The beauty parlor was lively that afternoon.
Soft music played in the background while hair dryers hummed and nail technicians chatted quietly with their clients. The place smelled of shampoo, perfume, and fresh nail polish.
Rosa sat comfortably in one of the chairs, a stylist carefully curling sections of her hair while another technician worked on her nails.
She watched the process calmly, occasionally glancing at her phone.
"Please keep your hand steady, miss," the nail technician said politely.
Rosa nodded.
"I am."
This was supposed to be a simple, relaxing break before returning back home
The glass door of the salon suddenly opened.
Two young girls walked in laughing loudly.
One of them glanced around casually… then froze.
Her eyes widened in disbelief.
"…Rosa?"
Rosa looked up slowly.
Her expression remained blank.
She had no idea who these people were.
The girl laughed in disbelief.
"Oh my god. Look who it is."
Her friend leaned forward, staring.
"Wait… that's really her."
The first girl crossed her arms and looked Rosa up and down with open disgust.
"Wow. You're really shameless."
The nail technician paused awkwardly.
Rosa frowned slightly.
She still didn't recognize them.
The girl continued loudly, making sure everyone in the salon could hear.
"Your family went bankrupt. Everyone knows that."
The room slowly grew quieter.
"And didn't your parents die too?"
Gasps spread across the salon.
"You even dropped out of school because you couldn't afford tuition."
She gestured dramatically at the salon chair.
"And now you're here doing your hair and nails like some rich lady?"
Her friend scoffed.
"Where did you even get the money?"
Then she smirked.
"Did you steal it?"
" You know back then she was so high and mighty, and she calls us her best friends but she treats us like minions. Also in the spotlight, she even stole the guy I liked"
Rosa stared at them calmly.
Inside, she was piecing things together.
So this Rosa's past… had a lot of problems.
The real Rosa might have tried to explain.
She might have panicked or cried.
But the woman sitting in that chair now had dealt with far worse things than gossip from strangers.
She turned to the nail technician.
"Continue."
The technician hesitated.
"Miss…"
"Continue," Rosa repeated calmly.
The salon owner had already walked over, frowning.
"Miss, I'm sorry but if there is a problem with payment..."
"There isn't."
The owner shook his head.
"We can't continue services without confirming payment first."
The classmates burst into laughter.
"See? I told you."
"She probably came here hoping they wouldn't ask."
"So embarrassing."
Rosa looked down at her unfinished nails.
Her patience was running thin.
She slowly started to stand.
Her plan was simple.
Throw her card at the owner.
Call her lawyer.
And sue every single one of them.
But just as she pushed the chair back..
The salon door opened again.
Dairies walked in.
He had been passing by in the car when he suddenly remembered Rosa mentioning earlier that she was going to the parlor.
On impulse, he told the driver to stop.
As soon as he entered, he heard the last insult.
"She probably stole the money."
Dairies' expression immediately darkened.
He looked across the room.
And saw Rosa standing there surrounded by hostile faces.
He walked toward her slowly.
The atmosphere in the salon shifted instantly.
His presence was calm but powerful.
"Is there a problem here?" he asked.
The owner straightened nervously.
"S-Sir, it's just a misunderstanding.."
Dairies looked at Rosa first.
"Are you alright?"
Rosa blinked slightly.
"…I'm fine."
The girls looked at Dairies curiously.
One of them rolled her eyes.
"And who are you supposed to be? Her lawyer?"
Dairies turned his cold gaze toward them.
"No."
His voice was calm.
"But I'm the person who will make sure you regret speaking to her like that."
The girls stiffened.
The owner's face turned pale.
Dairies pulled out his phone.
"I'd like the business license information for this salon," he said quietly.
The owner panicked.
"S-Sir please..."
Then Dairies looked at the two women again.
"And their names."
The earlier confidence on their faces vanished immediately.
"You can't do that!" one of them snapped.
Dairies raised an eyebrow.
"I can."
Then he calmly pulled a chair beside Rosa and sat down.
"Finish her manicure," he told the technician.
The woman immediately nodded.
"Yes, sir."
She resumed working quickly.
The salon had become completely silent.
Rosa sat down again slowly.
She looked at Dairies for a moment.
"You didn't have to interfere."
Dairies glanced at her.
"Yes, I did."
"I could have handled it."
"I know."
She tilted her head slightly.
"Then why?"
He leaned back calmly.
"Because they were wrong."
Rosa watched him quietly.
She had always handled everything herself.
Always built walls so no one could step in.
But seeing someone step forward so naturally to defend her…
It felt unfamiliar.
And strangely comforting.
For the first time in a long while…
She didn't feel like she had to fight alone.
The city lights flickered through the tall glass windows of Louis' office.
It was late.
Too late.
Yet the lights in his office were still on.
Louis sat behind his desk, sleeves slightly rolled up, tie loosened. Papers were scattered across the table...reports, proposals, numbers that refused to align the way he wanted.
But his eyes weren't really on them.
He tapped his pen lightly against the desk.
Once.
Twice.
Then he dropped it.
His mind drifted.
Tabitha.
Again.
He leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly.
She hadn't come home the previous night.
She barely stayed home anymore.
And now...
She was building something.
Something big.
Something he hadn't expected from her.
He scoffed quietly.
"When did you become like this…"
A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts.
"Come in."
The door opened.
And there she was.
Tabitha walked in casually, dressed simply but still effortlessly elegant. Her hair was tied back loosely, a few strands falling around her face.
Louis straightened slightly.
"What are you doing here?"
She closed the door behind her.
"Can't I visit my husband?"
He narrowed his eyes slightly.
"That depends. Are you here to cause trouble?"
She smirked.
"Always assuming the worst."
She walked toward the couch and dropped her bag there before sitting down like she owned the place.
Louis watched her carefully.
"You've been busy."
"Very."
"You didn't come home."
"I know."
No apology.
No explanation.
Just… simple acknowledgment.
Louis frowned slightly.
"Do you plan on moving out completely?"
She raised an eyebrow.
"Are you complaining?"
"I'm asking."
She leaned back against the couch.
"I told you I'm working."
"And that means you don't sleep at home anymore?"
Tabitha sighed dramatically.
"You're starting to sound like a concerned husband."
Louis' expression didn't change.
"Maybe I am."
That caught her off guard.
Just for a second.
She quickly masked it with a smirk.
"Don't tell me you miss me."
Louis stood up slowly from his chair.
"Don't push it."
She laughed softly.
"Relax. I'm joking."
Silence fell for a moment.
Then..
"I brought you something."
Louis paused.
"What?"
She reached into her bag and pulled out a small box, tossing it lightly onto his desk.
He looked at it.
Then at her.
"What is this?"
"Open it."
He hesitated for a second before opening the box.
Inside was a sleek, elegant wristwatch.
Simple.
Expensive.
Timeless.
Louis looked at it quietly.
"Why?"
Tabitha shrugged.
"You've been working hard."
He closed the box slowly.
"You bought me a gift because I work?"
"Yes."
"That's new."
She tilted her head.
"Do you not like it?"
He looked at her.
"I didn't say that."
"Then wear it."
Louis stared at her for a moment.
Then, without another word, he took off his current watch and replaced it with the one she gave him.
Tabitha watched closely.
It fit perfectly.
"Looks good," she said.
Louis glanced at his wrist briefly.
"…It does."
Another silence.
But this one felt different.
Softer.
Less guarded.
Tabitha stood up suddenly.
"I'm hungry."
Louis sighed.
"You're always hungry when you come here."
"And you're always working when I come here."
She walked closer to his desk.
"Let's eat."
"I already ate."
She frowned.
"Alone?"
"Yes."
She looked slightly annoyed.
"That's rude."
Louis raised an eyebrow.
"You weren't here."
"You could have waited."
"For what?"
She crossed her arms.
"For me."
Louis stared at her.
There it was again.
That strange feeling.
Unfamiliar.
Uncomfortable.
But not entirely unwelcome.
He stood up.
"Fine."
She blinked.
"Fine?"
"We'll eat again."
Her face lit up slightly.
"Really?"
"Yes."
"But this time," he added, grabbing his coat, "we're not drinking."
She rolled her eyes.
"No promises."
He walked toward her.
"You're not getting drunk again tonight."
She smirked.
"We'll see."
As they walked out of the office together, the staff outside couldn't help but stare.
They didn't argue.
They didn't fight.
They just… walked side by side.
Like it was the most natural thing in the world.
And for Louis...
That might have been the most surprising part of all.
The dressing room was filled with quiet chaos.
Stylists moved around adjusting outfits, fixing makeup, and whispering instructions. Cameras were being set outside, lights tested, microphones checked.
Tabitha stood in front of the mirror, staring at her reflection.
Elegant.
Composed.
Too composed.
She adjusted her earring slightly.
"This is unnecessary," she muttered under her breath.
From behind her, Louis' voice came calmly,
"You say that about everything important."
She turned.
He was already dressed, sharp as always, fixing his cufflinks like this was just another business meeting.
"This IS unnecessary," she insisted. "An interview? For what? To tell people we exist?"
"To tell people we're stable," Louis corrected.
She scoffed.
"Are we?"
Louis didn't respond immediately.
Instead, he stepped closer, his eyes meeting hers through the mirror.
"We need them to think we are."
That… was true.
Tabitha sighed.
"Fine."
She turned back to the mirror.
"But don't say anything ridiculous."
Louis raised an eyebrow slightly.
"When have I ever said anything ridiculous?"
She turned to look at him directly.
"You're capable."
He almost smiled.
The interview set was polished and glamorous.
Soft lighting, elegant chairs, and a well-dressed host sitting opposite them with a bright, practiced smile.
"Mr. and Mrs. Yu," the host said warmly as the cameras rolled, "it's such a pleasure to have you both here today."
Tabitha smiled politely.
"Thank you."
Louis nodded.
"Glad to be here."
The questions started simple.
Business.
Public image.
Recent rumors.
"Mr. Louis," the host continued, "we've been seeing a lot of you supporting your wife lately. Visiting her set, bringing food… people are calling you quite the supportive husband."
Tabitha glanced sideways at him slightly.
Louis remained calm.
"She's working hard," he said simply. "It's only right."
The host smiled wider.
"That's very admirable."
Then she turned to Tabitha.
"And you, Mrs. Yu, you've recently stepped into production and business. That's a big shift. What inspired that?"
Tabitha leaned slightly forward.
"I was tired of being idle," she said honestly. "I wanted to build something of my own."
Louis glanced at her briefly.
There was something different in the way she spoke now.
Confidence.
Clarity.
The host nodded.
"That's wonderful. It's inspiring to see couples grow both personally and professionally."
Then...
She smiled knowingly.
"There have also been rumors about your marriage. Some say there were… difficulties."
The room felt slightly quieter.
Tabitha was about to respond..
But Louis spoke first.
"Every marriage has difficulties."
Tabitha turned her head slightly.
That wasn't the answer she expected.
Louis continued calmly,
"What matters is how you handle them."
The host leaned in.
"So how HAVE you handled yours?"
There was a brief pause.
Then Louis said it.
"Our second wedding anniversary is coming up."
Tabitha's head snapped slightly toward him.
That wasn't part of the plan.
The host's eyes lit up immediately.
"Oh! That's wonderful news!"
Louis continued without hesitation.
"We'll be celebrating it."
Tabitha stared at him.
He… was the one saying this?
The same man who had earlier refused the idea?
The host smiled brightly.
"That's exciting! Will it be a big celebration?"
Louis glanced briefly at Tabitha.
Then back at the host.
"Yes."
Tabitha blinked.
"Yes?
He didn't even discuss this with her.
"We think it's a good time," Louis added calmly, "to show appreciation for the journey so far."
Tabitha's lips parted slightly.
Journey?
Since when did they have a JOURNEY?
The host clapped her hands lightly.
"That's beautiful."
She turned to Tabitha.
"You must be excited."
Tabitha quickly composed herself.
"Of course," she said with a soft smile.
Inside..
She was completely confused.
The cameras turned off.
The crew began packing up.
The moment they were alone...
Tabitha turned sharply to Louis.
"What was that?"
He looked at her calmly.
"What?"
"The anniversary."
He shrugged slightly.
"It's happening."
"You said you wouldn't be around."
"I adjusted my schedule."
She stared at him.
"You didn't even tell me."
"I'm telling you now."
She crossed her arms.
"You're unbelievable."
He stepped slightly closer.
"You're already preparing for bigger things," he said quietly. "This isn't any different."
Tabitha frowned.
"It is different."
"How?"
"This involves us."
Louis held her gaze.
"Yes."
Silence.
Something shifted in the air between them.
Then Tabitha sighed.
"Fine."
He raised an eyebrow.
"Fine?"
"We'll do it."
A small pause.
Then she added,
"But if this turns into a disaster, I'm blaming you."
Louis almost smiled.
"I'll take that risk."
Tabitha turned away, shaking her head slightly.
"You're really something."
"And yet," he said calmly behind her, "you're still with me."
She paused for a second.
Then walked ahead.
But this time..
There was the faintest hint of a smile on her face.