The afternoon carried on like nothing had changed.
Food was served. Laughter echoed through the house.
But beneath it all—
Something felt… different.
I stayed close to the living room, keeping an eye on the kids as they moved in and out between the backyard and inside.
Xavier had blended in so naturally with them.
Too naturally.
"Anna, this pasta is so good!" – Niss called out.
"Thank you!" I smiled, trying to stay present.
Across the room—
Yushen sat with Nic and Aaron, casually talking.
But every now and then—
His eyes drifted.
Towards the kids.
Always the kids.
"Mom! Water!" – Xia ran in, slightly out of breath.
"Slow down," I said, handing her a glass.
She drank quickly, then leaned against me.
"Mom, Xavier say gege play like—"
She paused.
My heart skipped.
"Like what?" I asked carefully.
"Like—"
Before she could finish—
Xayden ran in.
"Xia! Come, your turn!" he pulled her hand.
"Wait!" she protested, but still followed him.
I exhaled slowly.
Too close.
But then—
From the dining area—
I heard laughter.
"Eh, Anna, your son really reminds me of someone," – Fin said casually.
My body froze.
I didn't turn.
Not immediately.
"Right?" – Ying added. "I was thinking the same thing."
My grip tightened slightly on the table.
"Reminds you of who?" – Aaron asked.
There was a brief pause.
Then—
Fin chuckled.
"I don't know… maybe someone from our old office?"
My heartbeat grew louder.
"Ya lah, like… the way he talks, very familiar," – Niss added.
I forced myself to stay still.
To breathe.
"Eh, don't simply say later people misunderstand," – Hana laughed, trying to brush it off.
But it was too late.
Because someone else spoke.
Softly.
"…Yushen."
The room went quiet for a second.
I felt it.
That shift.
Slowly—
I turned.
Everyone's eyes instinctively moved towards him.
Yushen didn't react immediately.
He just sat there.
Still.
Then—
A small, almost amused smile appeared.
"You guys think too much," he said lightly.
Laughter returned.
Awkward.
Forced.
"Ya lah, kids all same one," – Aaron added quickly.
"Exactly," – Ying nodded.
The conversation moved on.
Just like that.
But—
Something had already landed.
I could feel it.
Because when our eyes met—
He wasn't smiling anymore.
He was looking at me.
Not casually.
But like he was trying to—
Figure something out.
And for the first time—
I wasn't sure—
If we could still keep this hidden.
From the corner of my eye—
I saw Maxine watching me.
Her expression said everything.
I told you.
I swallowed slowly.
Because now—
It wasn't just a possibility anymore.
It was a matter of time.
Before everything…
Came crashing down.