Her subordinate was shocked. “Who is it for, Ms. Larkin?”

Simona replied impatiently, “Do I need to tell you who it’s for? Keep this a secret from my parents, or I’ll hold you accountable.”

After hanging up the phone, Simona steepled her fingers, her expression growing even more devious. She didn’t believe Jonathan would shirk responsibility if he slept with her.

Today, while organizing Michael’s clothes at Rosary Estates, Teresa noticed the scarf she’d bought him was missing. He’d still been wearing it at the movies, but it had disappeared by the time they got home. Michael really liked that scarf and had been asking about it all day.

The movie theater was nearby, so Teresa drove there to ask the cleaning staff if they had found a scarf while cleaning Hall 1 after the 3:30 PM showing of “Paddington” on New Year’s Day.

“I remember you, Miss,” the staff replied. “You came to watch the movie with your husband and son, right?”

Teresa nodded without further explanation.

The staff smiled. “Your family’s so good-looking and left an impression on me. I didn’t find anything while cleaning that day.”

Teresa said, “I see. Thank you.”

Teresa left the movie theater, wondering if Jonathan had taken the scarf. After all, she’d been in a hurry carrying Michael into the elevator while Jonathan left later. She messaged him to ask if he had it.

A moment later, Jonathan replied, saying he’d taken the scarf because she’d rushed off. He added: [So why does Mike have the same scarf as me?]

Teresa felt a strange sensation seeing “Mike” in Jonathan’s message. She texted: [The mall had a BOGO deal.]

Jonathan: [Who did you buy it for? Who got the free one?]

Teresa was amused by how Jon always argued with her over trivial matters. Without saying more, she responded: [Since you have it, I’ll come get it for him. He really wants it.]

Teresa added: [Should I get it at Luvicton Estates?] There was no response.

Jonathan didn’t reply until the afternoon. He said: [Why don’t you come to the Lynn residence tonight? I’ll bring the scarf.]

Teresa: [I’ll pass. Your mom and grandpa are there.]

Jonathan: [Grandpa went to Donald’s place, so it’s just me and my mom.]

Teresa chuckled. It was precisely because Irene was there that it was a hassle. No matter what, Teresa didn’t want to see her again. Teresa: [Some other time. I’ll get the scarf when you’re free.]

Jonathan didn’t respond, and Teresa said nothing else. Although she’d blocked him, the chat history remained. Scrolling up, she saw he hadn’t accepted the money she’d sent for the movie tickets and had returned it.

Jonathan messaged Teresa again around 5:00 PM, telling her to go to the Lynn residence that night to get the scarf. Irene wouldn’t be there; only he would be.

Teresa was frustrated after spending the whole afternoon discussing a scarf with him. This was like when they were married. They’d have long conversations just to decide what to have for dinner. He had an answer for everything; but, if he was busy with work or on business trips, their plans would fall through. Now that he was the boss, no one could order him around. He was the one giving orders instead.

That was what crossed Teresa’s mind.

That evening, Miriam came to see her. She asked Miriam to watch Michael because she was going out.

“Where are you going? Visiting relatives?” Miriam asked.

“I’m just stepping out to get a scarf. I’ll be back soon,” Teresa replied.

Michael stopped Teresa. “Mommy, did you find my scarf? Is it at the movie theater?”

Feeling guilty, Teresa hummed in acknowledgment. “I’m going to get it for you now.”

Teresa drove off in her white Audi A6. She remembered Jennifer saying that a car was just a means of transportation; as long as it was decent, any car was fine. So, Teresa had changed her car today. Her car had been involved in a minor accident the other day. She’d taken the opportunity to repair it and sold it as a used vehicle to buy a new one.

When Teresa arrived at the Lynn residence, she noticed the front door was ajar—which was odd. She thought Jonathan had returned.

She shouted before pushing the door open and entering. There was no one inside. She glanced around the living room and didn’t see Jonathan or the scarf.

Teresa called Jonathan, but his line was busy. She thought, ‘What’s going on? Is he coming back or not? The door’s open and the lights are on, so someone must have been here but just left.’

Minutes passed, but Jonathan still hadn’t returned.

She was about to leave when she noticed a painting on the wall beside her. There was a boy holding a muffin in the middle, with purple violets on the left and a lime tree on the right.

As soon as Teresa saw the painting, she recognized it as Michael’s artwork. Violets were her favorite flower; the muffin represented Michael; and the lime tree was Jonathan.

She’d noticed Michael’s talent for painting and never overlooked it. She signed him up for classes, found teachers, and even had Cheryl—a Lumina School of Art graduate—coach him several times.

It was unclear when Michael painted this. Jonathan was with Michael for five days, so it must have been made while they were at the Lynn residence.

Teresa was surprised to find Michael’s painting hanging on the living room wall. No one besides her could understand its meaning. Teresa felt uncomfortable realizing Michael wanted Jonathan to be his father.

There was an already opened bottle of wine on the table beside her, along with an empty glass. She sat down, poured herself a glass on a whim, and drank alone. She rarely drank wine, and this one tasted odd, unlike any she’d had before. The taste numbed her temporarily.

She touched the painting with one hand and remembered how she loved to draw as a child, often sketching a family of four. Even after Hannah was gone, Teresa would still draw her and imagine the family together.

Before Teresa knew it, she had emptied more than half the bottle.

Teresa took out her phone and snapped a picture of the wine’s packaging. It was imported from Friyx and cost tens of thousands of dollars. She texted Jonathan: [Sorry, I drank your wine. I’ll replace it with a new one.]

Jonathan didn’t reply, and Teresa frowned. He didn’t answer her calls or messages. She wondered if he was coming back or not. She decided to leave; but, as she stood, she felt dizzy and weak. She felt drained, with an unexplainable heat building within her.