Later in the week, the divorce trial for Pam was looking good as the next hearing they were confident that Brisbane's custody would still fall back to Pam. Hence, Dan wanted to give Pam a little celebration as they invited Qiu Wen, Xue Ting, and the twins to their countryside house for a barbeque.

Pam was watching Brisbane sitting on Matthew's lap as he fed her. A part of her was glad of the results but a part of her was brewing with mixed negative emotions. Knowing Alshton, he would never let her go easily. At least the law was a comfort for her, and Brisbane would be kept safe by her side for now.

"Pam…" Xue Ting called out but she seemed to be lost in her thoughts.

"Pam…" Xue Ting called again as Dan noticed her state and held her.

"You're alright?" Dan asked as Pam was startled for a moment.

"Oh yes… I'm fine." She nodded as Xue Ting shared a worrying gaze with Dan and Qiu Wen.

"Don't think too much… Things will be alright." Dan tried comforting her as she smiled and nodded.

"Who wants some more meat servings? Let me fetch them from next door." Pam said trying to sound nonchalant as she excused herself to try and keep her feelings composed.

As she walked back to her place, bothered by her thoughts, she did not realise her house door was not locked when she entered. When she went to the kitchen to fetch the meat servings from the refrigerator, she could feel someone standing behind her.

The terror in her eyes grew the moment she met with Alshton's gaze while dropping the container of meat to the kitchen floor. The next thing she knew continuous blows in her abdomen greeted her and slaps over her face. Her mind was at least at peace this time, knowing her little Brisbane was in good hands as she endured the abuse.

Dan was busy on the grill with Qiu Wen while Xue Ting was clearing some trash. Joy felt strange that Pam had gone for a while just to collect a container of meat. Her instinct did not feel right when Brisbane came to her.

"Qiu Qiu, I want some more sausage please?" She said as Matthew went to wash his hands after feeding Brisbane the last bit of sausages he took for her. Joy was disoriented from her worries as she absentmindedly led Brisbane to find Pam.

"Alright, let's go help your mum next door to bring over more meat alright?" Joy suggested as Brisbane was a little confused but hearing they were to look for Pam, she went along. They both were skipping gleefully to next door but their excitement was cut short when Joy stopped track midway at the voice of a man and the loud noise of things clattering all around in the house.

She knew her instinct was right and that something was wrong at the doorstep as she quickly carried Brisbane back to the gate.

"Baby, run back there and get Matthew and both Daddy, all of them to come help. Hurry!" Joy urged as Brisbane was a little confused but obediently ran back to tell Matthew of help. A part of Brisbane knew Pam was in danger and she could tell the loud noises were none other than her father.

"Matt, help Joy and my mum! My bad daddy is there to beat my mum! Help them, Matt! Help!" Brisbane screamed at Matthew who squatted to lift her in his arms to calm her.

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"Alright, alright… Dad! Uncle Dan!" Matthew alerted them but they had already run over next door leaving Xue Ting quickly trailed along. As much as Matthew wanted to run along, he knew he did not want little Brisbane who was vulnerably sobbing in his arms to be traumatised. Instead, he called the police and ambulance over for emergency help as he stood close by the pathway between both houses anxiously waiting for help to arrive while soothing Brisbane in his arms.

When Joy rushed into the house to save Pam who was sprawled on the ground nearly lifelessly, she was met with a splash of glass for a vase thrown by Alshton at her way as she dodged on time and slid her way to check on Pam.

"Auntie Pam… Are you alright? Stay with me… Stay with me!" Joy was on the verge of tearing up seeing her state when she caught sight of Alshton wanting to charge Pam. She instantly protected Pam with her own body as she endured the continuous stomping on her back followed by being beaten by his belt.

If this is how Auntie Pam got abused every time, I would never want a father like this for my child. I must protect Auntie Pam and little Brisbane… Yes… Stay strong Qiu Qiu… You can do this… Arghhh…. Joy convinced herself in tears as her petite body was slowly giving out as she struggled to hold on tight to her embrace on Pam's body.

Joy was hoping for someone to run overhearing her wails. When Dan barged into the main door at the sight of the trio, he could not contain his rage as he charged onto Alshton and gave him several blows while confiscating his belt.

Qiu Wen rushed over to Joy's side who was struggling to push herself up on one arm but when she felt Qiu Wen's sturdy arms on her shoulder she collapsed into his arms in a very frail state.

"Daddy…" She called out weakly as Xue Ting who was struggling to be composed, checked on Pam by Joy's side.

"Sweetie oh… Pam… Pam…" Xue Ting called out but Pam barely could open her eyes.

Xue Ting nudged Qiu Wen to stop Dan before he potentially took Alshton's life. Qiu Wen let Joy rest on Xue Ting's lap as he went to stop Dan who reluctantly let Alshton who was very beaten fall to the ground.

"Enough… Enough…" Qiu Wen said as the sound of sirens was heard outside.

"Qiu Qiu you did well. Help is on the way. Can you promise mummy you will stay awake? Please, baby…" Xue Ting pleaded in tears with Joy who was slowly drifting to unconsciousness like Pam.

"Pam… wake up… Brisbane needs you… Pam!" Xue Ting wailed in between her pleads when medical help rushed in and Pam fainted in her arms.

"Pam! Qiu Qiu! Please... Please stay awake… The ambulance is here!" At this point she knew she was lying to herself with whatever coaxed she tried as she cried her heart out, afraid of losing them both.

Qiu Wen had to drag Xue Ting away from the both of them. She heartbreakingly tried to contain her wails and sobs in his arms as Dan accompanied Pam to the ambulance.

"Go, go accompany Qiu Qiu. I will come along with Xin Xin and Brisbane…" Qiu Wen knew it was the only comfort Xue Ting could get by accompanying Joy in the ambulance.

Qiu Wen wanted to speak with the police to give his statement when he saw Matthew had already handled it while comforting Brisbane in his arms. He rushed over to them as he helped to carry Brisbane who was sobbing while he gave his statement to the police.

He noticed how distressed Matthew was as he squatted by his side hearing his statement. When Qiu Wen was done, he waited for the police officers to leave before locking up.

"Brisbane… it's alright... It's fine alright, sweetie..." He quickly took a blanket from inside the house for Brisbane after putting Matthew seated in the passenger seat with Brisbane in his arms.

Qiu Wen could feel she was trembling in Matthew's arms as he helped her wipe her tears away. "Don't worry… Your mum and Qiu Qiu will be alright. Hush, shhh…" He patted her back. Surprisingly it helped to soothe her and she stopped trembling with a few sobs as she held on tightly to Matthew whose gaze met with Qiu Wen's.

"You're alright?" He asked his flabbergasted son who forced a nod.

"We will head to the hospital to check on them alright? I will lock up and take some water for you both." Matthew could only nod meekly as he was blaming himself for being useless.

He took a bottle of water from Qiu Wen when he rushed back and offered it to Brisbane instead. He could not bring himself to drink it as the lump in his throat was too painful to even swallow. At the traffic light, the earlier scenes crossed his mind sending tears flowing as Qiu Wen held his hand and wiped his tears away.

"They will be alright…" Qiu Wen held on to his grip tighter before he started to drive again. While juggling to concentrate on the road and comforting Matthew, he was torn and devastated as well.

That was when a call from Dan came. Qiu Wen put him on loudspeaker as he drove.

"Mate?" Dan said.

"Yes bro, speak. Am driving. Matt and Brisbane are here. Everything's alright at your end?"

"Yes… But your wife needs a guardian to sign for their admission. Will you be long? Xue Ting broke down and fainted. Joy needs a guardian to sign for an urgent operation."

With that, Qiu Wen hit on the accelerator and drove faster. "Almost! 5 minutes I will make it. Could you come to the lobby to park the car for me? How's Pam?"

"Alright! Pam went in for the operation…" Dan rushed down to the lobby as he saw a drifting car from afar.

Qiu Wen was already reaching the lobby of the hospital as they spoke. "Alright, I see you…"

With that, they hung up as Qiu Wen quickly jumped out of the car and rushed into the emergency lobby while Dan took over the driver's seat.