Laila looked unsure. "If she doesn't mind."
"I don't," Tabitha said quickly. "Come in."
She went to freshen up.
When she returned
Louis was sitting on the bed.
Gently patting Danielle's back.
His voice was low and soothing.
David had already curled against him.
He looked… soft.
Patient.
Protective.
Tabitha stopped at the doorway.
Does he actually want children? she wondered.
Or did he just not want them with the old Tabitha?
He noticed her staring.
She quickly turned and pretended to fold clothes but there were none in her hand just thin air
He scoffed quietly and shook his head.
He lifted the kids properly onto the bed.
Tabitha lay on one side.
Louis stepped away
But David grabbed his sleeve.
"Don't go."
Louis hesitated.
Then sighed.
He lay down on the other side of the bed.
Between them
Two sleeping children.
And a silence filled with questions neither of them were ready to ask.