Back at the hospital, Jennifer contacted Teresa's friends beforehand. The key was Benny. If Benny could be persuaded to abandon the DNA test, Teresa could finally leave for good. In the group chat, "Muffin's Friends," Jennifer posted: "For Teresa's sake, let's all work together and put on a little show, shall we? It's just a small act among friends. Everything is for Teresa's peace of mind and happiness."
Jennifer orchestrated the entire plan. She lied to Teresa, saying she'd bumped into Benny at the hospital. Benny was going to Miriam's for dinner and had suggested Teresa join them. Benny had mentally prepared himself to face a room full of women at Miriam's, but Teresa didn't show up. He sat with his hands resting awkwardly on his knees, feeling completely out of place.
Jennifer stood up and said, "That's weird. Teresa said she would come. I'll give her a call." Miriam broke the silence. "Benny, have some drinks. By the way, I almost forgot, this is my sister, Sherry."
Sherry smiled and greeted Benny. Benny glanced at Sherry thoughtfully. "I've known Miriam for years. I thought she only had a younger brother. I didn't know about a sister." Sherry casually draped an arm over Miriam's shoulder and said, "I'm her cousin." Miriam nodded belatedly. "Right. She's my cousin. She doesn't visit Nareigh much."
"Where's your kid? I haven't seen him around," Benny said. Sherry replied calmly, "His father picked him up earlier. We had some family stuff to deal with in January, so Teresa and Miriam helped take care of him for a while. But now we're heading out of Nareigh."
Benny said, "Sherry, I think I've met your son before. He's really cute. He even called me 'Bunny.'" Sherry laughed, "He's got a great sense of humor." Benny said, "What's even funnier is that he looks just like a buddy of mine. For a second, I almost thought—"
"Hey, don't go saying stuff like that," Sherry waved him off. "I don't cheat on my husband. That's really our child. I'm not that kind of playful woman."
"I was just joking. I didn't mean anything by it," Benny said, pressing his lips together. He thought, 'Jonathan wouldn't go for someone like Sherry anyway. She's just not his type.' However, he still felt something about the whole thing was off.
With a sigh, Benny turned to Miriam and said, "Since Teresa isn't coming, I think I'll head out. No point sticking around."
"Aren't you staying for dinner? I already ordered the food," Miriam said.
"No, thanks. It's just weird being the only guy here. I'm heading out," Benny replied. As Benny left Miriam's house, he couldn't shake the nagging feeling that something wasn't quite right.
In Archulea, Jonathan ran into his former boss and employer, Peter. They ended up chatting for quite a while. Peter, whose full name was Peter Hills, had been living alone without children ever since his wife passed away years ago. Jonathan suddenly remembered that Peter and Evelyn were about the same age.
Jonathan had heard about Evelyn's disastrous marriage and divorce. Knowing Peter's solid character, Jonathan had an idea. "My wife's mother—" Jonathan paused briefly before correcting himself. "Well, technically, my ex-wife's mother was through two failed marriages." This was the first time Jonathan had ever mentioned…
Peter was sympathetic to Evelyn's experiences. He must have… "She's got a certain charm about her."
"She's about your age," Jonathan said, leaving the suggestion hanging in the air. Peter only chuckled lightly. He then changed the subject. "Weren't you buying a ring and proposing again?"
"Yeah," Jonathan replied. Jonathan and Teresa's previous rings were lost during their quarrel. Later that night, he searched for them desperately in the biting cold but didn't find them. Not long after, their marriage came to an end. "I hope you can help me choose a good one," Jonathan said.
Jonathan was brimming with hope and ready to choose a new ring to start fresh with Teresa. However, little did he know the path ahead was far from simple.