Louis woke to silence. The space beside him was empty, cold. He sat up at once, scanning the room. Tabitha was gone. His eyes snapped to the clock and his chest tightened. He was already late.
Cursing under his breath, he swung his legs off the bed and reached for his jacket. Just as he turned toward the door, the bathroom door opened.
Tabitha stepped out wrapped in a towel. Water clung to her skin, highlighting every smooth line. Her hair fell down her back, wet, silky, framing a face that didn't need makeup to be breathtaking. She hummed softly, at ease, unaware of him for half a second and Louis froze.
His heartbeat picked up, sharp and unfamiliar.
"What are you staring at, pervert?" she said, catching his reflection in the mirror.
He opened his mouth to retort, then stopped. He didn't have time for this. He turned away, irritated, heading for the door but then he remembered.
The scar, the one on her thigh. The injury from the fall and then something cold settled in his gut.
Louis turned back abruptly, crossed the room, and grabbed her wrist.
"What are you doing?" Tabitha snapped.
His hand moved toward the towel, eyes searching for something and she reacted instantly before his hand could reach her towel.
With a force he hadn't expected, she shoved him hard. Louis stumbled back and fell onto the bed.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" she asked
"Get out of my room. Now!" she yelled
Louis stared at her, stunned. Not just at the anger but at the strength behind it.
"Since when?" He thought as he stood up slowly. He wasn't convinced, he needed to be sure so he reached for her again.
That was when she drove him backward, forcing him toward the door.
"Don't touch me, you motherfucker!" she screamed, slamming the door in his face.
The sound echoed down the hallway.
Louis turned, face burning, to find everyone staring. Maids frozen mid-step. Andre stiff with shock. Summer watching quietly.
"What are you all looking at?" Louis snapped and the maids scattered immediately.
"I'll go in," Summer said calmly as she knocked.
"Who is it?" Tabitha called.
"It's me." she said and the door opened. Tabitha's tense expression softened the instant she saw Summer.
"Come in." she said to Summer
Louis stepped forward to speak, but before he could say a word, the door slammed shut again harder this time. Louis stood there, humiliated.
By the time he freshened up, the whispers had already spread. The master of the house, kicked out by his own wife. One of the older servants wasted no time carrying the story straight to his mother.
Later, as Louis headed out, he noticed Tabitha at the breakfast table. She didn't even look up. It was as if he didn't exist.
He left.
At the office, Louis sat rigid behind his desk, replaying the morning over and over.
It didn't make sense.
Just hours earlier, she'd been clinging to him, soft, attentive, acting like the ideal wife. And now she couldn't stand his touch. The fury in her eyes had been wild. Final.
"Why did she react like that?" He thought
Tabitha had always hated him, that wasn't new. But before now, she'd never resisted him that fiercely.
"Is this her true nature finally showing?" he wondered.
"Or is she still angry about last night?" He thought
Andre's voice pulled him out of his thoughts. "Louis." Andre said coming in
"What?" he said sharply.
"The dealers from yesterday, they want to host a celebratory dinner tonight." Andre said "And?" Louis frowned
"They specifically requested Tabitha." he added and Louis scoffed.
"Why must she come?" Louis said
"They asked for her," Andre repeated and Louis leaned back, annoyed.
"Unbelievable." he said
Before he could respond further, his phone rang. It was his grandfather.
"You and your wife are coming to the Yu villa tonight," the old man said firmly.
"Don't be late." he added before hanging up
Louis dropped the phone onto his desk and let out an irritated sound, dragging a hand through his hair.
"What happened this time?" he muttered.
"How am I supposed to be in two places at once?"he said and Andre studied him.
"What's wrong?" he asked
"Family emergency tonight." Louis said
"But the dinner—"
"I know," Louis snapped. "I don't know what to do."
Back at home, Mimi had already delivered the first blow.
"The dealers want a celebratory dinner tonight," she told Tabitha.
"They asked for you." she added
Tabitha blinked. "Tonight?"
Her phone rang almost immediately after.
Her mother-in-law.
"You and Louis are coming to the villa tonight," the woman said curtly.
Two obligations. One night.
Tabitha stared at the phone, then sighed. "Of course."
She straightened suddenly. "I need a dress."
She called her sister.
"You're coming over," Tabitha said the moment the call connected. "No excuses."
Her sister laughed. "Wow. Is this the same Tabitha who never had time for me?"
"That Tabitha retired," Tabitha replied dryly.
When her sister arrived, laughter filled the room almost instantly.
"So," her sister said, eyeing her. "What kind of dress are we making?"
"Something that says don't underestimate me," Tabitha said. "But also I look stunning doing it."
Her sister burst out laughing. "You've changed."
"Is that bad?"
"No," she said softly, eyes shining. "It's… nice. You listen now. You care. I finally feel like I have a sister."
Tabitha smiled, though her chest tightened. She had always wanted siblings but she was the only child and now that she had one she'll make the best memories.
Across the room, Summer stood quietly, watching. The woman everyone feared, the cold, hateful Tabitha ....was laughing freely, leaning into her sister like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Summer smiled to herself.
Whatever had changed Tabitha… it had changed everything.
Louis came home briefly to change and to pick Tabitha up.
The moment she appeared at the top of the stairs, he forgot what he was about to say.
She descended slowly, dress hugging her perfectly, confidence woven into every step. For just a second, Louis felt his heart stutter in his chest.
Andre, standing beside him, was staring too.
Not subtly.
For the first time, Louis shot him a sharp look like a silent warning.
Andre blinked, startled, then looked away.
The maids along the hallway couldn't stop whispering. The air buzzed. Sam, standing near the rail, watched it all with burning eyes.
As Tabitha reached the middle of the staircase, Sam suddenly wobbled.
"Oh...!" she gasped, pretending to lose her balance.
Louis took a step forward instinctively.
But Tabitha was faster.
She reached out and caught Sam by the arm before she could fall.
"I didn't know my beauty was this captivating," Tabitha said lazily, a smirk curling her lips. "You're even falling for me."
The maids froze.
Sam's face twisted with rage.
She straightened, eyes blazing.....and in the next second, her foot shot out.
Tabitha stumbled.
This time, Louis caught her.
His arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her close. For a brief, dangerous moment, his gaze dropped instinctively ....
Tabitha noticed.
Her hand came up sharply, striking his face.....not hard enough to hurt, but hard enough to sting.
"Shameless," she snapped, pushing away from him. "Your eyes are as corrupt as you are."
The room went dead silent.
Tabitha turned and walked straight toward the door.
"Tabitha...." Summer started, hurrying after her.
"I'm sorry," Summer said quietly as she caught up, throwing a sharp look back at Sam.
Louis stood still, jaw tight.
He turned slowly toward Andre, eyes demanding an explanation.
Andre avoided his gaze.
Sam, meanwhile, clenched her fists. Watching Tabitha walk away after hitting Louis....lit something vicious inside her.
"She'll pay for this," Sam thought coldly.
Inside the car, silence stretched.
Louis tried to speak twice, then finally said, "So… tonight..."
Tabitha didn't look up. She was busy on her phone, fingers flying as she laughed softly at whatever she was reading.
That laugh irritated him more than it should have.
Without thinking, the question slipped out.
"Are you two back together?"
Tabitha looked up, genuinely confused. "Back together? Who and who?"
"Stop acting dumb," Louis said sharply.
She stared at him blankly. "I honestly don't know what you're talking about."
Summer hesitated, then spoke gently. "He means you and Stanley. Your childhood best friend. You were dating."
Tabitha turned to Summer, surprised. "Oh. Stanley? Why didn't you tell me?"
Summer gave her a careful look but said nothing more.
Tabitha leaned back in her seat, her smile fading slightly.
Inside, questions stirred.
"Why was the real Tabitha dating her childhood best friend… while married?"
"What kind of marriage was this?
She glanced sideways at Louis, who was already watching her again curious, guarded, and clearly unsettled.
And for the first time, Tabitha realized something important.
This family wasn't just hiding secrets.
They were built on them.
The car fell into a thick, uncomfortable silence after Louis's question.
Then Tabitha's phone beeped.
She glanced down and suddenly burst out laughing.
Not a polite chuckle. Real laughter. The kind that shook her shoulders.
Andre glanced at the rearview mirror. Summer frowned slightly. Even the driver stiffened. Everyone wondered the same thing.
Only Louis felt annoyed.
"You still haven't changed," he said coldly. "I knew you were still hooking up with him. At least try to show some decency. I'm still your husband..don't forget that."
Tabitha blinked.
*What the heck is he talking about?* she thought.
Her phone beeped again.
This time she laughed even harder, leaning toward Louis without thinking, tapping his shoulder as she tried to catch her breath.
"Look at this.."
That was it.
Louis snatched the phone out of her hand.
"Enough.."
He stopped.
The entire car went silent.
On the screen was a photo.
A baby picture.
HIS baby picture.
Louis stared at it, disbelief flashing across his face. "Where did you get this from?" he asked slowly.
"Lewis sent it," Tabitha replied, still smiling. "I didn't know you were that chubby."
Louis scrolled.
More pictures appeared..him as a toddler, him with missing teeth, him crying dramatically over a toy. Embarrassing. Unforgivable.
His jaw tightened. He moved to delete them.
Tabitha snatched her phone back instantly.
"Not a chance," she said brightly, hugging it to herself. "These are priceless."
She smiled at him then ..teasing, warm, completely unguarded.
And for the very first time, something in Louis's chest softened.
It caught him off guard.
He turned his face toward the window immediately, pretending to be interested in the passing streetlights.
'What am I doing?' he thought irritably.
'Since when do I care who she talks to?'
He had never interfered before. Never cared what Tabitha did, who she laughed with, or who made her smile.
So why now?
Outside, the city blurred past.
Inside the car, Louis sat quietly, pretending nothing had changed...while knowing, deep down, that something already had.