The warmth of autumn

It was the final trial day for Pam and her mother-in-law's, Violet divorce from their respective husbands. With Alshton being sentenced to jail, it had caused a downfall to the family's business that Pam's ex-father-in-law's business collapsed. He had no choice but to accept the court's ruling to finalise the divorce for Violet. 

It was a good ending that both ladies anticipated as the family went for a meal together. Brisbane was eating heartily next to Violet who wondered for a moment if they could gather often moving forward on occasions but also considering Pam's feelings. She probably did not want to be reminded of the past; seeing her would only trigger that. 

Pam beamed watching Violet admiring little Brisbane. "Mum…" She reached out to Violet's hand as her gaze turned to her. "I'm not your mother anymore…" She corrected Pam.

"You will always be my mother… Not in laws but you have been a great mother figure to me and you're still Brisbane's grandmother… What's your plans next, Mum?" Pam asked as Violet's gaze turned to Brisbane and caressed her right cheek.

"I'm not sure…" She finally shrugged. 

"Would you be alright if you came and helped us in the bakery?" Pam's gaze met with Dan's before conveying their intention. 

"That wouldn't be right… I don't want to intrude into your new life. Plus I don't want you to be reminded of the past." Violet looked out the window pane distantly.

"Auntie… We actually have plans to expand and would be looking for manpower. If it's not you eventually I still need to find someone else. I would rather work with family members than build trust with someone new which would take time…" Dan persuaded as Pam looked at her hopefully. Violet was touched by Dan's sincerity as she smiled. 

"Mum… Just agree first… If you really don't find it suitable by then you can decide again…" Pam persuaded as Brisbane put down her fork. "Grandma, we have two dogs at home and they can protect you like they protect Daddy Dan!" Brisbane knew she should help out in persuading too as Violet chuckled. 

"Looks like I have no choice…" Violet shrugged and nodded to accept the offer as the couple was delighted. It touched her heart to see how blissful Pam finally was. "I was a bad mother. I'm sorry I didn't teach my son well… I'm very happy for you, Pam…" Violet said with teary eyes as Pam handed her a tissue to wipe her tears and smiled.

"Then be my witness in my new marriage certificate," Pam suggested as Violet chuckled and nodded with everyone looking forward to a better life. 

After being discharged, Xue Ting was strictly bed resting. With Qiu Wen being in the early stage of his new business involving the twins, the twins had been busy running errands while Qiu Wen stayed home mostly with work and accompanied Xue Ting. 

"Daddy, there have been emails thread for discussion at Jeal City from a week ago. I don't think it's a good idea to delay this..." Matthew consulted Qiu Wen after dinner. 

Qiu Wen sighed. "I know. Are you confident to go alone on this?" He was trying to train the twins but knew it was risky since it was a potential prospect which he wanted to secure with guarantee and knew the twins would not be able to yet. 

Matthew quickly shook his head. "No, no, no..." 

"How could you upfront reject me? Have some confidence, boy..." Qiu Wen encouraged. 

"It's not that I am not but it's risky. It's a high potential supplier and with their support, we would be able to solve a lot of music books supplies..." Matthew explained. 

Qiu Wen chuckled. "Now, that's my boy... Yes, I am aware of that but sigh... Your mum..." 

"Just go..." Xue Ting overheard their conversation in the study room which became their temporary office. 

Both men quickly sat her down at the chair by the coffee table. 

"You shouldn't move around so much, Ting Ting..." Qiu Wen held her hand as he squatted in front of her. 

"You should go... It's a good opportunity and quickly get it done so that you can accompany me... I'm so bored..." She pouted. 

Qiu Wen chuckled as he could not help but steal a kiss from her. 

"Oh goodness! Please, I'm not invisible and I'm still a minor..." Matthew complained as he walked out of the room, giving them space. 

"I'm sorry... I haven't had much time for you... I don't want to leave you… Besides, your best friend had seemed to elope with my brother and Dan is busy with his wedding…" Qiu Wen whined. 

"Stop being a baby... If you don't do this properly who is going to feed all of us?" Xue Ting scolded playfully as Qiu Wen chuckled. 

"You're so cute when you get angry especially when you're pregnant…" He teased as she smacked him lightly. "Alright, alright I will go but promise me, you will be good and stay in bed. Let the twins serve you, alright?" He instructed as she nodded and kissed his forehead. 

"Come, let me put you to bed first." He walked her to their room and once she was in bed, the piercing pain in her stomach was felt again. It slipped her mind on the reason she went to find them earlier. She wanted to arrange for a visit to the hospital but instead, she kept her intention mummed in case it triggered a delay in Qiu Wen's business trip. Instead, she fell asleep after Qiu Wen coaxed her before he left.

While she slowly drifted into a deep sleep, she was soon caught up in a nightmare. She landed on a site with thorns arches and the deeper she explored, the sharper the pain she felt. Her pangs of the piercing pain were excruciating at one point where she was flushed with cold sweat. However, she felt as though all her energy was drained and weak, and lifting her eyelid was a hassle as her vision blurred. 

She was caught in between if she was still dreaming or if was she awake as the faster she ran, the brighter the light was but whenever she was close to the bright light ending, the more intense the pain she felt from the thorns surrounding her. Fatigue soon caught up with her as she fell to the ground and gave in to the pressure as she broke down and cried. 

Matthew was busy preparing lunch the next day and only went to check on Xue Ting when Joy came home for her meal. The moment Matthew wanted to wake Xue Ting up, he noticed the sweat and tears covered face. 

"Mummy..." He gently woke her up worrying she was having a bad nightmare. While he flipped the blanket up, he had the shock of his life finding a pool of blood covering his mum's hips area. 

"Mummy!! Mummy!!" Matthew desperately called out to her as he scrambled for his phone and fumbled over his contact list on who to call. 

"Qiu Qiu!! Qiu Qiu!!" Matthew wailed as Joy came running into the room slightly annoyed from being distracted from lunch. 

"What?!" Joy wailed back and saw the red patch on the bed. 

"Mummy!! What happened, Xin Xin?! Call the ambulance! I will call…" She was rushing to punch in May's number when she noticed Matthew was still stunned. 

"Xin Xin!!" He did not barge and it was the first time Joy ever saw him flabbergasted during an emergency.

She walked over and pulled him aside till he blinked. "Call the ambulance, now!" She instructed firmly but gently as he nodded. Before she could call Dan realising May had been uncontactable for a long while now, the doorbell rang as Mrs. Tang who had been visiting their house daily since the day she came to know about the twins' identity, noticed the chaos inside. 

"What are you doing here?" Joy snarled when she opened the door. 

"What's wrong? Did something happen to your mum? We can help!" Mrs. Tang urgently offered seeing Joy's distressed face and dumbfounded Matthew who held his phone but was mind blank to the number to dial. 

Joy was on the verge of breaking down since Matthew was still unable to maintain his composure after the discovery. Joy rushed to Xue Ting's room with Mrs. Tang trailing. 

Upon seeing the condition of Xue Ting, Mrs. Tang knew it was a miscarriage as she instantly instructed her driver to rush sending Xue Ting to the hospital. The twins threw their prejudice against Mrs. Tang away to save their mother.

While the twins were lost at who to seek help in their dumbfounded state, Mrs. Tang had her assistant help with the admission and approval of the operation on Xue Ting emphasising saving Xue Ting at all costs. Joy broke down and cried when Mrs. Tang made that decision as she had never thought Mrs. Tang would come up with that since she had never liked Xue Ting all this while. As the twins slowly regained their composure, she instructed them to inform Dan so that he could prepare to tell Qiu Wen if needed. 

They knew better than to not call their dad who was busy securing an important supplier as they stayed outside the operation room accompanied by Mrs. Tang the whole time after Joy sent a text message to Dan. It took nearly an hour of emergency state before the doctor came out. 

"Who is the patient's guardian?" The doctor asked. "We are her children. How is she, doctor?" Joy quickly questioned. 

"Where is your father?" He asked. "I'm their grandmother… My son's away on urgent matters. How's my daughter-in-law doing?" Mrs. Tang stood in the middle of the twins as the doctor began to update them.

"I'm sorry, the patient has suffered a miscarriage. It is better for her to not try and conceive for the next three months. Ensure she had plenty of rest…" The doctor explained, leaving the twins in a daze as he walked off with the nurse trailing behind. 

Mrs. Tang comforted Joy who was sobbing. Matthew was controlling his tears as he desperately thought of telling Qiu Wen but he could not decide. 

"Matthew, when is your dad back?" Mrs. Tang asked while holding onto his arm. 

"A few days later… But we don't want to worry him first. It's an important deal…" Matthew mumbled. Mrs. Tang patted his shoulder to comfort him.

"Stay strong... You're the head in charge when your daddy is away. They both need you..." Mrs. Tang comforted as Matthew blinked away his tears and nodded. 

"Grandma… Thank you…" Joy said as Mrs. Tang teared up unexpectedly.

"Thank you, Grandma…" Matthew said too as Mrs. Tang embraced the both of them in tears. 

I don't deserve this… I have been a bad grandma. How could you forgive me so easily? Xue Ting had taught you both very well indeed. Mrs. Tang thought to herself in tears full of regret.