The twins managed to catch up with Xue Ting at the nearby intersection when they ran after her.

"Mummy!" Matthew yelled but she ignored him knowing her twins were chasing after her.

"Mummy!" Joy yelled and held her arm to stop her from walking.

"Mummy, where are you heading to?" Joy asked while catching her breath.

"Are you alright?" Matthew noticed she was limping.

"I'm fine. I'm fine. Just a little twisted ankle earlier." Xue Ting winced while Matthew squatted to inspect.

"Mummy, what happened? What was the commotion about? Daddy found out about the surprise?" Joy asked as Xue Ting took a deep breath to control her temper recalling that the twins were also part of the cause of the whole commotion.

"It's fine. Just some misunderstanding. Come on Xin Xin, let's go for dinner at your favorite fried chicken store." Xue Ting said as she dragged them both to the nearby outlet.

"What?! No, mummy we have a party to return to!" Joy said in disagreement but to no avail.

"That made-up party never existed, babies. We are going to have one here!" Xue Ting forced a chuckle while blinking away the threatening tears as she dragged them into the outlet.

When they reached the counter, she ordered two big buckets of fried chicken and Matthew added a bag of ice to place on his mum's slightly swollen ankle.

"So, another hiking trip tomorrow?" Xue Ting asked when they were seated. Matthew helped her to place the ice pack bag on her ankle.

"Yes... Why? Don't miss us too much." Joy who sat next to Xue Ting teased her before kissing Xue Ting's cheek.

Joy signaled Matthew to text Qiu Wen discreetly.

Matthew could tell the urgency from Qiu Wen's text message. Alright will be right there! Hold her as long as you can!

"Xin Xin, honey, who have you been texting? Your girlfriend?" Xue Ting teased as she tried to peep while munching on a drumstick.

"Mummy, no! Some privacy please!" Matthew panicked for a moment before Joy and Xue Ting giggled.

"Hmmm... It's been a while since we had such a gathering. I'm sorry, darlings. Your mother has been too busy to enjoy the luxury of life with you both." Xue Ting beamed watching them both enjoying their fried chicken.

"Mummy you should come on a camping trip with us! You would love it!" Matthew said as he licked his fingers.

"Alright. I promise we will go on that trip someday. Let me sort out some stuff first." Xue Ting said as her mind wandered to the new house she had just booked.

"With daddy too?" Joy pushed a little further as they watched their mother lose her appetite completely.

"Alright, I will call it a night. The both of you may continue while I will leave for home." Xue Ting announced as Matthew began to panic. Joy knew she had gone overboard as they quickly stopped her.

"Mummy, we will call for a taxi online. Would you wait awhile? We wanna leave with you too." Joy started with an excuse.

"Hmm... Why? The night's still young. Stay out. Don't worry bout me..." Xue Ting stood to move outside as the twins panicked even more and followed as Matthew quickly packed up the leftovers.

"Mummy, just wait here. I have booked a taxi. It's too late to cancel anyway." Matthew added on to the excuse as Xue Ting frowned.

"Alright, alright." Xue Ting finally gave in to their suggestions.

Matthew was relieved for a moment from his mini heart attack, knowing Xue Ting can be unpredictable at times.

Daddy hurry! We are keeping her waiting with a" "waiting for a taxi" excuse! Matthew texted Qiu Wen.

"Where is this taxi? There are so many waiting in front of us." Xue Ting complained as she stood by the bench outside of the main door.

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"Mummy, let's sit by the bench first. Your ankle is still swollen." Matthew suggested.

"Even more reasons for us to just hop on to one in front of us." Xue Ting went on whining with an agitated face as the two of them began to feel the pressure.

Just then, Joy nodded knowingly to Matthew at the sight of Qiu Wen's car. Qiu Wen got out of the parked car from a distance and approached them.

Xue Ting noticed the twins were moving in front of her as she sighed in relief thinking it was the arrival of their taxi. However, when she noticed Qiu Wen approaching, she tried with all her might with her limping ankle to storm off the opposite direction.

"Mummy! Mummy, stop! You going to hurt yourself!" Matthew called out worriedly as Xue Ting ignored him and felt a huge betrayal from both of her twins.

"Who cares!" She yelled back at her twins sounding very upset from their betrayal.

"Hurry, hurry, go go go! We will handle the car!" Joy told Qiu Wen as he ran after Xue Ting who was struggling to storm off. The excruciating pain started to become unbearable and slowed her down as she took off her heels while cursing herself in her mind for being useless to escape at such a moment.

Qiu Wen held her arm just before she could fall to the ground from losing her balance. She yelped in his arms as she cursed at herself again for supporting herself using the injured ankle.

"Ting Ting, stop running away. I'm sorry. Stop hurting yourself." Qiu Wen said as he caught his breath with widening eyes.

As she noticed Qiu Wen's worried face which made her even more annoyed, she instantly let herself free from his hand and tried to limp off again.

Qiu Wen's heart ached at the sight of her injury and regretted his actions and words earlier. He could not bear to watch her inflict her anger on herself as he aggressively stopped her for fear that he would lose her.

"Ting Ting! Stop!" Qiu Wen pestered her to stop by swinging her off to the walkway side and pinning her to the tree.

"You will hurt your ankle even more!" She was taken by surprise as she let Qiu Wen take control of her by trying to lean her towards him.

"Listen, I'm sorry about all that I said earlier. I am the worst useless husband ever." She rolled her eyes.

"You did great tonight... The party… Everything was superb... I'm so sorry..." Qiu Wen started apologising as he tried to slowly overcome his fear but he could feel his anxiety was building up while restraining her.

She began to be impatient. It was not enough to calm her rage.

"You know what? You don't have to apologise." Xue Ting said calmly as she slowly tried to let herself free. For a moment, Qiu Wen thought she was not angry anymore and he was forgiven that he smiled.

"Cause this isn't part of the contract. You can continue as per our open marriage agreement. You're right. Who am I to care about your life?" Xue Ting retaliated with sarcasm and he realised she was still furious.

"Nobody! So, let's move on and return to necessary obligations only as stated. Stop playing games with my heart!" Qiu Wen was listening meekly to her venting but he knew he needed to clear up the misunderstanding.

His conscience started to go blurry as he battled to take a clear look at her. He could feel his breathing began to perspire faster. That was when he realised his panic attack had relapsed.

"Oh, you're not even listening. Why do I even waste my time?!" Xue Ting limped away from him. Qiu Wen was struggling to not collapse to the ground while the memories of his birthday party at five when his mother left him to cry came haunting him.

As he watched Xue Ting leave a couple of steps away he could not take it anymore when his anxiety brought him down to his knees. He held onto his head trying to call out to Xue Ting but he could find his voice in the nick of time, just the same as sixteen years ago. He did not want to let anxiety win this time again so he struggled the fight.

"Sir! Sir! Are you alright?" A passerby called out to Qiu Wen as Xue Ting stopped midway and turned around to find Qiu Wen on the ground, struggling to breathe.

Xue Ting quickly limped back to him. "Qiu Wen?! Are you alright? What's going on?!"

Qiu Wen was trying to catch his breath as he held on tight to her hand and closed his eyes to calm down. He could feel Xue Ting embracing him closer into her arms.

"Are you alright? Can you walk? I will get the twins to help..." Xue Ting suggested as she wanted to stand and run to get the twins but he held her back.

"No... Don't leave me..." Qiu Wen whispered as he continued catching his breath and pulled her into his embrace. It felt heavenly secured.

"Are you sure he is alright?" The stranger asked which Xue Ting had forgotten about him. If it was not for him attracting her attention, she could never imagined what would have happened to Qiu Wen.

"Oh... Oh yes don't worry.. thanks!" Xue Ting said while helping Qiu Wen to stand.

Qiu Wen kept close to Xue Ting as she led him to the bench. It began to dawn on her that the symptoms were anxiety breakdown issues after working a long while with the pediatric ward children.

"Why didn't you tell me before you had anxiety?" Xue Ting tightened her grip as she swept some hair away from his forehead and gently stroked his cheek.

"I haven't had one for ages..." Qiu Wen was more calm when he spoke. "Did you bring with you your medication?" She asked as he shook his head.

"Let's go to the hospital... You need to be checked." Xue Ting urged as he tightened his grip on her palm, afraid she would run again.

"No, I'm fine. I am. Just as long as you don't leave me alone..." Qiu Wen said as he gazed into hers. "Please, not again."

She blinked in surprise at his statement as though they were music to her ears but soon realised she should stop her wishful thinking. She was still upset by the fact that there would be the possibility of the contract being hurled at her again in the future if things went wrong. She forced herself to stand and walk away. Before she could make it any further, he hugged her from behind.

"I'm sorry... I... Just am so sorry... Would you please don't leave me?" Qiu Wen was panting like he did a while ago as he pleaded with tears.

Xue Ting stopped midway finding Qiu Wen's anxiety was erratic but she could not figure out what triggered them. As she gently rubbed his back, his pleads earlier hit her as she began to make sense of all of it.

Leaving him? Was it the same sixteen years ago, that night?