Benny had promised Edward 300 dollars in exchange for a strand of Jonathan’s hair. The absurdity of the deal made Benny chuckle. It was his first time using money for such a trade, and of all things, it was for a single strand of hair. Edward handed over the hair, but Benny hadn’t finished inputting his fingerprint for the transfer when he held up the long strand with a skeptical look. “Come on, kid. You really think this long hair is your brother’s?”

“I did my best, alright? I searched his clothes forever and only found this one strand,” Edward protested, looking a little embarrassed.

Benny smirked and snapped his fingers. “If it’s from his clothes, then it’s gotta be Teresa’s. Works for me. Let’s see what the test says.”

Edward frowned, clearly puzzled. “What are you even trying to do, Benny?” Benny mentioned the little boy they’d met who looked like Jonathan.

“You mean Mike? Yeah, I’ve noticed it too. But my mom said Jonathan had already done a DNA test, and the kid’s not his,” Edward replied.

“I won’t buy it for a second. I did a test myself, but I need to do it again to be sure,” Benny said firmly. If the results came back negative this time, he’d swallow the loss—even if it cost him 300,000 dollars. A bet was a bet, after all.

Edward sighed. “Benny, so that’s why you wanted his hair? You’re just overthinking it. That kid is Miriam’s nephew, plain and simple.”

“How could he be Miriam’s nephew? I’ve known her for years, and she doesn’t have a sister—only a younger brother,” Benny countered.

“Maybe he’s her cousin’s kid,” Edward suggested, not to argue with Benny but to defend Miriam. He genuinely thought she was a good person—honest and down-to-earth.

“You’re too naive. You believe everything women say. Once you’re out in the real world, you’ll figure out that not everyone’s as honest as they seem. Not that I’m saying anything bad about Miriam, of course,” Benny added with a smirk.

Benny left without another word. Teresa had gone back to the Teresouth Group to handle some work. With nothing on his schedule, Jonathan rolled up his sleeves and decided to cook.

“Wow, it smells amazing, Mr. Daddy Lime.” Michael leaned against the kitchen door, his eyes sparkling as he looked up at the tall Jonathan.

“I’m making chicken soup. Want to try some?” Jonathan asked with a smile.

“Yes, please.” Michael ran over excitedly. Jonathan picked him up and ladled a small spoonful of soup for him to taste. “This is so good,” Michael exclaimed, covering his cheeks with his hands. “It’s so good.”

Jonathan chuckled at the boy’s dramatic reaction. “I’ll whip up a few more dishes. Once Ms. Johnston gets back, we can all sit down to eat.”

Michael giggled mischievously. “Mr. Daddy Lime, the beautiful lady you mentioned before—it’s Ms. Johnston, isn’t it?”

“She is a beautiful lady,” Jonathan admitted, a hint of pride in his voice.

Michael leaned in close, whispering into Jonathan’s ear, “Mr. Daddy Lime, I’ll let you in on a little secret. That beautiful lady likes you too.”

Jonathan froze for a moment, his eyebrows lifted in surprise.

“It’s true. Remember when we went to watch Paddington? She went to grab my scarf, and I noticed it smelled like you. So I asked her about it, and she said she liked you. But shh, don’t tell her I told you. She’s got her pride.”

Jonathan’s gaze flickered, as if stars had suddenly lit up in his eyes. Seeing his silence, Michael grew anxious, thinking he wasn’t believed.

“It’s true, I swear. I’m not lying.” Michael insisted earnestly.

“When she gets back, I’ll ask her myself,” Jonathan said.

Michael grinned. “If you two get together, I’ll tell you another secret.”

Jonathan raised an eyebrow. “What secret? Why can’t you tell me now?”

“I can’t say it yet. If I do, I might not be able to stay here anymore. I don’t want to leave you, Mr. Daddy Lime. And… And…” Michael hesitated, his voice growing softer. “I’m scared I might embarrass Mom. She never says it, but I can feel it,” Michael said, his words coming out in a halting, anxious rush.

Jonathan gently cupped Michael’s face. “I’m sorry for the things you’ve had to endure. I can’t fully understand your feelings, but I promise you this: you can stay here as long as you want. I just want you to be happy.”

Teresa was swamped with work at Teresouth Group, catching up on several days’ worth of tasks. She pulled out her anti-blue light glasses from the drawer, knowing her eyes would ache from staring at the screen for too long. Jonathan called her while she was still busy, but instead of waiting, he showed up at the company with Michael, who had fallen asleep after dinner.

When Teresa stepped out of her office, Jonathan saw her wearing glasses for the first time. He couldn’t help but be captivated, his gaze lingering on her.

“I made dinner and even cooked chicken soup for you. The food’s gone cold, and you still haven’t come back. This little guy insisted on coming with me to find you,” Jonathan said.

Teresa’s eyes fell on the sleeping child, and a flicker of guilt flashed beneath her glasses. She had earned money but neglected her son. Life, it seemed, was always a compromise.

“I came back to the office and saw this mountain of files. I don’t even know how long it’ll take to finish them,” Teresa sighed, feeling overwhelmed.

Jonathan gently placed Michael on the sofa, making sure the child was comfortable. “Let me help you,” he offered.

“No, it’s fine. I can handle it myself,” Teresa replied quickly.

“You like me, don’t you? No need to be shy about it,” Jonathan teased.

Teresa froze in shock. She thought, ‘How does he know?’ Her eyes darted to the sleeping child, searching for answers.

“Michael told you?” Teresa asked.

Teresa felt a pang of embarrassment at the mention of “Michael.” She glanced at Jonathan’s expression, but he seemed unfazed, maybe even mistaking it for “Mike.”

“Looks like he really did say something,” Jonathan remarked, his lips curving into a playful smile. “You like me.”

“I need to get back to these files,” Teresa said hurriedly, trying to change the subject.

Jonathan stepped up behind her, leaning close. His hand rested on the desk, and his firm chest brushed against her back. “You’re so slow. Just admit you like me, and I’ll help you finish this in no time,” he said, his voice low and teasing.

Teresa let out a frustrated sigh, nudging him with her elbow as her cheeks turned red. “Can’t you be serious for once? You’re so annoying.”

Jonathan took the opportunity to wrap her in his arms, his long, slender fingers guiding hers as they marked up the documents together.

“We were married, after all. Is it so hard to say you like me?” he murmured.

Distracted by his playful provocations, Teresa found it impossible to focus. Jonathan wasn’t much better—when she turned her face slightly, he leaned down and kissed her, unwilling to let go.

Breathless from the kiss, Teresa protested, “Jonathan, we can’t keep doing this.”

“What do you mean ‘this’?” Jonathan asked, his lips brushing against hers before pulling back slightly. “You moved out of Rosary Estates and called me, saying you wanted to stay at my place. You’ve been teasing me all this time.”

“I was just…” Teresa faltered, the real reason right in front of her but impossible to voice. The frustration was suffocating. Teresa stopped resisting his kisses, letting him take the lead. ‘I’m sorry,’ she thought to herself.

Her mind had been in turmoil for days, especially over the possibility of being pregnant again. She’d have to do it secretly. Even asking her sister Jennifer’s hospital for help was out of the question—she feared Jennifer’s scolding. If Jennifer found out, she might insist on an abortion. If she really was pregnant again, then this time, she’d leave for good. Once, he had walked away without looking back; now, it would be her turn to leave Nareigh completely.

Jonathan, oblivious to Teresa’s thoughts, finished the work and took her hand to leave. Just as they reached the door, he remembered Michael. Jonathan scooped up the little one with one arm. His phone buzzed incessantly in his pocket—he had work to attend to as well. Back at Forlisle Rose Estates, he watched Teresa drink chicken soup and eat a little. Only then did his furrowed brow finally relax.

“I need to head to Archulea for a few days. When I’m back, if your period still hasn’t come this month, let’s go to the hospital together, alright?” asked Jonathan.

The warm chicken soup in her hands couldn’t melt the icy resolve in her heart. Teresa nodded slightly, unable to say a word, while a flicker of determination to leave flashed in her eyes.

Jonathan leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead, whispering softly, “Be good.”

In her heart, Teresa silently thought, ‘I’m sorry, Jonathan.’

Jonathan’s flight was scheduled for the early hours of the morning. He was rushing to leave so he could return sooner, planning to catch some sleep on the plane. Before leaving, he spoke a few words to Teresa.

“This villa is yours to stay in as long as you like. I’ve hired two top-notch nannies; they’ll be here tomorrow to take care of you.”

He paused briefly before continuing. “And next time I’m back, if Mike’s mom still doesn’t come to pick him up, call me or I’ll contact her myself. Since she’s shameless, you don’t need to feel embarrassed either.”

Teresa, who always had a sharp tongue, found herself at a loss for words whenever this topic came up. She wanted to ask him, ‘How exactly do you plan to talk to his mom? Because the woman standing right in front of you is her.’

Snapping out of her thoughts, she responded helplessly, “Got it.”

Her mind was already made up. By the time Jonathan came back, she’d be long gone from Nareigh. There would be no need for a DNA test or a call to the child’s mom, because by then, she would have disappeared without a trace.

Even after talking like this, Teresa felt the distance between them hadn’t changed. He still didn’t understand her, and she couldn’t figure him out. They were two mismatched souls, destined to repeat the same mistakes if they stayed together.

“Will you come to the airport to see me off? I’ll have the driver bring you back,” Jonathan asked, his gaze fixed firmly on her face.

“Alright,” Teresa agreed, her eyes misting with tears. She decided to treat this as their final goodbye.

Jonathan had no idea what was going through Teresa’s mind. He even thought she was opening up to him. At the airport, as he prepared to board his flight, Teresa noticed the collar of his coat was slightly askew. She stood on tiptoe to adjust it for him, saying, “You’re a big shot now; you should pay more attention to your image.”