There was a lot to talk about between Penny and Wayne, but they both knew how much they had missed each other. After an intense love-making session, they were finally wrapped up in bed in each other's arms.
"You're ready to talk?" Penny asked Wayne softly while he was fiddling with her fringe. His soft sighs, followed by his nod, made Penny draw a deep breath.
"You managed to move intimately with Pei Li, didn't you?" Penny's question didn't surprise Wayne, but it made him feel guilty.
He did not know how to think of such a situation either. He had spoken about this with Penny before, but not with Pei Li. He was not prepared to talk about it with Pei Li either, but with Penny, he knew he still felt the same about them.
"I did… You're my wife. So is she. You're both in the same body but with different minds. Even then, it doesn't change my love for you both. I still love you both the same. I still want to protect you both from all the danger, and I want you both to not only think of me but also of yourselves. Cause without you or her, I don't know if I can continue living on…" Wayne broke down as Penny drew him in for a hug before kissing his forehead.
"I know. I understand this. We spoke about it before, but not Pei Li." Penny pointed out, which made Wayne finally understand the reason Penny returned.
"She told you about it?" Wayne met her loving gaze.
"A little. She wrote about it in the notebook I checked in the car earlier. But she didn't want to get answers. Rather, she wanted to live happily with you forever, but her fears of the uncertainties revolving around TP were too intense, especially when he threatened to injure or defame you… Your entire career has just started, Little Freedom... We would love to support you fully even if it meant our sacrifice…" Penny admitted, but Wayne shook his head.
"No… No, I would never trade that away. The only reason I got into the industry was for the money and, of course, the freedom. Cause that way I could have all I ever wanted. You know how I always felt like I never truly belonged to the family? You know how it felt to be an outcast, yet they had to rely on you, so they couldn't fully discard you? It's disgusting, but it's my way of survival. I had no choice. I wanted to protect you, or rather Pei Li back then and Pei Ni but… I failed… I could have saved Pei Ni, but she made me protect Pei Li till the end, even at her last breath. I couldn't forgive myself at all… I could only make up for all that had happened…" Wayne confessed to Penny, who kissed him slowly.
"Even then, you should still enjoy what you have…" Penny reminded him.
"I feel like giving up after this movie… This TP must be one of my brothers, isn't it?" Wayne tried to pry, but Penny was too upset to let him know anything more that night.
As they get entangled in more kisses, they both know there are plenty of things they have not spoken of because their time together was often short. They would rather nurture their love and desire while they have time because they both knew of each other's intentions and worries, which only time would be able to heal and sort out.
It was the long-awaited award night the next day. Sam was so excited that he skipped making dinner and waited in front of the television for the award show to start. It was Sebastian's first time seeing Sam being such a fanboy for Jade.
The photoshoot Sebastian was in today wrapped up earlier. While the driver drove him back, Violet made a separate detour to grab dinner for them all. Though she tried hard not to make it look like she was avoiding him, he still caught on to it. A part of her was glad she succeeded in avoiding him, but a part of her was devastated by the unexpected traffic jam due to a heavy downpour.
By the time she reached home, it was close to the announcement of the most anticipated category for the trio: the best actress of the year. Violet rushed right in before passing each of the boys their paper bag of dinner, but none of them was interested even herself. Their eyes were glued to the television, going through the nominees of the categories with short snippets of their best work of the year.
And here is the winner of the best actress of the year… The presenter, a veteran actress, Elisa Goh, who had won several best actress titles previously during her glorious, prestigious acting years.
"Jade Ting Wei Xing… Congratulations!!" Elisa announced as she clapped proudly for her.
Violet shrieked in excitement. "She won! She won!" Violet shook Sam, whose eyes were filled with proud tears, as she watched Jade elegantly walk up the stage in her silver sleeveless dress.
"Congrats, bro!" Sebastian gently tapped his back as he cheered with Violet.
"Now, you must bring my sister-in-law here, and I cannot wait for a little nephew or niece!" Violet cheered Sam, who nodded happily, which surprised Sebastian.
"You're getting married?" Sebastian clarified as Sam nodded.
"Yes, yes we are… And having a baby…" Sam nonchalantly said without averting his gaze from the television.
"What? She's pregnant?" Sebastian asked excitedly while trying to find the baby bump on the camera angle on the television.
"She doesn't look like it. Alright, partly because the dress is flowy." Sebastian said.
"Of course… I chose it!" Sam said, proudly awaiting Jade's speech, 'cause he knew she would be announcing the second surprise of the day.
"Thank you… Thank you very much to everyone, especially those who believed in me. My beloved crew and colleagues. My fans! Love you all!" Jade paused to blink away her welling tears while still maintaining her smile as her fans gave her a roaring cheer.
"Tonight is very special to me… Not just 'cause we are celebrating my win, but also I am here to announce my retirement." The crowd was filled with gasps and surprise exclamations. That did not stop her from continuing.
"Oh my gosh! What a way to do it?! Bro, you know about it?" Sebastian shook Sam, who nodded calmly, still watching Jade proudly.
Violet sighed in relief, knowing the couple had finally gotten a good closure after so many years of struggle.
"I have made a promise that I will walk down the red carpet tonight one last time, and I will retire. So, here it is. Thank you very much to each one of you who have been there during my entire career and supported me directly or indirectly. I am forever grateful to all of you, and lastly, I would like to emphasize that we may dream big and realistically. Do not let the setbacks hold us down; we stand as one fighting for what's right. This…" She lifted her trophy with a pause.
"... is a dedication to all of you out there who were once weak and undefended. Know that we stay united and there's always help. Reach out! Thank you!" Jade concluded with a bow before exiting to the backstage.
"Wow, that's one hell of a speech!" Sebastian applause.
"My girl…" Sam winked at him proudly before heading into his room to text Jade, leaving Violet alone again with Sebastian.
Violet was caught off guard being alone with him. The agenda for tomorrow was already double-confirmed with Fang Li on the way home. There was nothing left for her to worry about except that when she leaves, she hopes Sebastian will be able to cope if the agency decides to act up when she is not around.
She tried to stay nonchalant while grabbing her dinner and leaving for her room, only for him to pull her into his room, leaving the television switched on loudly on purpose.
"Shh… You will alert him." He whispered in her ear as she stopped fidgeting. "You shouldn't be here. Go home!" She hit his chest lightly.
"Who asked you to be my sleeping pill? And you're leaving tomorrow… I will miss you." He teased before kissing her forehead. She half pouted and smiled while he quickly unpacked her dinner and ate with her.
"You have been avoiding me, haven't you?" He finally asked.
"If you're going to be like this, I will leave now." She threatened as he tightened his arms around her waist.
"I just want to remember how it feels holding you in my arms. The scent that gave me comfort to sleep every night. The voice that, no matter if it was happy, sad, or angry, provides me a refuge I cannot explain." His sudden confession took Violet by surprise. It touched her very much to hear that she was nothing but his ultimate comfort, yet she was going to break him with her actions the next day. She could not help but feel like she was cheating on him that way when she was not.
She knew very well it was an act she temporarily had to leave. Not telling him was to ensure he was following the act. Not because she did not trust him not to be able to act well if he knew, but she wanted him not to protect her against the agency for once cause it would be detrimental to his leftover period with the agency. She knew he would fight with his agency to defend her and sacrifice himself ultimately.
She succumbed to her tears as he comforted her in his arms before falling asleep together, only for her to wake in the middle of the early morning, deciding to quickly sneak away to Phut Bi before she changed her fickle mind. When he woke to find he was alone, he was upset with her for not saying goodbye. Though it was a short departure, he figured he couldn't live in peace without her by her side, but he knew he had to make do with it before sending her a good luck text to which she didn't reply at all.
She was trying her best to ignore anyone back home while focusing on her studies for her exam. It was a simple exam of the place she fell in love with. In the place, she found a different temperature of love with Sebastian. It was different from the very warm love she had with Dexter back then, before it turned cold when they were wed.
With Sebastian, it started lukewarm and instantly heated to the max, but they had been repeatedly forced to cool down their love temperature. Even then, she knew they both had kept the flame of their love alive. She sighed, wondering if by now he would have received any news from the agency that thinks she was leaving them for good. She could only hope Sebastian would bear with it for a few days.