Hong Yi carried Haoyu upstairs in his arms.
The boy's breathing slowly softened, exhaustion pulling him under after the terrifying day.
Xiamen walked beside them, her hand hovering near Haoyu's back as if she didn't dare let go.
Hong Yi pushed the bedroom door open gently and laid Haoyu on the bed.
He pulled the blanket over the child's small body, brushing his hair aside with a tenderness that made Xiamen's breath shake.
Haoyu shifted once, his tiny hand grabbing Hong Yi's sleeve even in sleep.
Hong Yi froze.
For a long moment, he simply stared at his son—
his son—
before carefully freeing his sleeve and standing.
Silence filled the room.
A heavy, suffocating silence.
Hong Yi turned to Xiamen.
His face was calm, but his eyes—
Burned.
"Now," he whispered, voice low, controlled,
"you're going to tell me everything."
Xiamen's heart dropped.
She took a step back without realizing.
Hong Yi followed.
"Why," he asked softly—too softly—
"did you hide him?"
Xiamen opened her mouth, but no sound came out.
Her throat closed.
Hong Yi's jaw tightened.
"How did it happen, Xiamen?"
His voice rose—not loud, but sharp.
"You were with me. I took care of you. After divorce you disappear—pregnant with my child—and I'm the last to know?"
Xiamen flinched.
Tears welled in her eyes.
Hong Yi's voice hardened.
"You owe me an answer."
Her lips trembled.
"I… I tried…"
"Don't lie."
His tone cut like glass.
That was the moment her tears finally fell.
"It wasn't supposed to be possible…" she whispered, her voice breaking.
"You gave me contraceptives… the strongest ones… I took them, You told me to."
Hong Yi blinked.
A crack formed in his expression.
Xiamen continued, tears running down her cheeks.
"So when Haoyu happened… he wasn't planned… he wasn't expected… he was a miracle."
She pressed a hand to her chest.
"A miracle I held onto after you left me."
Hong Yi's breath hitched.
His eyes darkened—not with anger at her—but at himself.
Xiamen shook her head.
"I didn't hide him because I wanted to," she said with a trembling voice.
"I hid him because I was scared."
"Scared of me?" Hong Yi asked quietly.
She nodded.
Her voice shattered.
"I didn't want my son growing up in a broken family. I didn't want him to think he wasn't wanted. I didn't want him to see his father look at me… with no love."
Hong Yi froze.
Xiamen wiped her eyes, but more tears came instantly.
"You didn't love me," she said in a whisper so soft it hurt.
"You never loved me. So how could you ever love our child… if you didn't even want me?"
Her voice cracked painfully.
"So I raised him alone. I kept him safe. I did everything I could. Because Haoyu… he is the only reason I survived after you left."
Hong Yi stood there—
Silent.
Stunned.
Something collapsing inside him.
His voice, when it finally came, was hoarse.
"Xiamen…" he said, unable to look away from her broken expression,
"you think I wouldn't have loved him… just because I didn't say I loved you?"
She flinched.
Hong Yi stepped closer.
His anger was gone.
Replaced by something much deeper.
Much more dangerous.
"Tell me," he said softly, eyes locked on hers,
"who told you I didn't love you?"
Xiamen froze.
Her breath stopped.
Because she had no answer.
Only wounds.