The Next Morning
Tabitha woke slowly.
Warmth.
Solid warmth.
Her brows furrowed slightly.
This was not her pillow.
This was… breathing.
Her eyes opened carefully.
She was in Louis' arms.
One arm was draped around her waist possessively. Her cheek was resting against his chest. His chin almost brushed her hair.
Her heart jumped.
Don't panic. Don't panic. If you panic, he wakes up.
She froze completely.
The kids.
Weren't they between them last night?
Her eyes shifted around cautiously.
The bed was empty except for the two of them.
Where did they go?
She slowly tilted her head upward.
And there he was.
Up close.
Too close.
His eyelashes were ridiculously long for a man. His jawline sharp even in sleep. His lips slightly parted.
Her eyes lingered a second too long.
"Argh. Why am I noticing his lips?"
She swallowed and carefully tried to lift his arm off her waist.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Almost free
A deep, thick morning voice rumbled above her.
"What are you doing?"
She flinched so hard she almost screamed.
She looked up.
He was awake.
Watching her.
She yanked herself out of his arms immediately.
"Nothing!" she said too quickly. "I was just looking for the kids."
She jumped off the bed and began checking ridiculous places.
Under the bed.
The bathroom.
The closet.
Louis pushed himself up lazily against the headboard.
"They left already."
She froze.
Turned.
"If they left… then you knew it was just the two of us."
Her eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"And you still hugged me in your sleep? Pervert."
Before she could continue her mental accusation
"Before you think otherwise," he said coolly, "you were the clingy one."
She blinked.
"I pushed you away several times," he continued lazily. "But you just couldn't resist my charm, could you?"
She opened her mouth.
Closed it.
Opened it again.
Then decided he wasn't worth it.
She grabbed her towel.
"I'm bathing."
"Don't waste time in there," he called.
She paused at the bathroom door.
That was exactly when she decided she would take her sweet time.
She stepped out twenty minutes later.
And froze.
Louis stood near the dresser.
Wrapped in nothing but a towel. He had gone to use Lewis bathroom instead
Water was still dripping from his hair, sliding down his neck, tracing over his chest and disappearing beneath the towel.
Her eyes betrayed her.
They dropped.
Slowly.
Broad shoulders.
Defined chest.
"Why is he built like this?"
"What are you staring at, pervert?" she snapped suddenly.
He raised a brow.
"I'm the one staring?"
"I don't want to argue this morning," she muttered, rolling her eyes.
But she still took a quick peek.
"Stop it," he said.
The door suddenly opened.
Jemima stepped in.
She froze.
Both of them in towels.
Standing close.
"Oh!" Jemima covered her mouth, smiling knowingly. "Sorry to disturb you two."
Tabitha's eyes widened.
"It's not what.."
"Tabitha, come help set the table when you're ready," Jemima said warmly before leaving.
The door closed.
Louis slowly turned to Tabitha.
Sharp glare.
"What?"
She casually walked to the dresser and picked up the hair dryer.
"Don't touch it," he said immediately.
"Why?"
"I brought it out first."
"So?"
"I'm using it."
She plugged it in anyway.
He walked toward her.
She intentionally flipped her wet hair forward and blew it, right into his face.
He grabbed the dryer from her.
He was taller.
She jumped slightly trying to reach it.
Failed.
She placed her hand on his shoulder and tiptoed.
Still couldn't reach.
He noticed.
Slowly lowered the dryer to her height.
Their faces were suddenly inches apart.
Neither realized how close they were until their eyes locked.
Her breath hitched slightly.
His gaze darkened.
The air shifted.
He lifted the dryer suddenly and blew it directly at her face.
She gasped, stepping back.
"Hey! What was that for?"
"Haven't you had enough?"
"Enough of what?"
"Your hair," he said dryly.
"Oh. Not yet. The back."
She turned around.
And he actually started drying it.
Carefully.
A knock.
An elderly maid entered with a tray.
"Your tea, sir."
"Drop it," Louis said casually.
"To the left," Tabitha added.
He gave her a look.
"Okay, you're pushing it."
The maid smiled discreetly at the sight of them and left.
"To the right," Tabitha added again.
"You're really stressing me out."
"You could've just let me use it first," she teased.
He unexpectedly chuckled.
Then messed up her hair intentionally with the dryer.
"Welldone," she said sarcastically.
"You look beautiful," he teased.
"Your taste is awful."
Another knock.
Raphael walked in.
She reacted instantly, wrapping herself around Louis to hide her towel state.
Louis instinctively covered her with his arm.
Raphael blinked.
"Wrong timing."
He walked right back out.
Silence.
Louis looked down at her hand still pressed against his chest.
"Have you had enough?" he asked calmly.
She froze.
"Oh."
She quickly pulled her hand away.
"Who's the pervert now?" he asked.
She smirked. "Stop acting mighty. I've seen better chests than yours."
His expression changed.
Instantly.
The warmth vanished.
He dropped the dryer into her hand.
"Finish it yourself."
He turned and walked into the closet.
Locked it.
Tabitha stood there confused.
"What did I say wrong?"
She was joking.
But inside the closet
Louis' jaw tightened.
Better chests.
Stanley.
The real Tabitha's childhood friend.
The one she had an affair with.
He shut his eyes.
Why did that bother him?
Downstairs, the kitchen was buzzing.
The old maid had already whispered what she saw.
Jemima was glowing with joy.
"They were so close!" she whispered excitedly.
Lewis walked in confused from his jog. "What chaos did I miss?"
Raphael smirked. "Your brother has game."
Lewis blinked. "Louis?"
"I saw it."
Lewis looked impressed. "I didn't know big brother had it in him."
Just then Louis walked in.
Everyone immediately went silent.
Jemima couldn't hide her smile.
Camilla entered.
Laila followed with the kids.
Carl and Grandpa Yu joined.
Then Tabitha walked in.
Simple.
Elegant.
Hair perfectly styled.
She sat beside Louis.
"Sorry I'm late," she said casually. "Someone scattered my hair earlier."
Jemima almost choked.
Raphael nudged Lewis.
"I didn't know my elder brother had stamina," Lewis whispered.
Louis shot him a death glare.
Lewis almost choked on water.
Grandpa Yu cleared his throat. "I was not pleased with last night."
Louis spoke immediately. "I apologize. On behalf of both of us."
He expected silence from her.
But
"I apologize too," Tabitha said calmly.
He looked at her in surprise.
Carl changed topic. " I heard tabitha closed that international deal yesterday."
Grandpa Yu nodded approvingly. "Impressive."
Camilla scoffed. "Since when did she start interfering in business?"
Tabitha smiled sweetly.
"Since your department failed to do its job properly."
Louis squeezed her hand under the table.
A silent warning.
Jemima noticed.
Louis cleared his throat. "We'll head out after breakfast."
He looked at Tabitha.
"About the interview. You can attend as usual."
She nodded.
"But don't announce our anniversary. I won't be in town. I don't want unnecessary expectations."
She shrugged. "Anniversary parties are for old people anyway."
The table almost exploded in coughs.
Camilla narrowed her eyes.
Then noticed her plate.
"You're eating chicken?"
Everyone looked.
"She's allergic. She's strictly vegetarian."
Tabitha froze.
Her mind went blank.
But Louis answered calmly.
"Her recent test results changed. Her body adapted."
Second time he defended her.
Camilla folded her arms. "Seems she trapped you. Turned you into her mouthpiece."
Tabitha smiled.
"That's what married couples do."
The irony.
Because they were divorced.
Camilla stood abruptly. "I'm done."
She grabbed her keys and left.
Tabitha gave the kids chocolate before leaving too.
The car was silent.
Heavy.
Louis got off at his company.
"Drive her home," he instructed the driver.
But Tabitha leaned forward.
"Change of plans."
She had seen the event online.
Her elder brother Teri was one of the hosts.
She picked Summer up.
Then Tamora.
They went shopping first.
Stylish. Confident. Stunning.
When they arrived at the studio
Teri froze.
"You are here?"
Their presence alone shifted the energy of the show.
The cameras loved them instantly.
"Big surprise," Tabitha said playfully.
The crowd cheered.
It was a celebrity social interview program.
Fun.
Unfiltered.
Tamora joked about fashion disasters.
Summer teased Tabitha about her "secret married glow."
Teri laughed. "I've invited you for years but you never showed."
Tabitha smiled lightly.
"Well, maybe I was boring before."
The audience laughed.
The show flowed naturally.
Tabitha was witty.
Sharp.
Unapologetic.
And radiant.
News of her appearance began circulating.
And somewhere in his office
Louis saw a clip.
And paused.
Watching her smile freely on screen.
Something in his chest tightened.
And he didn't know why.
The show wrapped up in noise and flashing cameras, but the three of them escaped before the media could circle back.
They ended up in a quiet private dining room at a high-end restaurant not far from the studio. Tamora had insisted.
"If we're having sibling bonding time," she declared dramatically, tossing her sunglasses onto the table, "it has to be somewhere that serves dessert before lectures."
Teri rolled his eyes. "You say that like I lecture."
"You do," both sisters said at the same time.
He sighed. "Unbelievable."
Tabitha leaned back in her chair, watching them with a small smile. Their rhythm was easy. Natural. Teasing without malice.
It felt… warm.
Tamora grabbed the menu and gasped. "Oh, they have that molten chocolate cake. If we don't order it, I'm disowning both of you."
"You've disowned us six times already," Teri replied calmly. "It hasn't worked yet."
Tabitha laughed softly.
Teri looked at her. "You're unusually cheerful today."
"Should I not be?"
"I'm just saying," Tamora leaned forward suspiciously, "you showed up at my house unannounced, dragged me shopping, went to my brother's show voluntarily, and now you're smiling like you don't hate the world."
Tabitha blinked innocently. "Maybe I've matured."
Teri burst out laughing. "You? Mature?"
She placed a hand dramatically on her chest. "I'm deeply offended."
"You once set the garden hedge on fire because I refused to let you ride my bicycle," Teri said flatly.
"That was an accident!"
Tamora snorted. "You poured perfume on it and said you were 'creating atmosphere.'"
Tabitha froze.
Perfume?
Hedge?
She laughed slowly. "Well… I was creative."
Teri narrowed his eyes at her. "You don't even remember that, do you?"
Her heart skipped.
Careful.
She reached for her water calmly. "I was like… what, eight?"
"Ten," Tamora corrected. "And dramatic."
"That hasn't changed," Teri muttered.
They ordered food, and once the waiter left, Tamora leaned back.
"You were actually good today on the show," she said. "Confident. Relaxed. That wasn't your usual style."
"What was my usual style?" Tabitha asked lightly.
Tamora and Teri exchanged a look.
Teri answered carefully. "Guarded."
Tamora nodded. "You used to hate public attention unless it was calculated."
Tabitha tilted her head. "Calculated?"
"You always thought everything was strategy," Teri said. "Every appearance. Every smile. Even your marriage."
The word lingered.
Marriage.
She smiled faintly. "You make me sound scary."
"You were scary," Tamora said bluntly. "You'd smile sweetly and then crush someone quietly."
Tabitha leaned back, folding her arms. "Wow. I don't know whether to be proud or concerned."
Teri studied her face.
"You've changed."
She held his gaze steadily. "People do."
He nodded slowly but didn't push.
The food arrived, and the atmosphere softened.
Tamora leaned forward mischievously. "Tell her about the swimming incident."
Teri groaned. "No."
"Yes."
Tabitha's eyes sparkled. "Tell me."
Tamora pointed her fork at Teri. "When he was thirteen, he tried to impress the neighbor's daughter by diving into the pool."
Teri covered his face.
"And?" Tabitha urged.
"He forgot he didn't know how to swim," Tamora finished proudly.
Tabitha burst into laughter.
"You almost drowned?" she asked.
"I did not almost drown," Teri snapped. "The water was shallow."
"You screamed," Tamora corrected. "'Mother! The water is aggressive!'"
Tabitha laughed so hard she had to wipe tears from her eyes.
Teri stared at her.
"You're enjoying this too much."
"I needed this story in my life," she said.
Tamora pointed at Tabitha suddenly. "Oh, don't act innocent. Tell her about the time you locked yourself in the wine cellar because Dad scolded you."
Tabitha stiffened slightly.
"I did that?"
"Yes," Teri said, amused now. "You said if no one appreciated you, you'd 'age like fine wine alone.'"
Tamora clapped. "You were fifteen!"
Tabitha slowly shook her head. "I was… dramatic."
"You were lonely," Teri corrected quietly.
The table softened.
Tabitha looked at him carefully.
Lonely?
Tamora reached across the table, nudging her shoulder lightly. "You always acted strong. Like you didn't need anyone."
Teri nodded. "You hated looking weak."
Tabitha swallowed.
That explained so much.
The real Tabitha must have built walls everywhere.
"So I didn't… talk much?" she asked gently.
"Not about real things," Teri said. "You'd joke. Tease. Deflect."
Tamora tilted her head. "But today you felt… lighter."
Tabitha forced a smile. "Maybe I'm tired of being heavy."
Silence fell briefly.
Then Tamora snapped her fingers. "Speaking of heavy, remember when she tried to run away?"
Tabitha nearly choked on her drink. "I did what?"
"She packed two dresses, three lipsticks, and a hairbrush," Teri said.
Tamora nodded seriously. "No money. No phone. Just vibes."
Tabitha covered her face. "Please tell me I at least made it to the gate."
"You made it to the driveway," Teri said. "Then cried because your heels hurt."
They all burst into laughter again.
After dessert arrived, yes..Tamora ordered the molten cake, Teri grew quieter.
"You know," he said, watching Tabitha, "I always worried about you."
She met his eyes.
"You were so desperate to prove yourself. Especially after marrying into the Yu family."
Her fingers tightened slightly around her fork.
"You thought if you weren't perfect, they'd discard you."
Tamora nodded. "You kept saying you wouldn't lose."
Lose what?
Tabitha wondered.
The family? The marriage? Herself?
She forced a light tone. "Well, clearly I was exhausting."
"You were hurting," Teri corrected again.
She held his gaze.
For a moment, she almost wanted to ask
Did I ever love him?
But she didn't.
Instead she smiled softly. "Maybe I'm done trying to win."
Tamora smirked. "Good. Because if you're finally becoming human, I approve."
Teri raised his glass. "To my sister… version 2.0."
Tabitha clinked glasses with them.
"To siblings who overshare childhood trauma."
They laughed again.
But inside
She was piecing together fragments.
The real Tabitha was proud. Guarded. Strategic. Afraid of losing.
Lonely.
And somewhere in that loneliness, she faked strength.
Maybe even faked a pregnancy.
Tabitha stared down at the melting chocolate on her plate.
Was the real Tabitha trying to survive?
And now…
Was she doing the same?
Tamora suddenly leaned forward.
"By the way."
Tabitha looked up.
"You and Louis."
Her heartbeat paused.
"There's something different."
Teri nodded slowly.
"You don't look like you're fighting alone anymore."
Tabitha forced a small smirk.
"Don't overthink it."
But for the first time
She wasn't entirely sure if she was pretending anymore.