After sending the twins to school, Qiu Wen informed the cafe about her taking a few days off. He made arrangements for the twins to head over after school to help a little, knowing they would be short-handed without Xue Ting.

While he was reading through some documents from work thereafter, Xue Ting was fidgeting in her dream as her fever was rising. She dreamt of the night she left Qiu Wen sixteen years ago.

She pulled her half-naked body closer to her shirt as she stood by the glass door looking at the stars.

"Xue Ting, you look pretty tonight." She could hear the voice of Qiu Wen in her mind ringing as she recalled watching Qiu Wen inch closer to her just right before he kissed her.

She shook her head to clear away that scene but she couldn't resist herself from wanting more of that kiss.

She recalled a text message from Qiu Wen.

"Ready? I'm on my way to your doorstep." She replied to the text with a kiss emoticon as she went to get the door.

She recalled the love-making scene that night where it was her first time but it was so intense that her body yearned more of it all these years only to find herself constantly denying Qiu Wen.

Her longing was cut short as she recalled another text message that came into her mobile from Mrs. Tang. She remembered her heart ached reading it.

"Qiu Wen is betrothed to the Wei family's daughter. We are holding a family meet-up this weekend, Aunty would like you to join us since you both have been friends for so long and you could be a good judge of their relationship. Do let Aunty know if you can make it."

She was overwhelmed by her mixed emotions of rage and betrayal as well as disappointment. Qiu Wen shifted on the couch when she quickly got up and get dressed.

Qiu Wen awoke to find her fumbling over her belongings. "Ting Ting, why are you leaving so fast? It's late, stay."

Tears threatened to drop from Xue Ting's eyes as she wiped them away before explaining. However, she couldn't seem to be able to open her mouth but kept crying.

She cried so much in her sleep that her pillow was wet as she whimpered. Qiu Wen quickly walked over to her as he heard her whimpers grow louder. He slipped into the other side of the bed to hug her as she slowly calmed down and opened her eyes. She didn't expect to find him by his side as though he had jumped out from her dreams.

"Bad dream?" He whispered as his eyes were showing signs of worried. She hugged him tighter as she sobbed in his arms and was fighting the pangs of her body ache from the fever.

"It's alright, Ting Ting. Cry it out..." He comforted her as he gently stroke her back.

"Wen Wen…" Xue Ting called as she tried to calm down.

"Yes?" He gently asked her as he wiped away her tears with the tissue on the side table.

"Can you tell me… weren't you betrothed to Francesca since young?" Xue Ting asked in between her sobs while she tried to calm down.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"I explained this before, didn't I? I was. My mother always wanted her but I never once wanted to marry her. As I explained, I will run away and the only reason I came back was in the hope of meeting you and..." Qiu Wen explained as he wondered if should he make a move so fast.

"Why?" They asked each other at the same time. He meant to question her about the reasons for her asking while she meant to ask him why didn't he pursue her at that point in time but let her leave instead.

He noticed Xue Ting's eyes widen in disbelief as more tears welled up. She knew there and then, it was Mrs. Tang who fooled the three of them. "Qiu Wen, sixteen years ago when I left you after the break up... did you go to meet Wei's family for a betrothed arrangement?"

Qiu Wen shook his head recalling he was sick in bed after that night but he wasn't going to worry her about it. "No. It was just a family dinner with them as usual on business talks which I didn't turn up. What is it, Ting Ting? Why are you asking this all of a sudden?" Qiu Wen was trying to understand her questions but could relate after last night's revelation, it must have something to do with his mother.

"Ting Ting, did my mother tell you anything that night?" Qiu Wen asked impatiently as she began to sob more.

"Ting Ting, don't cry…" He said gently as he wiped her tears away while she sobbed awhile in his arms in the realisation that Mrs. Tang might have even purposely fooled them three from the start.

However, that doesn't mean she had never loved James. She did and it was part of the sweetest moment of her teenage life but so was Qiu Wen.

If only fate wasn't this twisted for them. "It's alright. Tell me when you're ready. You should rest." He patted her till she calmed down and had a few hiccups. He passed her some water as he watched her tired face.

"Feeling better?" He asked as she looked at him. "Wen Wen…" She called out as her tears fell uncontrollably.

"It's alright… it's alright… it's just a dream." Qiu Wen comforted.

"The dream reminded me of a message I received on the night I broke up with James. The night we made out…" She sobbed again as Qiu Wen pulled her into his embrace which was so soft and soothing that she realised she had been holding grudges for no reason.

"Your mother told me…" Her voice cracked.

"I know… I understand now… Ting Ting, I'm sorry." Qiu Wen felt so bad for her as he could guess what his mother did.

"No, you don't understand…" Xue Ting wanted to explain as she sat up to face him on how she first met James but Qiu Wen kissed her instead. A kiss that landed roughly and sloppily as though the longing was never fulfilled which then slowly became gentler and soothing to both their hearts.

When they broke away, Xue Ting kept her eyes shut tightly as she didn't want the moment to end but she knew she had to protect the truth about her twins even from Qiu Wen. She feared what Mrs. Tang would ever do when she found out they were her grandchildren. She had to hide the truth from anyone but at least it could stay as her beautiful memories with James in the eyes of other people. Perhaps she should just keep it that way.

"I do understand. I know my mother. She must have known that you broke up with James and you came to find me. I know she knew about us… I'm sorry you had to endure all this for so long… I wish I could turn back time and fix your relationship with James and not be selfish. I'm sorry, Ting Ting." Qiu Wen held her tighter in his embrace as she was glad he misunderstood when she opened her eyes.

"Wen Wen, I think we should let the twins know about their daddy and could you please bring us to see him?" Xue Ting requested as Qiu Wen nodded with a sad smile.

"Do not let your mother know that we figured this out and she can never find out that the twins are James." Xue Ting's eyes gave a hint of warning and worry as Qiu Wen understood her so well without even having to ask.

He nodded. "Don't worry. I will make sure this stays between us. I will protect all of you." He pecked her forehead as she eased into his arms enveloping her safely by his side.

That night, the twins returned home to find dinner prepared by Qiu Wen as Xue Ting was sitting by the balcony staring out into blank space.

"Mummy! Are you well yet? You would catch a cold sitting here." Matthew said instantly as he approached her after spotting her sitting at a windy spot. Xue Ting gently held onto his hand as she heard Joy's skipping over to her.

"Mummy!" Joy kissed her on her cheeks as Xue Ting held onto her hand.

"Babies, mummy has something to tell." Xue Ting said as she looked at her twins and caressed their faces. They both looked at her with lots of curiosity.

"Uncle Ryan had just told me that your daddy had passed away five years ago in an accident." Xue Ting said as the twins felt terrible and hugged her instantly. Qiu Wen walked over to them and gently patted Joy's and Matthew's shoulders.

"We should pay a visit to him…" Xue Ting said as the twins let off her hug and nodded obediently.

The twins didn't know how to react as they had not had an attachment to James before.

Even when they visited his tomb, the twins could only pay their respect solemnly while trying to keep their mother in a stable condition.

When Xue Ting came face to face with his tomb, she realised she had never seen James mature look till that day. In her memory, it was always his teenage look. He must have been similar to Qiu Wen in height and body build but his face was more well-built and his smile had never changed.

She caressed the message James left for her on his tomb as though it was him. Her heart was at peace at least she thought as she gave a heavy sigh before they paid their respect.

"James, I am sorry for all that I had put you through. I just wanted you to know I did genuinely love you. I am sorry I had to continue to lie using you this way for my love for Qiu Wen had never died out despite it being forbidden all this while." Xue Ting said silently in her heart as she blinked her tears away.

"I hope you would understand and all I wish for you is to be at peace. I am safe with Qiu Wen now. So, let us continue on like the way it should be, and do not worry anymore." Xue Ting added before leaning into Qiu Wen's shoulder sadly.

Joy was worried but Matthew could only discreetly let her know to stay strong as their mother needed them during these tough times. Matthew could only wrap Joy over her shoulder to comfort her instead.