Chapter 53

Jonathan was out with Benny and a few of the guys, raising a glass to another year on his birthday. The laughter and clinking of glasses were a welcome soundtrack compared to the silence of his lonely home. His phone buzzed in his pocket, and when he saw Teresa’s name, a hint of a smile played at the corners of his mouth. He opened the message: [Boss, happy birthday. If you’re not too proud, come over for some homemade beef ravioli.]

Jonathan quirked an eyebrow, thinking to himself, ‘Boss? What the heck? That doesn’t sound like Teresa at all. But the prospect of homemade beef ravioli was too tempting to pass up.’

Benny, always quick on the uptake, leaned over. “Hey, Teresa’s got you ravioli on the menu! Count me in. I’m a beef ravioli kind of guy, too.”

Jonathan pocketed his phone, bluntly saying, “Teresa didn’t invite you.”

Benny chuckled, enjoying the rare sight of Jonathan cracking a smile. “No worries. I can take a hint. I’ll give Teresa a call and see… crash the party.” Benny said, already dialing.

Jonathan shook his head, but Benny was already on the line, trying to sweet-talk his way into some ravioli.

Benny got through, and in the background, Miriam’s voice could be heard. “Teresa, you’re really only inviting Jonathan to this ravioli feast? What about me? Can I come?” Benny asked.

There was a brief pause from Teresa’s end. Then she said, “When did I…” She suddenly realized something and hurried to her room to check her phone. There it was—the accidental message. Teresa replied helplessly, “I didn’t mean to invite him over for ravioli. It was a mistake.”

Hearing this, Jonathan, who was just about to head out, froze in his tracks.

Frowning, Benny said, “Today’s Jonathan’s birthday.”

“I know, but what does it matter? I’m long divorced from him. Why would I invite him over? I’m not losing my mind,” Teresa replied. Looking a bit embarrassed, Benny ended the call and turned to Jonathan. “Well, she said…”

“I heard it.” Jonathan cut Benny off, his face a mask of indifference.

Seeing that Jonathan was still leaving, Benny asked, “Where are you off to?”

Without a word, Jonathan walked away, his shoulders slumped in defeat.

After ending the call, Teresa stormed into Michael’s room and pulled him from under the covers. “Michael, why did you use my phone to send messages? I’m seriously upset.”

Michael sniffled, looking pitiful. “I just thought your boss was pretty sad.”

Teresa narrowed her eyes, asking, “You think he’s handsome? Wanting him to be your dad?”

“Kind of,” Michael admitted, rubbing the back of his head. He was always drawn to good looks, and Teresa wasn’t sure where he got it from, but even his TV shows had to have good-looking actors.

Then Teresa said firmly, “Me and my boss are never happening, so don’t get any ideas. And don’t use my phone to send messages again. I’m changing my password right now.”

Michael sulked and said, “You’re so stingy.”

The ravioli were all ready, a whopping twenty-eight of them—no way three adults and a kid could eat that many. Teresa barely touched her plate before declaring she was full, setting her fork down. “I’m gonna check on the online store. Enjoy your meal,” she said, pushing her chair back.

Miriam followed suit, her fork clinking against the plate as she put it aside. “Take a break today. We can handle it tomorrow,” she advised.

“Can’t afford to,” Teresa replied, her mind already on expanding to a physical store. “We’re on a roll. We sold five thousand jackets on the platform last night alone. Chur, brick-and-mortar store is just around the corner,” she added.

Teresa was plotting her next move, aiming to launch a physical clothing store, but she hadn’t nailed down a location. With the plan to bid farewell to Nareigh, she wasn’t in a hurry to make a choice.

Noticing Teresa’s evasiveness, Miriam sat beside her and said, “Benny called me this afternoon. He mentioned that Jonathan was celebrating his birthday with a few friends and wouldn’t be going home. He invited us to join, but I declined.”

“Oh,” Teresa said, her gaze dropping and her expression hidden from Miriam.

After a moment, Miriam said, “It’s only eight o’clock. You could still wish him a happy birthday. I bet he’d appreciate it.”

“No way,” Teresa replied with a tinge of bitterness in her voice. “We’re divorced, and he’s dating some high-society woman. She even came to his office today.”

Miriam’s curiosity was piqued as she asked Teresa, “How did you know such specifics?”

Teresa said a bit irritably, “I just found out, okay?”

Miriam sighed and continued, “But if he’s with that woman, why is he celebrating his birthday with Benny tonight? I don’t know much, but he invested in your online store. That shop is his…”

Teresa shot Miriam a sharp look, who stuck her tongue out. “He didn’t want me to tell you, but I think Jonathan’s been through a lot, especially since he’s been making sacrifices for you without any recognition,” Miriam said.

Teresa had been in the dark about the initial twenty-thousand-dollar investment for the online store coming from Jonathan. Now, Miriam had spilled the beans.

Realizing how Miriam could have come up with so much money, Teresa playfully pinched her arm. “You, my best friend, have been keeping secrets. How many times have you sold me out?”

“I’m always on your side!” Miriam said. “Both Jonathan and I know how proud you are. If we said it was his money from the start, would you accept it? No way. The store wouldn’t have opened, and we wouldn’t be running this operation now.”

Teresa pursed her lips, acknowledging Miriam’s sympathy for Jonathan, who, compared to friends who bragged about investing a mere three thousand dollars, was indeed at a disadvantage by not seeking any credit.

“At first, I thought you two divorced because he had another woman, but Benny says he hasn’t had any scandals in the past two years. Maybe the onlookers see more clearly than the players. We all think he still has feelings for you,” Miriam said.

“Teresa, you’re still into him, right?” Miriam probed, her eyes holding a hint of insight.

Teresa listened quietly the whole time, saying nothing.

Finally, when Miriam took her hand, Teresa got up and said, “I’ll check if Sherry’s done eating and wash the dishes.”

Miriam knew Teresa was avoiding the conversation. Indeed, Sherry had finished eating, and there were twenty ravioli left. As Sherry was about to store them, Teresa told her to keep the leftovers.

Teresa packed the ravioli into a lunch box and hurriedly left without telling Sherry where she was going.

Sherry was puzzled, and Miriam emerged from the room with a smile, saying, “She’s probably gone to see her boss.”

“Boss?” Sherry was even more confused, wondering why both Michael and Miriam mentioned a boss. “Which boss? It’s not Mr. Kotler, our balding department head, is it?”

“No. Just…”