Novels2Search
The warmth of autumn (TWA)
Chapter 24: Crossroads

Chapter 24: Crossroads

He quickly wrapped up with the cleaning and return to find her falling asleep with Brisbane in her arms while sitting on the floor. He gently tried to carry Brisbane away from her as she stirred.

"Oh, send her to your room... It's not too loud there..." She softly said as Qiu Wen nodded while she trailed them into the room.

Qiu Wen then put Brisbane in the middle of them as he went to lure the dogs into his room while Xue Ting climbed into bed and let Brisbane snuggle into her arms. Qiu Wen then closed the room's door when the dogs were in before placing an arm on Brisbane which also was on Xue Ting's arm as the three of them slowly fall asleep.

"Goodnight…" He gently said while putting loose hair on Xue Ting's face behind her ear. Xue Ting smiled while being smitten by his gesture.

"Goodnight." She whispered while gently tapping on Brisbane's arm to coax her to sleep as she felt Qiu Wen doing the same on her arm too.

Dan was a little at ease when he let Qiu Wen bring Brisbane and the puppies along with him so easily. He was in fact worried that Brisbane would act up and he would have a headache not knowing how to handle children since he had no experience. As he thought of Xue Ting, Dan was happy for Qiu Wen and at ease having to know Brisbane would definitely be well taken care of. Despite not having details of their sudden marriage which caused him to forget momentarily that Qiu Wen was finally married to the love of his life, he envied Qiu Wen for being able to finally fulfill his happiness.

He felt a gentle squeeze on his hand as Pam was stirring and when she opened her eyes, she saw Dan looking down at her caringly. For a moment, she thought she was dreaming till she heard his voice.

"Pam. Oh, Pam, you're awake! Hold on, let me get the doctors!" Dan cheered but Pam held on to his hand not wanting to let go.

She tried to speak, wanting to know where and how was Brisbane but her throat was coarse as Dan quickly get dab some water on her lips. "Don't move. Don't worry. Are you feeling alright? Does it hurt anyway? Are you hungry? Oh, oh, don't worry about Brisbane. I let my best friend, Qiu Wen take care of her with his wife. You're safe now. You had fractures and …" Dan's words choke on his throat as he tightened his grip when he saw Pam's tears fall continuously from her eyes while she stared back at him.

To Pam, all that Dan had asked wasn't bringing anger or making her upset but those were all that she had always wanted to hear from her soon to ex-husband, Alshton. She missed the times when she hasn't had Brisbane. At times she even blamed Brisbane for being born and changing all her happy days to agony but when Dan came along and updated her on all that happened and where Brisbane was, she realise she was wrong.

She loved Brisbane more than anything.

Dan gently patted the hand he was holding on to as he crouched by the side of her bed.

"What exactly happened Pam? Were you abused again like what Brisbane had told me? Have you and Brisbane… been living your life like what Brisbane explained all this while? Is that why Brisbane was pushing herself to be strong to protect you? Is that why you're always so reserved as compared to how cheerful you were back then in college? " Dan questioned as Pam sobbed even more as he gripped on tighter to her hand.

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"Pam, if I knew this was going to happen, I would have made it a point back then to clarify the misunderstanding with you…" Dan said as Pam calm down a little to listen to him.

"That night at the masquerade, the confession was meant for you but I didn't know you had swapped dresses with Lilian… I…" Dan was moved to tears as well as he didn't know he would have this chance to finally confess and give clarity to the years of misunderstanding. What he didn't expect was to make the confession in such a situation.

Pam's sobs were turning into wails as she let go of all her agony and finally had the clarity to their years of misunderstanding. He stood to set her bed higher before sitting by her side in bed to hug her as she cried in his arms till she tire herself.

"Pam, if you allow, I would like to take care of you and Brisbane from now on. I will stay by your side to fight in court for a divorce and if you want, I could arrange to pull charges on this assault." Dan offered as Pam shook her head. Dan understood as he continue to hold her by his side.

"Take your time. You don't have to decide now. Get some sleep. I will be right here." He comforted gently. Pam couldn't bring herself to answer and think rationally as the only comfort she could feel at that point was the refuge she had always longed for in the arms of Dan.

The next morning, Dan then updated Qiu Wen that Pam was awake but told him to come alone first as she wasn't in a good state for Brisbane to visit yet. Qiu Wen went downstairs upon getting the text message to update Xue Ting who was preparing breakfast.

"Morning…" Xue Ting greeted as Qiu Wen stood by her side and helped her with the plate.

"Morning… Dan said Pam was awake but she was still not in a good state. I guess I should find a nanny or something to look after Brisbane." Qiu Wen said as Xue Ting shook her head.

"It's alright. I can. Just let her stay with me. She can follow me to the restaurant while we keep the puppies at home. When the twins are home from school, I will let them take care of her after that." She explained.

"Is that really alright with you?" Qiu Wen questioned looking into her eyes as she smiled gently and nodded.

"Of course it is!" Joy said as she skipped into the room suddenly after making Matthew stay with her by the door to eavesdrop the couple's sweet moment.

"Morning!" Qiu Wen greeted as Joy went to hug him and then her mother before Qiu Wen put down the plate on the table.

"Morning daddy…" Matthew said before taking a sit when Qiu Wen was in front of him.

"Morning, Matt." Qiu Wen smiled as Xue Ting was stunned for a moment.

"What …" She mumbled but quickly went to fry some eggs as she let the huge change in Matthew seep into her as she couldn't help but smiled to herself.

Moments later, Brisbane came into the kitchen after playing with her puppies in the living room and joined the family for a hearty breakfast. Qiu Wen then realise if he and Xue Ting were to have a baby eventually, would it make the family happier?

A text from Dan to see him soon made him snap back to the reality that it was all just an act for now and that he still had a long way to go in winning back Xue Ting. After driving the twins to school, he quickly rushed over to the hospital to meet up with Dan who looked tired and worn. They took a sit by the park as Dan drank his coffee.

"How did you just get married like that? Without even having me as your witness?" Dan complained.

Qiu Wen chuckled. "Come on, buddy. You know it was an emergency. We have known each other so well for so many years, could you please spare me some leeway?" Qiu Wen begged playfully to Dan with his puppy eyes looking cute which send the boys into chuckles, trying to lift up their damp mood.

"But really, instead of Francesca, it's Sicily? The one whom you always had in mind and made her cheat for you." Dan sipped his coffee.

"Technically, she didn't cheat on me. She was on the verge of breaking up…broken up in fact." Qiu Wen looked up to the sky and sighed.

"Maybe it's fate then. Bro, treat her right this time." Dan patted Qiu Wen's shoulder.

"I intend to but it seemed she had James' twins and I believe she still had no idea about what had happened to James…" Qiu Wen sighed heavily. "So it's really her twins and not siblings as reported in the news?" Dan asked as Qiu Wen nodded.

"What about you? Your break up and then now Pam and her daughter with an abusive husband? What's that all about?" Qiu Wen questioned.

"Yes, I broke up with Lilian." Dan sighed.

"She was a mistake, to begin with. You used to hope you get to see your Ting Ting again. And you did and I guess that's why we are best friends. Cause I also met Pam by accident and she was the neighbor at my beach house. As for her household domestic violence, she still refused to tell me her decision. From what I gathered from Brisbane, she was on the verge of divorce and the domestic violence was the main cause." Dan explained as Qiu Wen shook his head in disbelief.

"You should consider telling Xue Ting about James and finally pursue her like you should have from the very beginning you know. Cause I have decided to do the same with Pam. I want to be there to protect her and Brisbane. I want to fight for her freedom and even if she can't accept me romantically, I still want to ensure she lives a happy and better life than now." That was enough to send both boys into a lower mood as Qiu Wen held his hand out to hug his buddy by Dan's shoulder.