Xue Ting walked out of the room to catch some fresh air as Matthew urged Qiu Wen to follow her. He sat with her by the bench at the park and held her hand.
"Everything will be alright…" He said gently as she sighed.
"What if she keeps attacking again?" She questioned as Qiu Wen put away some loose fringe.
"She wouldn't have the chance. Qiu Yeh would never let anything happen since he is safeguarding his career and that of all of us. I have found another safe place for Joy to finish everything if the gallery isn't suitable. But it's at the suburb beach house of Dan…I'm not sure if she would be alright with it after the trauma…" Qiu Wen explained as she frowned.
"Why are you not worried about your mother? What if it wasn't her and it was someone else trying to sabotage the company?" Xue Ting questioned as he smiled.
"Cause that would just mean I can resign earlier and leave that hell to fulfill the promise I made to Grandma for them both…" Xue Ting blinked away her tears as Qiu Wen wrapped her in his arms.
"You worry too much… I will always be by your side. Don't even think of leaving me…" He reassured her as she wanted to believe it very much and hoped things would turn out well.
After all that the couple had been through, the twins were very excited for them during the company's annual dinner night. Matthew was trying to keep Joy who was seated in her wheelchair calm for fear she would spoil the surprise they both worked so hard for their parents.
Qiu Wen had been anxious about the surprise while waiting for Xue Ting to get dressed in the hotel's dressing room. Joy held his hand and gently patted him.
"Don't worry. It's just presenting her with the commemorative ring that you had always wanted to." Joy comforted as Qiu Wen squatted down to pat Joy's head.
"Thank you, sweetie. You have helped a very satisfied client with his order. As a reward, I hope this collaboration will give you a great stepping stone to your future endeavors." Qiu Wen praised as Joy nodded and hugged him.
This is the best outfit you have ever presented me with, baby… Xue Ting thought to herself as she blinked away her tears of joy looking at herself in the mirror.
She touched the soft helms which represented the dragonfly wings and was impressed with how well it would cover her little baby bump. She quickly opened the door and dragged Matthew inside before twirling in front of him.
"How is this? Pretty?" Xue Ting asked as Matthew nodded, feeling touched.
"Mummy…" He hugged Xue Ting as his eyes reddened.
"This would justify all the sacrifices you have ever made for us. Now, it's your chance to shine and appreciate the love Daddy is giving to you, Mummy." Matthew said which made Xue Ting's tears well.
"Oh, you're so good with words. I can't control my tears. It would spoil my makeup." Xue Ting said while dabbing her eyes as Matthew helped her to sit on the dressing table.
"Thank you, sweetie. I know what you mean. Now, let me touch up my makeup a little then we shall head to surprise your Daddy alright?" Matthew nodded as he watched Xue Ting worked on her makeup. He was admiring her simple loose bunned hair with some dangling hair which made her look so flawless.
"Mummy, does every bride look this pretty?" He asked as he wondered how pretty would Diane be when she was dressed in a wedding dress. Xue Ting was smitten by his question.
"Every bride is pretty in their own way. I am sure Diane will surpass this. Take your time alright sweetie." Xue Ting stood and held his hand as he nodded.
May was waiting with Jia Yi and Liew Wei, holding on to a small purple calla lily bouquet at the entrance as they watched Matthew leading Xue Ting who looked very graceful in her dress. The helms which was a second piece, covered her growing baby bump very well.
"Oh, Ting Ting! You look amazing. Joy is so talented!" May praised while hugging Xue Ting.
"Thank you, May… You look lovely yourself too." Xue Ting teased before shifting her gaze at Qiu Yeh who was on another end entertaining guests.
"Here, this little bouquet is a reflection of the passion of your love story, my dear." May quickly change the attention. Xue Ting took the bouquet from May while Matthew continued to escort Xue Ting to the entrance of the hall.
Jia Yi and Liew Wei were ready on stage as they made the opening speech welcoming everyone as the emcees for the night.
"A very good evening everyone. Hope all of you are enjoying the night well. I am Jia Yi." He introduced. "And I am Liew Wei. We are your emcees for tonight." Liew Wei introduced swiftly.
"We would like to thank everyone who made it tonight on behalf of Tang's Jewelry Corporation. Tonight, what we are going to present is a unique collaboration with a niche online platform business. Let's introduce you to Ms. Joy Liew Xin Qiu." Jia Yi led the crowd to give Joy a round of applause as the spotlight showed her struggling to stand up with Matthew helping her as she took a bow.
Some of the guests in the crowd were gasping at the surprise and were wondering the reason for Joy was in a wheelchair while some gasped knowing her identity as Xue Ting's sister. This made Mrs. Tang very furious as she walked closer to Francesca. "You have done a very bad job. What is this about?!" Mrs. Tang scolded her while gritting her teeth.
Francesca could only glare at Mrs. Tang. She somehow had no urge to fight back Xue Ting and her attendance tonight was merely to please her parents. The more she thought about it, the more she felt like dropping everything and leaving especially right at the moment her gaze fell on Alshton who was smiling at her from a far end. Her thoughts of her pregnancy news muddled with her actions as she continued staring back at him, searching for the courage to end everything and follow her heart.
Qiu Yeh could hear the commotion just standing by Mrs. Tang's side but he pretended to not have heard them as he was anticipating for the moment the announcement of who would continue to lead the company made by his mother. Though he knew many would have thought it was him but he was beginning to doubt as he watched the reaction of his mother.
May who was standing in one corner noticed the change in Qiu Yeh's gaze as she began to worry about the family's internal colludes but she remained composed as she monitored the entire situation.
"The concept of this collaboration is to enable customers to tell their story and we will create drafts of gifts for you based on the story told. Yes, we are moving forward with adopting customised gifts which may not necessarily just focus on the jewelry but also items of clothing or accessories." Jia Yi explained.
"It might be hard to picture them. So, let's without further ado invite the manager of this project, Mr. Tang Qiu Wen, and his spouse on stage to demonstrate." The crowd was a little confused about who was Qiu Wen's spouse since he had announced his divorce previously and the engagement party did not turn out well.
However, the crowd still gave a round of applause as Qiu Wen walked up the stage and opened up the box of gifts as the slides began to reveal a montage of the couple with a soft ballad composed by Matthew himself.
The montage revealed the autumn tree in their school which was where the couple first met again. The explanation on the slide wrote that the scene inspired the hairpin of Xue Ting's commemorative gift. The theme then changed to dragonfly which was their lucky charm as the montage revealed Qiu Wen's dragonfly's brooch where the wings could close and become a necktie pin.
The crowd was no doubt impressed and had put aside the controversy of their divorce.
The montage revealed the gifts were named as commemorative gifts in place of the couple's wedding band and reconciliation. The slides further explained the divorce was part of the journey to make this program revelation a success.
"Let us invite Mrs. Tang Xue Ting on stage for the exchange of their commemorative gifts," Liew Wei announced as the crowd turned their head to the main entrance when the door opened wide. Xue Ting took the first step into the hall and mesmerised the crowd with her graceful look.
Qiu Wen's eyes instantly reddened as he turned to look at Joy on the wheelchair who was smiling at him. He mouthed to her thank you as she nodded and they focused back looking at Xue Ting who was slowly walking up to him on stage.
Qiu Wen could not believe how pretty Xue Ting was. He could not tell if it was due to her pregnancy that she was glowing or was the lights so bright which gave that effect but the brown maple leaf elements on the helms of her dress were beginning to look like gold which made her look like a heavenly dragonfly angel.
He subconsciously walked in front to shorten the distance for her and quickly helped her up on stage for fear she tripped. He then guided her up onto the main stage as the crowd watched the loving couple in awe.
Qiu Yeh noticed May had been tearing up nonstop as he wondered if he were to do the same, would it be too fast for them? He sighed at his wishful thinking but he was glad his little brother was doing the right thing for the first time.
"You looked very pretty. I didn't know about the dress" Qiu Wen whispered when he put on the hairpin on her.
"Thank you… Your mischievous daughter must have planned it." Xue Ting smiled as she put on the brooch in his left chest pocket and plucked a calla lily to put inside the pocket.
Jia Yi understood the boutonniere gesture and led the crowd into giving the couple a round of applause as Qiu Wen pulled her in for a kiss which sent Xue Ting's tears fall onto her cheeks.
"Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Tang!" Jia Yi announced as the couple broke away from their kiss. Qiu Wen wiped her tears away as she smiled and nodded encouragingly, knowing his plans to make an announcement next.