“Well, you’re all of that age now. If it’s time to date, then go ahead.” Cheryl, I couldn’t help but notice that you’ve put on some weight.”

“Really? Oh no, maybe I overdid it with the snacks,” Cheryl said, laughing nervously as she cupped her face.

“You’ve definitely gained a few pounds. Look at your waist. You’ve even got a little belly now,” Irene said.

“You’re right, Irene,” Cheryl said with a quick blink. “I’ll start dieting.”

Not wanting to linger, Cheryl quickly left.

Benny walked into the DNA testing center, clutching a toothbrush he’d swiped from Jonathan’s house and a strand of Michael’s hair. He trusted this place to get the job done. Feeling anxious, he requested rush service, promising to pick up the results as soon as they were ready.

Frank Coleman, the clerk and Benny’s friend, grinned and teased, “Well, Benny. Never thought I’d see the day you’d end up here. Guess karma finally caught up with you, huh?”

“Are you nuts? Me? Getting someone pregnant? No way. My dad would skin me alive,” Benny said, rolling his eyes.

“Then whose DNA test is this for? If it’s not yours…” Frank trailed off.

“It’s for a friend,” Benny replied irritably.

Frank raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. “I get it. Everyone who comes here for a DNA test says it’s for a friend.”

“Do you want me to knock some sense into you? Just hurry up. I need the results ASAP. There’s no way my gut feeling is wrong about this,” Benny said, already scheming how to squeeze some cash out of Jonathan once the results were in.

But Jonathan was out of town, having taken Teresa to Chicoham. Benny couldn’t even find an opportunity to confront him.

While waiting for the results, Benny idly scrolled through local videos on his phone. He stumbled upon a funny clip of a college guy wearing sunglasses and dancing with a little boy. Benny left a comment: “Donald, 100,000 likes on a single video? Not bad at all.”

A few minutes later, the guy replied with a smile emoji: “You’re Benny, right? It’s me, Edward.” Benny responded with a dramatic crying-face emoji.

It was only then that Benny noticed Edward’s video was tagged at Forlisle Rose Estates. Edward had posted the location, attracting a flood of comments from women eager to message him privately.

But Benny knew that estate. It was Jonathan’s property. Jonathan might be out of town, but Edward and the boy were staying at his villa.

Benny couldn’t understand what was going on. The DNA test results hadn’t even come back yet, yet Jonathan had already acknowledged the boy. Knowing how stingy Jonathan was, Benny felt there was no way he’d let someone else’s kid live in his villa.

Benny was completely stumped. He sent Edward a private message: “Hey, add me on WhatsApp.” But Edward left him on read, clearly annoyed because Benny kept mixing him up with Donald.

To smooth things over, Benny sent another message: “I keep mixing you up with Jonathan’s cousin. My bad. Let me send you a little something to make it up to you.”

This time, Edward replied right away and added him on WhatsApp. True to his straightforward nature, Benny sent two transfers of $200 each as an apology for the mix-up.

Benny messaged Edward: “I saw the location in your video. Are you staying at Jonathan’s villa? And who’s the kid dancing with you? Why’s he living there, too?”

Edward replied: “Oh, you mean Mike? He’s Miriam’s nephew. Jonathan’s out of town, so I’m looking after him.”

Benny chuckled, thinking, Miriam’s nephew? Yeah, right. If true, why does the kid look so much like Jonathan? This was getting interesting.

The more Benny thought about it, the more he believed the DNA test was the right decision. There was no doubt this boy had a strong connection to Jonathan. He believed even if they weren’t father and son, there had to be some sort of blood relation. Benny thought, Wait a second. Didn’t Miriam have a thing for you? Could this kid be your love child?