Teresa froze, sniffing her clothes in disbelief. She frowned and muttered, "That's impossible. He's not even here."

Michael wrinkled his nose, took another sniff, and planted his hands on his hips like a pint-sized detective. "But I can definitely smell Mr. Lime. I'm sure of it."

Teresa rubbed her aching temples and sighed, "I'm so tired after all that walking today. I need a shower to clear my head."

Teresa didn't wake until almost eleven the next morning. Pregnancy had been taxing her energy, and there was no way she could keep up with Michael's endless enthusiasm.

For lunch, Teresa decided to take Michael out instead of ordering from the hotel. She liked the dishes there. Michael couldn't handle any spice, so she ordered him something plain. Even so, he stuck out his tongue dramatically, fanning his mouth.

Teresa laughed and teased, "You're just like your dad—can't handle even the tiniest bit of spice. Don't worry, I'll take you to try something else later."

"Mom, who's my dad, really?" Michael puffed up his cheeks, looking both curious and a little upset. "I thought Mr. Lime was my dad, but you said he's not. Can't Mr. Lime really be my dad?"

Teresa's smile faltered, but she quickly changed the subject. "How about I treat you to something sweet later? Would you like some cakes?"

"Okay," Michael's eyes lit up at the mention of cakes. He loved sweet treats, though Teresa was careful not to let him have too much. These days, she was paying extra attention to his diet, making sure he stayed healthy.

They strolled around, enjoying snacks as they went. When they reached the area near the tower, red lanterns hung high under the eaves. As night fell, Silvar's glowing lights highlighted the ancient charm of the city.

The streets were already packed with people, and it wasn't even a holiday yet. Teresa could only imagine how much more crowded it would get in a few days.

Seeing so many young people dressed in costumes, Teresa got caught up in the festive spirit. She chose a dreamy light purple outfit for herself, which gave her an ethereal, fairy-like vibe, while Michael's blue-and-white ensemble made him look like a lively little prince.

Dressed like this, Teresa glanced at Michael's face. Suddenly, she caught a reflection in the glass. As the figure moved forward, the reflection seemed to merge with Michael's face. She quickly realized there was no one behind her.

Michael tugged on her sleeve. "Mom, what's wrong? Who are you looking at?"

"Oh, it's nothing." Teresa thought it was impossible for someone as busy as Jonathan to be wandering around here. He held Michael's hand and walked forward.

Teresa kept snapping pictures of Michael, one after another. Ever since she became a mom, her phone was practically overflowing with albums of him.

Jonathan also found himself in the street. Bored out of his mind in the hotel, a client had suggested visiting the tourist attractions. With nothing better to do, he decided to take a look.

But he was alone, with no one by his side to share the moment—a quiet reminder of the solitude in his life.

Jonathan suddenly stopped, his gaze drawn to a sign. His client paused as well, puzzled. "Mr. Lynn, why did you stop?"

"It's nothing. Let's keep going." Jonathan glanced up again, noticing the crowd ahead, many dressed in traditional costumes.

With a playful grin, his companion teased, "There are plenty of beauties here, Mr. Lynn. Why not take a look? Maybe you'll find love at first sight."

Jonathan shook his head lightly. "No need. I don't believe in that." He thought to himself, 'Because I've already experienced it once.'

Jonathan's gaze wandered until it landed on a figure in a flowing purple costume. The person was holding a child's hand, and for a moment, he froze, his heart skipping a beat.

He thought, 'No way. Teresa with a kid? That doesn't make sense. And that child… judging by the back, he looks about three years old. Definitely not her.'

Jonathan lowered his head, rubbing his aching temples. "Mr. Lynn, are you alright?" his companion asked with concern. Jonathan replied wearily, "I'm fine. Just haven't been sleeping well."

Teresa turned and led Michael to buy a milkshake. The place was packed, and they had to wait in line. When her number was finally called, she let go of Michael's hand for just a few seconds.

"Mr. Lynn, this way. It's less crowded over here."

Michael's head shot up at the sound of the name. He turned quickly and spotted a tall, familiar figure in the crowd. "Mr. Lime!" he shouted, his voice full of excitement, and dashed off, weaving through the crowd as fast as he could.