"From then on, he hated his mother. He had an anxiety breakdown every time he saw his mother thereafter. That was why he stayed with me and Grandpa back in our hometown and met you…" Grandma chuckled as she gently patted Xue Ting's hand.

"It took him some time to recover till when he was a teenager only then did he overcome it. That was when he shifted back to Wai Tao. It was a coincidence that the kidnapping of the three of you had to happen right before he moved. Knowing the move was inevitable, his mother decided to use that as an excuse." Grandma sighed.

"She was always protective of him and wanted the best for him but often got on the wrong side of him. His father…" Grandma sighed sadly.

"I have raised my daughter wrongly. And he sees it. I don't blame him for distancing her. I'm sure he still hopes for her to change seeing they had not ended up in a divorce." Grandma shook her head as Xue Ting felt bad for Mrs. Tang whom she should be hostile to.

"The parting of his parents made Wen Wen mistakenly think that his mother didn't care about his father too like she did with him. Qiu Yeh had been a very mature child. That's where their mother focuses more on him hoping he could pave the way for his little brother. This misunderstanding may be cleared as they grow up to understand her predicaments. Still, Qiu Wen and his mother hadn't been close ever since the birthday party incident which made apologies harder. He often thinks his mother had been closer to Qiu Yeh and loved him the most but he was wrong. Qiu Yeh is still seeking her acknowledgment too." Grandma explained as Xue Ting sighed at the fate of the two brothers.

"Sixteen years ago when you left, it happened again. It took him a long time to recover and thanks to James, he was determined to find you. Those two boys have been so fond of you since young… So, probably it's cause of you that it triggered his attack again, and something you did which stopped the attack. Look at him now, he looks normal. So, Ting Ting, you must not leave him as he pleaded." Grandma tightened her grip on Xue Ting's hand.

Xue Ting nodded understandingly as she caught Qiu Wen's gaze while he was standing and chatting happily with Dan and Pam in the hallway. He could not help but smile sweetly at her.

"What had this man endure? Why is his life in such a huge mess? How could fate be so mean to this mother and sons?" She questioned herself as she smiled back at him.

That night, she sat in bed while waiting for him to come out from the shower. Her mind was running through the entire night's events with so many questions and doubts. She was also toying with the idea of revealing the twins' identity once again.

While she fidgeted in frustration under the blanket, he climbed into the bed. It startled her for a moment but grew shy when he took her into his arms and cuddled her.

"Thank you, Ting Ting…." He paused trying to find his words as she caressed his cheeks and smiled.

"For?" She asked playfully.

"...willing to let me into your life again... You know, I realised you are the most important one not just today but since the day you left me sixteen years ago..."

She shifted in his arms as she held his gaze wanting answers to her pressing questions in mind. "Since when did you have anxiety issues? What triggered it?"

"When I was very young. At five..." He gently stroked her hair backward.

"The birthday party..." They said in unison as he chuckled but she smiled a sad one recalling what grandma shared with her as she gently stroked his cheek.

"Yes... Grandma kept you updated didn't she?" He asked gently.

She nodded but the worries in her gaze did not leave. "But why is it relapsing?"

The smile on his face faded to a prim fine line as his eyes twinkled at her beauty.

"Because of you..." He smiled which made Xue Ting think he was fooling her.

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"Wen Wen, stop joking. I don't understand..." His heart fluttered even more listening to her calling out his nickname.

"Ting Ting, what happened at the party remember?" He kissed her forehead as she recited briefly on the events.

"You cause a mess and your mum scolded you in front of everyone... Then she left and you cried till you were out of breath and grandma carried you away to save you..." Xue Ting paused realising she was right about people leaving him and his remedy was probably carrying him away.

"The same reason why I didn't...no, actually, couldn't stop you from leaving sixteen years ago and close to failing just now..." Xue Ting began to realise the whole connection as she looked into his eyes beaming on her. He gently stroked her cheeks. Tears began to well in her eyes.

"I love you. I have been and I always will." Those words were as though music to her ear.

"Why didn't you tell me in the beginning? Why didn't you explain all this?" She shook him as he smiled sadly.

"I didn't think it would return again. After all, I have you now by my side. I'm very sorry for earlier. I would never use that phrase ever again… Cause I will only be punished in doing so." He tightened his arms around her upset self.

"During the kidnap, was it also caused by the anxiety that you couldn't move? I remember clearly you weren't injured but I couldn't understand why you couldn't move. I wanted to drag you along and escape but I had to run to find help knowing…" She broke down in front of him as he hugged her and rubbed her back to comfort her.

"Yes… I'm sorry about that too. I'm so useless. I couldn't protect you over and over again. But I want to do so now. I want to protect you and the twins from my mother. I want to independently decide my life and have nothing to do with her. This, I would promise you from now on." He said with conviction as Xue Ting calmed down a little.

"Wen Wen, I'm sorry I left you just like that sixteen years ago. If I knew I would have a turnaround… I would have stayed. Grow our family and James didn't have to die…" He inched closer to pull her in for a long passionate kiss as she let her uncontrollable tears flow. She wanted very much to let him know of the twins' identity there and then.

"I would never… I promise I would never let you go through all that again…" Qiu Wen said gently as they broke away. Right when she wanted to confess the truth, she saw the wild gaze in his eyes knowing that she had ignited the fire in him.

"Happy birthday…" She smiled lovingly as she held his gaze.

He took her in for a rougher kiss while she inhaled sharply but her actions were out of her control, she fumbled to gain her restraint which soon was all stripped down like her night dress. She let her boldness of letting him know the truth fade away once again as she succumbed to their gentle passionate night.

As Xue Ting could not move much and refused to skip work, she was looking after the cashier counter at the restaurant when Macy and Xiao Ji were rushing around. Pam surprised Xue Ting by visiting her that evening.

"Hello pretty!" Pam greeted as Brisbane jumped around Xue Ting.

"Mama! Mama!" She greeted as Xue Ting scooped her off the ground and nearly fell when Pam helped her to sit by a table.

"Careful! Your ankle isn't strong. Quit wearing so high anymore…" Pam nagged as Xue Ting chuckled.

"Look, Brisbane, your mum is soon turning into a naggy grandma." Xue Ting teased as Brisbane giggled while leaning on to Xue Ting.

"You miss your mama that much? Now you're siding with her too? Hmph, felt so betrayed!" Pam pretended to be mad.

"Uh oh, Brisbane quick the Highness is angry." Xue Ting passed Brisbane a few stalks of flowers on the table as Brisbane went over and slid it by Pam's left ear. Feeling touched, Pam wrapped her daughter in her arms and tickled her followed by a huge giggle and shrieks.

When Brisbane finally calmed down, Pam watched Xue Ting pondering with a lot in mind.

"Penny for your thoughts? You seem to have a lot in mind?" Pam asked as Xue Ting sighed and regained her composure.

"Nothing. Just the recent event… wondering how Mrs. Tang is and wondering what she would be up to or even with Francesca…" Xue Ting spoke her thoughts as Pam nodded understandingly.

"Feel free to reach out if you need help…" Pam offered as Xue Ting smiled.

"How's things with Dan and your trials?" Xue Ting asked to hide the fact that she was wondering about ways to talk about moving to the new place she found to Qiu Wen.

"It's alright with Dan. He has been on time with his medication. He worked out more and took much less sugar for sure…" Xue Ting could feel the blissfulness of happiness from Pam's face.

"As for the trials, it's… tiring. But we are getting there…" Pam's look changed with disappointment and frustration as Xue Ting held her hand.

"Feel free to reach out if you need help…" Xue Ting told her in return as the ladies burst out in laughter.

"It's not as bad as you think. My mother-in-law has been very supportive. She is also fighting along with me for her divorce. Like father-like son, they both demanded a lot during the petition and mediation. I'm just so… tired. I'm just glad my mother-in-law is by my side. Else, I don't know how I was going to pull through with it." Pam explained as Brisbane hugged her which made the ladies' hearts melt.

"Baby, would you like to stay over with Mama for a short while? At least, that way, your mum can accompany your grandma and solve their issues faster. You can still visit them on weekends…" Xue Ting asked as Brisbane looked at Pam.

"Is alright Baby if you don't want to. It's up to you…" Pam caressed her daughter's cheek.

"Is Matthew home?" Brisbane asked with keen eyes as Pam and Xue Ting laughed knowing Brisbane's answer. "Are you really my baby?" Pam pretended to get upset as Brisbane giggled.