Clutching the blanket tightly, Jennifer refused a car ride and said, "Thank you, but I'm sorry." Donald smiled faintly in return, his expression tinged with sadness as he turned to leave.
That night, Jennifer gazed out at the city lights, her heart heavy with unsettled emotions. The days passed quickly, and soon it was January 14th. Teresa was exhausted from looking after Jennifer while trying to keep Donald and Michael from crossing paths. She didn't know how Evelyn was doing, either. Teresa hadn't slept well for several days. One rare free afternoon, she took Michael to the pizza shop across from the hospital for a break. She left her phone with him while she queued for their order. Michael was browsing short videos when a message suddenly popped up:
[I’ve booked a flight for next week. I won’t be back by January 15th. I’ve prepared a gift for you; my driver will deliver it. Remember to answer his call. The car is yours to use for as long as you need. Don’t worry about returning it. When I’m back, see you at Rosary Estates.]
Michael recognized the message as coming from the man saved in Teresa's contacts as "Lime" instead of "Jonathan." Though he couldn't understand all the words, he grasped the gist: [Flight booked, won’t return, gift, car is yours. See you.] Excited, the boy tried to reply but kept typing gibberish, so he scrolled through the stickers and sent a cute "I miss you" sticker.
In Nusridge, Jonathan paused, staring at the message for two seconds. The afternoon sunlight softened his features, lending him an unexpected warmth. He smiled faintly, thought for a moment, and replied: [I miss you b…]. The next second, another message arrived—a sticker with kisses. Jonathan raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised but undeniably pleased. He replied briefly before putting his phone away as his client returned from the restroom; being on the phone in front of a client wasn't polite.
His client noticed the residual warmth in Jonathan's expression and that he'd been on the phone, so he asked if Jonathan had been chatting with his girlfriend. Jonathan replied, "My wife."
Jennifer had only a few amenities during her hospital stay—nothing much beyond a washcloth and hot water bottle. Though Teresa thought they should just toss them, Jennifer insisted on bringing them home. "You have to be practical," Jennifer declared. "True," Hannah agreed. Teresa chuckled.
Jennifer refused a car ride, but Donald had already helped load her things into the vehicle. "When's my cousin coming back?" Donald asked Teresa.
"Next week," she replied.
A mischievous glint appeared in his eyes. "You two talk a lot, huh? I message him daily, and he never replies." Teresa coughed awkwardly, turning away. Meanwhile, Jennifer was getting impatient. "Teresa isn't your sister-in-law anymore. She has nothing to do with the Lynn family."
"Fine, fine," Donald said, patting Jennifer on the head while she was unguarded. "You're always so serious."
Jennifer smacked his hand away, her face darkening with anger. She was determined never to let him touch her again. Teresa sighed as she observed the exchange. Her sister was much more ruthless than she could ever be. Her resolve to sever ties was much stronger than Teresa's, and that was impressive.
As the car started, Teresa turned on the sound system. She was struck by the playlist—vintage classics like "Time Flies," "Been Awhile," and "My Love"—unchanged from when she and Jonathan were married.
"You should return this car. People will talk if they see you driving your ex's car," Jennifer scolded.
"I didn't have a car to pick you up, so I had to use this one. My car's still with Minam," Teresa explained. "She'll return it next week."
"Then take mine," Jennifer began to offer, but stopped. Her second-hand Toyota, which she had scrimped and saved for, had been totaled in the accident. She bit her lip, realizing she would need a new car soon.
Halfway home, Teresa's phone buzzed. It was Benny, confirming he'd completed her task. "Well, no surprise there," she thought. "Benny always gets things done fast."
As the car pulled into the residential area, Teresa grinned. "Get out of the car, Hannah, I've got a surprise for you." Puzzled, Jennifer followed her gaze to a brand-new white Mercedes-Benz C260 parked in the driveway, gleaming in the sunlight. Benny jogged toward them, handing the keys over to Teresa.
"It's the fully configured version. I got every discount possible," he said. "Total came to 107 thousand dollars with tax. Just give me 100 thousand dollars; you can keep the change."
"No way," Teresa said firmly. "I'll transfer you the full amount."
Benny waved her off. "Use the extra to buy Jonathan a new scarf. He's been wearing that black one all year. He's always bragging about how it was a gift from you. Besides, he's a CEO now, and that scarf needs a wash."