The house hadn't changed, but everything inside her had.
Xiamen stood in the guest room Hong Yi had assigned her — the same room she once avoided because it was too close to his study. The silence pressed heavy on her chest. Her son had already fallen asleep on the small couch, his little hand curled around her sleeve, refusing to let go even in dreams.
She brushed a stray lock of hair from his forehead and whispered, "Just a few months… then we'll leave."
But her voice trembled. She wasn't sure who she was trying to convince anymore — herself, or fate.
Outside, footsteps stopped at her door.
Her heart skipped. She knew that sound.
She turned, and before she could gather her thoughts, the door opened slightly. Hong Yi stood there, a shadow against the dim hallway light.
"You're not sleeping," he said quietly.
"I couldn't," she replied, keeping her voice steady.
His gaze flicked past her — almost toward the couch — but she moved subtly, blocking his view. The air thickened between them.
"Five years," he murmured, stepping closer. "You disappeared without a word. Do you have any idea what that did to me?"
Her throat tightened. "You were fine, Hong Yi. You always are."
He gave a dry, humorless laugh. "Fine? Is that what you think?"
His eyes found hers — dark, searching, unreadable.
"You think I didn't look for you? That I didn't—" He stopped himself, exhaling sharply. "Never mind. It doesn't matter anymore."
But it did. She could hear it in his voice — the crack he tried to hide.
if you need anything just tell servent don't listen anyone
She looked up, eyes glistening. "Maybe to find the courage to stop running."
For a moment, neither spoke. The silence between them was alive — fragile, trembling with everything unsaid.
He reached out suddenly, fingers brushing her arm. "Xiamen…"
Her breath caught. The years vanished in that touch — the fights, the distance, the nights she cried alone. For an instant, she almost forgot the secret sleeping just behind her.
But then a small sound — the soft sigh of a sleeping child — broke the spell.
Hong Yi froze. His eyes darted toward the couch.
Xiamen stepped quickly between them, forcing a small, nervous smile. "It's late. I should rest."
He hesitated, suspicion flickering in his gaze — but he said nothing.
As he turned to leave, his voice softened.
You did not tell me about his father, where does he work, I can't believe you got married far away, I knew you did not love me.But I did not know that you would get married again so soon. Like it's a game for you
"You still hide too much," he said. "One day, it'll break you."
When the door closed, Xiamen's knees gave out. She sat on the edge of the bed, holding her trembling hands to her face.
"He can't know," she whispered. "Not yet."
But deep down, she feared the truth — that the secret she kept to protect her child…
might be the very thing that destroyed them both.