Chapter 21

21
Philip s voice echoed with bitterness as Teresa left hum behind All I ve done and this is how you repay me he yelled his resentment palpable
With each step Teresa took she realized more and more that self reliance was the key
Philip, with his million – dollar car, had shown his true colors when he denied her a loan of just 30 thousand dollars. It was clear he sa her as a pawn for his own schemes rather than a daughter
Back in her own space . Teresa found solace in the bustling activity of her online store. There, she could take pride in her achievements The store was making money, a small victory in the midst of her personal turmoil
“Mirsa Fashion,” the brainchild she and Miriam had nurtured together, was now bearing fruit.
A customer glanced through the clothes and commented. [No children’s wear here, right? Your styles are quite unique.]
Teresa blinked in surprise at the idea of children’s fashion. It was an unexpected direction.
“Mommy… Michael dressed in his adorable sheep–patterned white cotton pajamas, toddled over to Teresa.
Sering Michael, Teresa was struck with an idea and eagerly discussed it with Miriam
“ Miriam ” she said, her voice filled with enthusiasm, “how about we start an online store for children’s clothing, with Michael as our model Kids fashion is trending right now.”
Miriam raised an eyebrow skeptically. “Are you sure you can handle that on top of everything else?”
With a flick of her hand Teresa brushed off the doubt Piece of cake she said with a grin Making money is never a chore
Miriam felt a twinge of worry for Teresa who had faced many challenges as a new mother If you believe it s a good move then let s do it Miriam encouraged I ll do whatever I can to assist
Teresa made a significant move by registering her own children’s clothing store . “Muffinkidz” independent of Miriam’s women’s wear shop.
The name “Muffinkidz” had a personal touch– Michael , Teresa’s son, was affectionately dubbed “Muffin” for his tender and weet character, a nickname known only to Teresa, Miriam, and their shared love for sweet treats.
Jonathan, who closely followed Teresa’s business endeavors, spotted the new store. It conjured a whimsical chat where Teresa had jokes , “Hon, if we have kids, can we name our son Muffin and our daughter Cupcake! It’d be cute, right”
He had humored her saying Sure whatever you want
She had teased lum for not being earnest. You’re just humoring me
He’d dismissed it with a chuckle. ‘Gotta earn the bucks, or are our kids going to live on fresh an ?”
Alone with his glass of wine, Jonathan experienced a twinge of solitude : Glancing through Teresa’s new clothing store site, their past talks echoed in lus ound :
He scrutinized the pages, intrigued. Where did she had these little models?‘ he mused, spotting the children in dresses and casual wear. their backs selly visible
He finished his drink, overwhelmed by a rush of nostalgia. Hirir two–year marriage had vanished, leaving him with only mematies.
Teresa was deeply engrossed in her online store, Halloween catching her off guard. Her social media feed brinuned with pumpkins and candlelight, evoking memories of the holidays she’d celebrated with her grandparents .
Feeling a twinge of sorrow Teresa updated her Facebook status Halloween again musing my grandparents dearly Love you both
forever
Halloween was drawing near, and soon the weeks would be a reminder of the time sure her grandparents had left her.
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9:51 PM c c ·
21
Clock–out time hit, and Teresa was on her way to collect Michael from daycare. Amidst the chaos of kids, she spotted him right away. diligently coloring with his markers.
The teacher joined her offering compliments Michael s a real angel Ms Jol in st on Always peaceful and lost in his drawings
With a heart full of love Teresa summoned her son with a gentle Michael
Mommy he squealed racing over with those stubby little legs
He proudly displayed his masterpiece to her, his tiny hands covered in marker ink. “Look how good it is, Mommy,” he said, his face lighting up with pride.