Jonathan lowered his head. “Reward me, considering how well I’ve behaved.”

Teresa pushed him away, still uneasy. “Promise me you won’t get me pregnant. We’ve been divorced for years. If I do, it will be on your conscience. You’ll go bankrupt immediately.”

Jonathan furrowed his brows. “Who’s lacking a conscience? You were drugged yesterday, yet I’m the one who has to consider your feelings? You don’t know how stifled I felt.”

Teresa remained silent. She knew Jonathan was, in some ways, a principled man. He wouldn't plan for children if divorce was inevitable, and he'd prioritize financial stability before having kids. If not for the incident before their divorce, she wouldn't have gotten pregnant with Michael. She’d tricked Jonathan, pretending to take birth control pills—even buying them for him to see—so he believed she couldn't get pregnant. Otherwise, he might have suspected Michael was his son. The secret weighed heavily on her, especially since Jonathan often saw Michael. She couldn’t imagine his reaction if he knew the truth.

“Just make sure I don’t get pregnant, alright? If I do, I’ll have an abortion!” Teresa insisted.

“You’re so heartless,” Jonathan replied, puzzled by her worry. He assured her he wasn’t drunk last night and knew what he was doing; he wouldn’t get her pregnant.

After some rustling, Teresa got dressed. It was past two o'clock. Jonathan made pasta for them to share.

Teresa devoured the food. She was ravenous, and Jonathan’s cooking was exceptional; even simple pasta with bacon tasted amazing.

Jonathan handed her a napkin. “What’s the hurry? No one’s here to steal your food.”

Teresa looked up. “Honestly, if you ever quit being a CEO, you could become a chef. Your restaurant would flourish.”

Jonathan chuckled. “And what does that make you? A female cook?”

Teresa scoffed. “I’m terrible at cooking. How could I be a female cook?”

“Isn’t the cook’s wife the female cook?” Jonathan teased.

Teresa choked. “Who’s your wife? We’ve been divorced for almost three years.”

Jonathan, tired of the banter, simply said, “Eat up.”

One plate wasn't enough for Teresa, so she had seconds. It had been so long since she'd tasted such delicious pasta.

“Did Simona really tamper with the drink yesterday?” Teresa asked.

Jonathan replied, “I’ve sent the remaining wine for testing. We’ll know soon if an aphrodisiac was added.”

Teresa pursed her lips. “I wonder what would have happened if you’d drunk it.”

Jonathan suddenly laughed. “Things would be the same, except you wouldn’t be sitting here. You’d be stuck in bed for a few days.”

Teresa was speechless.

By the time she got home, it was evening. Miriam was astonished, checking the time. “My dear, I’ve waited for you all day! You’re finally back. Are you giving up on your son and your home? Is your ex-husband that irresistible?”

Noticing Michael in the room, Teresa quietly explained yesterday’s events.

“So, Simona tried to set Jonathan up by drugging the wine and bringing it to his house, but he didn’t even go home and instead met her outside?” Miriam asked.

“Yeah, that’s what happened,” Teresa confirmed.

Miriam gasped. “Luckily, you drank it! What if Jonathan or his mother had? If it was his mother, she would have to get intimate with an older man.”

Teresa said sarcastically, “You’re truly my best friend.”

Miriam didn't want to chat. It wasn't even January yet, and she had family matters to attend to. She had to leave.

Teresa was grateful to Miriam for watching Michael, silently acknowledging the favor.

“Mommy,” Michael ran out and hugged Teresa tightly. “Why did you come back so late? I thought you didn’t want me anymore.”