It didn't take long for Dexter and Violet to finish up their divorce formality. When they were finally at the entrance of the building again, she was reminded of Edward. She tried to hide her anger, but Dexter could tell from her dissatisfied expression.
"Thank you…" Dexter said when he was reminded of the times she had always stood up for him since young.
"What do you mean?" Violet asked in the midst of confusion as Dexter smiled.
"Though you're not my wife anymore, I could still tell what you feel…" Dexter said gently. Violet's expression softened, knowing he knew she was still angry about Edward.
At the same time, she felt an unexplained ache in her heart. A little pity at Dexter, too. She wondered if she was regretting the divorce, but she knew it felt different from many years ago. She no longer felt the fluttering butterflies for him or even the excitement of his love for her. She tried, but all she felt was compassion.
"It's not final till three months, isn't it?" Violet reminded him as he shrugged.
"From now on, stand up for yourself. I won't always be there. If you need help, I'm always a phone call away. My family is at your disposal till you feel better…" Violet said as he opened up his arms for a friendly hug, she gladly stepped in.
"Take care." Dexter's simple gesture and words made Violet feel a little deja vu, as though she was transported to when they first dated. Her eyes reddened at the failure of their relationship.
This taught her that in life, some things are just not meant to be. They may have crossed paths at an earlier point in life, but their choices do change as they age. A decision made in her early teenage years proved that it was not the same choice she wanted in the later stages of her life anymore. Brutal facts, but it's part and parcel of life.
She held on to him tightly and whispered her thank you, which made his eyes reddened, trying to accept the fact that he had let go of someone who was still precious to him.
I wish I were braver… I wish I could do much more for you… But I know letting you go is the best for us. I will always love you, Vi. Dexter told himself.
After they parted, Dexter had to start packing up and look for a new house. While he went on with his business, Violet decided to drop by her old home and visit her father before she flew off that evening. When she arrived at the old house, her father was nowhere to be seen.
Feeling hungry, she went to ransack his refrigerator and cupboard. Within half an hour, she whipped up stir-fry mixed vegetables and steamed up some meat pie her father had in the fridge.
Uncle Chu had no idea his daughter would stop by till one of the neighbours alerted him cause he had smelled the fragrance of Violet's cooking wafting from the kitchen. Uncle Chu was very delighted that he gave up his round halfway during his mahjong session, which he was winning. However, along the way, he controlled his excitement and put on an act. He pretended to nag himself for forgetting something, only to be greeted by a simple meal.
"Dad… Have you eaten? I have saved some for you…" Violet greeted nonchalantly as she munched on her vegetables at the dining table.
Uncle Chu wanted to join her at the dining table, but his ego made him to continue with his act. He quickly walked away into his room, avoiding eye contact with her.
He was still trying to pretend he was still upset with her when he wasn't. He went to the washroom first before he stepped back outside again. This time, he was a little disappointed to find Violet was done with lunch, but was glad she had saved him some lunch as promised. Though he wasn't hungry after a hearty breakfast with his friends, he still sat and ate her cooking.
From the kitchen, she saw him starting to dig in; she knew it was his way of forgiving her and beginning to accept the fact. She blinked away her welling tears and walked out to lean by the kitchen door.
"Is my cooking still nice?" She asked, watching him enjoy his meal heartily.
"Hmm… Salty…" He commented, which made her smile, knowing it was his way to tease her cooking was lousy.
"Today…" She took a deep breath to gain her courage.
"We finalised our divorce in court," Violet said, which made Uncle Chu pause munching for a moment before humming in acknowledgement and continuing to eat.
"I'm flying off later in the evening..." Violet continued with care. She didn't want them to end with another argument like they always did.
"Take care…" He said nonchalantly as though not affected. She knew it was his way to thank her for lunch.
"Spend less of Dex's alimony money." She said, which surprised him, who finally looked at her as though wanting to reprimand her.
"I didn't need it. He insisted. For you... Don't gamble it away…" Uncle Chu's speechless face made Violet smile.
"Spend some of the alimony to enjoy meals with Dex, alright, Dad?" Violet said gently, which touched his heart.
He wanted to say something to express how proud he was of her in handling the entire situation and that he would definitely find Dexter as a company, but instead, he harrumphed awkwardly.
Violet knew that marked his agreement.
"I will see you again when I'm much freer. I will ask Sam to come back more often." Violet said before making a move. He, as usual, hummed in acknowledgement as he watched her lock the grill of the door with a heavy heart.
Fei, I'm proud of you… Uncle Chu thought to himself as he wiped his tears away before cleaning up his lunch. Before he headed back to his mahjong session, he texted Dexter.
Boy, come accompany your father for dinner tonight.
Dexter, who was in the midst of a discussion with the property agent, smiled when he saw Uncle Chu's message and instantly replied to him with a yes.
______________________
Though bothered by the accidental meet-up with TP, Penny kept the incident away from Wayne. That night, he was so exhausted from a day of work that by the time he had washed up, he couldn't wait for Penny to come to bed after a shower and fell asleep.
Penny tucked him into the blanket before opening up the diary, where she always noted down her daily routine for Pei Li. She wanted to detail her thoughts on the encounter with TP, but instead, she wrote in a separate note and hid it inside the diary cover. She knew Wayne would check on the diary from time to time to see what was written. Hence, she had no way but to do this cause she knew Pei Li would know the difference in the diary as she discreetly wrote "P.T.O" at the bottom of the page.
As she kissed Wayne's cheek before being wrapped into his arms in bed, as usual, she hoped for Pei Li to return. That night, a miracle happened.
Moments after she fell asleep, she heard a familiar voice.
"Do you think TP is who he claims to be?" Penny opened wide her eyes to find an exact reflection of herself looking back at her sadly.
"Pei Li?!" Penny cried as she ran up to her soft demeanour self who was smiling at her.
"You didn't die… You made it..." Pei Li said in a relieved tone as her eyes reddened.
Penny nodded with her eyes reddened, too.
"You met him, didn't you?" Pei Li asked as Penny blinked guiltily.
"Yes. But he thinks I am you. I insisted on a name. He only gave me TP, and I have gone through the list of names of staff. They all don't match his features. I…" Penny wanted to continue, only for Pei Li to stop her by raising her hand.
"I know… It's either one of the brothers…" Pei Li said, which shocked Penny.
"How did you…" Penny mumbled, terrified of the worst.
"Before you first appeared… Pei Ni… My twin…" Pei Li swallowed a hard lump in her throat.
Penny could guess where their conversation was going.
"One of the brothers was there with that old man… Right?" Pei Li's question made Penny's eyes well with tears.
Penny knew exactly what happened next, and it was the protective shell she was trying to hide Pei Li in, but it was beginning to crack.
"I… We were hiding in the cupboard, and it wasn't just the old man… Am I right? " Penny shuddered's breath shook at Pei Li's firm questions.
She couldn't control her tears as Pei Li helped to wipe them away.
"Pei Li… You do know they are trying to harm Wayne, don't you?" Penny's question made Pei Li cry, too, as she nodded.
"He was someone you always wanted to protect. He is someone you have always loved..." Penny said as she held Pei Li's hands in hers.
"Why don't you take this chance and do just that for Wayne? For once, huh?" Penny suggested, to which Pei Li shook her head.
"Pei Li… He needs you very much. His career is starting to peak. We must protect him at our best…" Penny persuaded Pei Li, whose worried gaze met with Penny.
"I will still be here, Pei Li. When there's danger. I will ensure I go all out to protect you and Wayne. So, please… Could you please look after him this time? He misses you too…" Penny's determination made Pei Li's gaze was searching Penny's for certainty.
"Promise me you will always be there when I need you…" Pei Li pleaded as Penny smiled in relief.
"I will…" Penny hugged her.
"Remember to write everything down for me. If you have something you don't want Wayne to know, check the cover of the diary. Leave it there discreetly and write P.T.O. at the bottom of the page." Penny told Pei Li as their gazes met.
"I will…" Pei Li promised as Penny urged her to head for the bright light.
"Now, go… Be happy with him." Penny said before Pei Li opened her eyes in bed to find herself back by Wayne's side again.
Little Cloud… Pei Li admired his features as she stole a kiss before she got down from bed and sneaked to the living room with Penny's diary to catch up throughout the early morning.