“Yalena said she wants to marry Lucas. I have no idea what kind of scheme she’s plotting this time, but I’m worried she’s just using him to keep getting back at us,” Teresa said.

Jonathan turned to Lucas and asked directly, “Is that true?”

Lucas let out a sigh. “I don’t really know her that well, but she said if I marry her, she’ll let you all go and stop messing with you.” He glanced over at Teresa. “I can’t help but feel like I dragged you all into this, and even caused you to have the baby early.”

Teresa shook her head. “You don’t need to blame yourself, Lucas. I never held this against you. This is all Yalena’s fault. You’re a victim too, so you don’t have to feel guilty for what she did.”

“Teresa’s right,” Jonathan said, standing firmly by her side with a frown. “We’ve known Yalena a lot longer than you have. She’s anything but innocent. Don’t be fooled by her.”

“Exactly,” Teresa chimed in. “Yalena even sent people to beat you up before. How could you still fall for her games? Please, don’t ever think you need to sacrifice yourself for us. There’s no need for that. If you get hurt again, we’ll all be worried sick. She kidnapped you and used you to threaten me, and now she says she loves you? That’s just impossible.”

“Yeah, I get it,” Lucas replied, promising Teresa he wouldn’t be tricked. “Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing. I’ve got some stuff to take care of today, so I should get going,” Lucas said. He didn’t stay for breakfast.

Teresa was still worried about Lucas. She wondered if he would end up fooled by Yalena again.

Jonathan knocked lightly on her head and said, “Stop worrying. You’ve said everything you needed to. Lucas is an adult. He knows what he’s doing.”

“Yeah,” Teresa responded. Even so, Teresa couldn’t help but worry. “Lucas is too soft-hearted. I should keep reminding him to be careful. I just don’t get why Yalena targets him.”

Jonathan raised an eyebrow. “Could it be that Lucas knew Yalena before?”

Teresa shook her head. “I asked him and he said he didn’t. Never even met her before.”

“Then just tell him to ignore that woman. Let’s see what else she can stir up,” Jonathan said. Teresa nodded.

After breakfast, Mike was getting ready for kindergarten. Not long after, the nanny showed up, and Teresa introduced Jonathan to Amy. “This is my ex-husband, also Mike and Felix’s dad.”

Amy had started working for Teresa after Jonathan moved out, so this was her first time meeting him. “The boys‘ dad is such a good-looking man,” she commented.

Jonathan didn’t reply to her praise.

Teresa asked Amy to look after Felix while she took Mike to kindergarten, and then headed off to work. “Got it, Ms. Johnston,” Amy replied.

Jonathan glanced at Teresa, opened his mouth to say something, but in the end, he stayed silent.

This was the first time he and Teresa had come to drop Mike off at kindergarten together. There was a traffic jam ahead, so they had to park across the street from the school entrance.

Jonathan picked up Michael and nuzzled his face against his son’s affectionately. “I’ll come pick you up this afternoon, buddy.”

“Yay! Dad’s the best,” Michael cheered.

“Guess I’ll stay in the car, since we can’t park here. Be good, off you go,” Jonathan said and helped Michael out of the car. He and Teresa looked through the open window as Michael walked away.

Michael’s teacher and a few other teachers were standing at the entrance.

All the teachers could see was the sharp profile of a man reflected in the car window. “Mike, is that your dad? Did he come to drop you off today?” one of the teachers asked.

“Yep. Dad’s home to see me, and both Mom and Dad brought me to school today. Dad’s picking me up this afternoon too,” Michael replied excitedly.