“Aiyo* Datin* Su, where have you been the whole morning? Didn't you invite us to enjoy the trip together?” Datin* Susila lamented while sipping her tea elegantly as the other Datins watched both Ting Fang and Oliver walked in.

  “Oliver! What a surprise to see you here!” Datin Aurelia, whose husband was a close acquaintance of Olivia’s mother, expressed.

  “Oh my, ever since your divorce, it’s so hard to see you. Where have you been? Do you need to find a new wife? Auntie has many to introduce…” Datin Aurelia continued as Ting Fang glared at her.

  “Auri, I invite you out of courtesy. Don’t you dare to insult me this way!” Ting Fang reprimanded as Oliver gently patted her mother’s shoulder to calm her.

  “Aiyo*, sorry lah*. I’m just concerned about your son’s happiness, ma*. Don’t like that lah*, old friend. We are always very grateful for your generosity. This villa is very nice! The tea served is good too!” Datin Aurelia quickly switched the topic as Ting Fang took a seat and enjoyed some of the macaroons.

  “Ting Fang, Aurelia, is not wrong. We are all concerned for Oliver, who seems to do very well compared to William. A man needs a woman behind him to support him at times like this. Look, my daughter-in-law had just given birth to a baby boy.” Datin Camellia, whose husband is in medical instruments distribution, showed a picture of her grandson to everyone.

  Ting Fang sat brazenly as Oliver felt bad for her. “Aunties, thank you for your well-meaning…” Ting Fang held Oliver’s hand while shaking her head, knowing he might reveal the truth, but Oliver gently patted her hand.

  “I just want to focus on my career for now. It’s, after all, a crucial time as you have mentioned, Datin Aurelia. So, please don’t pester my mother about the matter. She is very concerned, too, but I am the one at fault.” Oliver admitted. The ladies were in awe at his care and love for Ting Fang.

  “If only my son were like this too...” Sighed Datin Lin Fong, the wife of a pharmacist.

  “My son is living a delusional life of partying the whole day long. Throwing money down the drain…” Lamented her further as the attention shifted to her son and no longer Oliver.

  Ting Fang shared a comforting smile with Oliver, knowing his situation isn’t as bad as everyone thought, or at the very least, not as bad as Lin Fong’s spoiled brat.

  Meanwhile, as Jazzlyn returned to help out Su Lan and Su Qing in the family house in place of Hilbert, who had gone to replace her in Ipoh’s clinic, she was swamped with work till closing hours.

  Su Huang had been busy preparing dinner for everyone and also for Olivia, as she packed it for Jazzlyn to send over after dinner. Jazzlyn then received a text from Isla in the group message they were in.

  Isla: What’s up, Jazzy?

  Ellie: Yeah, you have been so quiet! Are you so swamped with work? Worse than being in the public hospital?

  Jazzlyn was so caught up with Olivia’s delivery that she realised she had not been keeping both her best friends updated.

  Jazzlyn: Sorry! I have been very caught up past few days with my family drama… Well, as compensation, I shall send you a gift.

  Jazzlyn quickly sent a picture of baby Vincent being held by Olivia.

  Jazzlyn: Hello Aunties! I'm Vincent Su Hao Yu. My Chinese name means I'm the vast universe of my parents' love.

  Isla: Oh my gosh! Is this your younger brother’s son?

  Ellie: Oh, wow! Congrats, Auntie Jazz!

  Jazzlyn: Yes, Oli’s a dad now. That’s Olivia carrying him.

  Isla: Aww, glad that baby Vincent’s parents had reconciled. But they had already divorced? Then how Auntie Jazz?

  Ellie: You're so cute! Can't wait to see you, baby Vincent!

  Jazzlyn: They are still undercover, apparently…

  Isla: What do you mean? Aren’t you supposed to be in Penang or somewhere?

  Ellie: Where is your sister in law and the baby?

  Jazzlyn: Ipoh, Isla. Both the baby and the mother are in Malacca with me. Su Huang and Su Qing are taking care of her confinement.

  If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

  Isla: What exactly happened?

  Jazzlyn could sense Isla’s tension as she walked out to the garden and decided to give them both a group call.

  “Hey! Sorry, I have totally forgotten to keep everyone updated.” Jazzlyn apologised as Isla kept quiet while Ellie gasped dramatically.

  “How could you just forget about us?! After such a huge matter?” Ellie nagged.

  “I didn’t forget, but a lot had happened after I left. Plus, it was an emergency…” Jazzlyn paused as she noticed Isla was quiet. She knew the only way to appease her was to tell her all the details as Jazzlyn began.

  “Oh wow, that’s really intense…” Ellie commented when Jazzlyn was done, but Isla was still quiet.

  “Yes…” Jazzlyn admitted but was uncomfortable with how quiet Isla was.

  “Isla…” Jazzlyn checked on her.

  “Oh come on, Isla… Don’t be so tense. It’s not Jazz’s intention to hide all these from us…” Ellie tried persuading Isla.

  “So, what’s your plan on the offer made by Auntie or Oliver? Are you returning to the business?” Isla has finally spoken.

  “I’m not too sure, honestly. I have spoken with Ethan, and as usual, it’s not much of a help. He is always very understanding and accommodating.” Jazzlyn admitted.

  She sighed before adding. “There are days when I wish he would be more selfish…”

  “That’s cause he knows you already had an answer. So, are you sure about it?” Isla questioned.

  “No…” Jazzlyn could only be this open and vulnerable with these two, and that’s where she realised she was afraid of being hurt again by her father like she did back then.

  “Then, don’t,” Isla concluded, cause she knew Jazzlyn was waiting for such an answer.

  “Isla…” Ellie tried to warn Isla that it was not a choice for her to make.

  “Let’s face it. She is waiting for someone to give her the answer she wanted, though her heart told her otherwise. So, I’m just doing so and sacrificing myself as the bad person. She should be able to decide on her own better now.” Isla pointed out.

  “I have to agree with her on this, Jazz. I would stand on her side to protect you from being hurt so badly again. But again, I understand your filial duty. Perhaps find a halfway point to deal with this?” Ellie suggested as Jazzlyn sighed.

  “Yes, I have been thinking about this halfway point, too. It’s alright. I still have plenty of time… So, who’s excited about the weekend?” Jazzlyn decided to change the topic not to pissed off Isla further.

  “Make sure you’re well rested…” Isla finally toned down her harshness.

  “I will! Don’t worry bout me. How are both of you?” Jazzlyn asked.

  “Not too bad… The same old. Busy with some month-end closing soon for the accounts.” Ellie updated.

  “Isla?” Jazzlyn asked curiously.

  “Nothing much… Same old kids with their nonsense, new language drama… Can’t wait to visit home again.” Isla made some weird noises from stretching.

  “You must be marking a lot of answer worksheets to be enduring such pain from just stretching…” Jazzlyn commented, knowing that once Isla is focused on working, she could sit the whole day sedentary without moving, unless to visit the washroom.

  “Oh, tell me about it. Sometimes I worry myself about the assignments I gave…” Isla lamented.

  “Stay hydrated, and why don’t you start buying a standing desk?” Ellie suggested.

  “Hey! That’s a terrific idea! You could get one easily at the furniture shop these days, and it’s cheap.” Jazzlyn agreed.

  “Alright then, let’s go, Ellie…” Isla invited her.

  “Only if we can go mamak…” Ellie demanded as Jazzlyn and Isla laughed.

  “You can never make do without mamak for long, can you, Ellie?” Isla nagged as Jazzlyn smiled, listening to those two bickering before Su Huang came to nudge her.

  “Dinner’s ready…” Su Huang said as Jazzlyn nodded.

  “Oh, alright. I got to go, you two. I will see you over the next few days. I got to eat and run to my nephew and sister in law in a bit.” Jazzlyn interrupted their bicker.

  “Alright, go ahead! We will see you then! Ellie, I will see you at the usual mamak first. I’m starving!” Isla concluded.

  “Yes, yes ma’am! Alright, Jazz, see ya!” Ellie said before they all hung up.

  With Su Huang walking away, Jazzlyn took a brief moment to ponder what Isla mentioned.

  That’s right. I wasn’t willing to do it for him. I am only hesitating cause I want to do it for Oli and not him… Jazzlyn confronted herself.

  Will I regret this? Helping Oli is helping him too. But does it matter? Jazzlyn blinked and realised it mattered.

  She recalled the bad times she was grounded and forced to be moulded into a person her father wanted her to be. It was all against her morals. She knew in the business world, there’s no escape from illicit matter as long as it’s kept to a minimum, but she had grown up to be like her mother. Free-spirited and merely wanted to carry out her duty as a doctor. Business was never her forte.

  Isla is right. It’s time for Oli to shine. Helping him to look after his family was already doing him a huge help and favour.

  With that, Jazzlyn smiled, heading to the dining hall with a firm answer in her heart.

  Glossaries:

  * Aiyo - commonly used in Asian countries to express regret, grief, or distress

  * Datin - an honorific title for the wife of a male recipient of Datukship, most common in Malaysia

  * Ma - commonly used to express persuasion or justification

  * Lah - an expression to add emphasis after a statement