The living room was filled with laughter and chatter as Xavier played with Xia and Xayden. They were busy combining their LEGO sets with his, excitedly showing him new tricks and comparing creations.
"Look, gege Xavier! We made a tower taller than yours!" Xia squealed, holding up the LEGO structure.
"Whoa… that's impressive!" Xavier replied, laughing as he gently added another piece to their joint creation.
Xayden sat cross-legged nearby, concentrating, carefully connecting pieces while Xavier taught him a small trick with gears and pulleys.
The room was alive with little hands moving, little voices arguing playfully over pieces, and Yushen watched from the balcony with a soft smile. Seeing them interact, he felt a warm pull in his chest.
"Anna…" he called softly, beckoning me to step aside.
I walked with him toward his room, leaving the kids and Xavier in their little LEGO world. The door closed softly behind us.
"I… I wanted to talk to you," Yushen began, his voice quieter than usual. "About us. About everything."
I nodded, heart beating slightly faster, waiting for him to continue.
"Anna… I've thought about you, about us, every day since…" he paused, eyes searching mine. "Since before I even knew about the twins. I never stopped… loving you."
My chest tightened, a mix of longing and relief washing over me. I stepped closer, keeping my voice calm, gentle.
"I know, Yushen. And… I've always cared for you too. Even after all these years, even when it was just me and the twins, my heart… it never really left you."
He reached out, brushing a stray strand of hair behind my ear, and I shivered slightly at the touch.
"I don't want to hide it anymore. I can't… not when they're here, and when I'm here," he whispered.
We stood close, hearts racing, and slowly, gently, he leaned forward and kissed me. Soft. Careful. Tender.
I felt the warmth, the love, and the pull, but as the kiss deepened, I gently pulled back.
"Yushen… we can't go too far… not yet. The kids… and… everything," I whispered, placing a hand on his chest.
He looked into my eyes, a flicker of frustration and understanding crossing his features.
"I know… you're right," he said softly, nodding. "I just… I needed you to know."
"I know," I murmured, a small smile breaking through. "And I feel the same. But we have to be patient. For them… and for us."
He leaned in slightly, just brushing his forehead against mine, and whispered,
"Always."
We walked back to the living room together, hands brushing, hearts beating fast but steady, both of us aware that something had shifted—something tender, real, and promising.
Meanwhile, the twins and Xavier were still laughing and building, completely absorbed in their world, completely unaware that their parents were just steps away, slowly finding their way back to each other.
💛