The silence after Hong Yi's confession was no longer heavy.
It was fragile.
Xiamen stood frozen, her heart pounding so loudly she was sure he could hear it.
"You…" her voice trembled, "you loved me?"
"For a long time," Hong Yi replied quietly.
"So long that I mistook my fear for distance… and my silence for protection."
Her tears fell freely now.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
"I blamed you without ever asking. I decided your heart for you."
Hong Yi shook his head.
"No," he said softly.
"I'm the one who should beg forgiveness."
He stepped closer, carefully, as if afraid she might disappear.
"I let you believe you were unwanted. I let you walk away carrying pain I should have shared."
Xiamen lifted her face, eyes red but shining.
"I should have told you I loved you," she said.
"I loved you even when I thought you despised me."
His breath caught.
"I never despised you," Hong Yi said firmly.
"I was terrified you'd leave if you knew how deeply I loved you."
They stood inches apart now.
Years of guilt. Years of longing. Years of love spoken too late.
"I love you," Xiamen said.
"I love you," Hong Yi answered immediately—without hesitation this time.
The words felt different.
Free. Certain. Real.
He pulled her into his arms, and she clung to him as if the world might fall apart again if she let go.
Their embrace was tight, desperate—two broken hearts finally fitting together.
Hong Yi lowered his head.
Their lips met.
At first, it was hesitant—almost reverent.
Then all restraint shattered.
The kiss deepened, filled with years of suppressed affection, regret, and longing. It wasn't reckless—it was consuming, healing, inevitable.
When they finally parted, their foreheads rested together, breaths uneven.
"For now," Hong Yi whispered, brushing her hair aside,
"I won't tell Haoyu the truth."
Xiamen nodded.
"He's still healing," she said softly.
"And so are we."
Hong Yi kissed her forehead gently.
"But one day," he said, voice steady,
"I'll earn the right to be called his father."
Xiamen smiled through her tears.
And for the first time in years—
Love wasn't painful.
It was home.
Hong Yi's expression darkened as reality settled back in.
"Tomorrow," he said quietly, but with unmistakable authority,
"I'll send your father to jail."
Xiamen stiffened only for a second.
Then she nodded.
"I'm sorry," Hong Yi added, watching her closely.
"I know he's still your—"
"Good," she interrupted calmly.
Hong Yi stopped.
Xiamen lifted her head, her eyes steady—no tears left in them.
"I'm alright," she said firmly.
"He deserves it."
Her voice did not shake.
"He tried to kill me," she continued, each word clear and cold.
"He kidnapped my son."
Hong Yi's jaw clenched.
"That alone is unforgivable," she said.
"But that's not all."
She looked straight at him.
"I know he's been embezzling money. Offshore accounts. Fake subsidiaries. Doing illegally business
Hong Yi's eyes narrowed—not in surprise, but in grim confirmation.
"I never spoke," Xiamen said softly,
"because I didn't want to involve"
She exhaled slowly.
"But now… I won't protect him anymore."
Hong Yi stepped closer.
"He'll be arrested," he said.
"Every account frozen. Every crime exposed."
"And the company?" Xiamen asked.
"I'll remove him," Hong Yi replied without hesitation.
"Completely."
Xiamen closed her eyes for a moment.
When she opened them again, there was no hatred left—only release.
"He needs to reap what he sowed," she said quietly.
"I won't let him harm my child again."
Hong Yi reached for her hand, squeezing it gently.
"You won't face this alone," he said.
"Not anymore."
Xiamen looked at him, then nodded.
For the first time—
Justice didn't feel like revenge.
It felt like freedom.