A week has passed after their rendezvous at the town. Vera was anxious about her decision to bring the homeless child back at Clarissa's house. She had anticipated that Clarissa would not allow it, but against her expectations, she rolled with it. All of them had been living peacefully with each other. However, Vera was still bothered by something.

'He's much, much happier now,' thought Vera as she watched Theo teach Zoe, with the child listening at him with awe in her eyes. Her eyes darted towards Clarissa, who was cheerily humming as she cooked. 'Even Clarissa is looking happier now. I think she noticed that her son is happy with the situation. However...'

"Vera! Come play with us!"

'I still need to do something...'

"Vera!"

'I wonder what that is...'

Zoe shook her body. "Vera!"

"Huh?"

"We've been calling you a lot of times already! Didn't you hear us?"

"Is that so? I must've not heard it." Vera inhaled deeply. "I'm just... What's the matter?"

"I just wanted to ask you if you'd like to play with us! But if you're not feeling well..."

"I'm fine Zoe," assured Vera. "But maybe we can play next time? I'm feeling a bit under the weather right now."

"Is that so?" Zoe pouted. "But I want to play with you!"

"Don't be sad," Vera reached for both of Zoe's cheeks and pinched them lightly. "You still have Theo there, right?"

"Okay!" Zoe moved away from her grasp and grinned. "Get well soon! We have to play next time, huh?"

"Yep. Totally."

Zoe ran towards Theo, who had a fond look on his face. Vera just smiled at them and tried to forget her troubles.

"I've changed my mind, I want to play, too!"

"Yay!"

---

Vera left the two to their own devices. On the other hand, Clarissa bid her farewell earlier as she had some plans with Leonor.

'Ah, things really are going smoothly. Too smoothly, in fact, that it makes me slightly paranoid. Well, let's just wait for the shoe to drop, and stop worrying.'

Vera jolted in surprise as a loud crash was heard just outside of their home.

'What was that?' Vera turned towards Zoe and Theo, who were unaware of the commotion. 'I guess it won't hurt to try and check it, right? It could be just a stray cat or anything...'

Just to be safe, Vera brought a long umbrella with her. The slowly and quietly approached the vicinity of a commotion. She opened the doors, and went outside, poised to strike at any hint of intruders. She scanned the area for damages, and sighed in relief when she saw nothing.

'Just as I have thought, there's nothing... I just got too worked up, perhaps due to boredom...' She brought the umbrella down and readied herself to go back inside the house. However, her ears picked up a soft groan, which made her danger senses flare once more. She listened to the soft groan, and traced its location near the garbage can outside.

"W-who's there!" shouted Vera! "Don't m-move! I am armed!"

"W-w-wait!" Her eyes trailed the source of the sound. It belonged to a man, whose arms are both raised. "I mean no harm, calm down!"

"Don't come close!" Vera tried to remember where he saw the man. 'He looks eerily familiar. Have I met him before?' He saw the man slowly back out of the scene, still facing her. She raised the umbrella. "I said don't move! What are you doing here!? Do you want to steal, huh?! We've got nothing here!"

"Y-you got it wrong, young lass!" The man found himself chuckling despite the situation. Vera tightened her grip on the umbrella and poised herself to strike. Seeing this, the man crossed his arms before him in fear. "I said calm down! I mean no harm! I'm not here to steal! I'm just here to see my son..."

Vera lost her grip on the umbrella. "S-s-son?" 'So that's why he looks familiar!'

"Yes... I'm here to see Theodore..." The man immediately backtracked. "N-no! I won't disturb him! I would just like to see him, that's all! I swear!"

'What the hell is going on here?' Sweat gathered on her face due to the man's revelation. He grabbed the man's wrist, and looked at the door to see if the people inside heard the commotion. Seeing that there were no signs of reaction from them, she sighed in relief.

'At least they've got no clue on what's happening.' She then sent a steely glare at the man. "Follow me. Let's talk, but not here."

Seeing the serious gaze of the lass, the man had no choice but to follow.

'What have I gotten myself into?'

---

They found themselves in a café 10 minutes away from Clarissa's house. He forcibly pushed the man down the stool and nailed him down with a piercing glare.

"Talk."

"There's nothing left to talk about! I just came to see him, okay!? Nothing more, nothing less! So let me go already!"

Vera gave him an unamused stare. "Really? I can see through your lies."

The man gulped, and sighed. "Fine, fine. I'll tell you, but first, can we get something to drink first? I'm quite thirsty from all the dragging."

Vera rolled her eyes and went to the counter to order.

---

"As you are staying with Clarissa, I'll assume you know who am I." Vera looked at him in confusion. The man quirked his brows at her. "Honestly? You don't know me?"

"Duh, I wouldn't even have an inkling of who you were if you haven't spilled that you were watching Theo. For all I've known, you could've been a thief." Vera paused for a moment. "Or a stalker. Your attire fits it better."

The man sighed in exasperation. "A sassy brat, Clarissa? Just why?" He facepalmed.

"Are you saying anything?" Vera smiled at him sweetly. "Perhaps insulting me?"

The man was intimidated and immediately backtracked. "No, no!" placated the man. "It was nothing!"

"..."

"Fine. I'll be serious from now on." The man took a sip from his cup. Vera heard him mumble, "Jasmine tea? No that wouldn't do." He softly blew on the cup, which made her quirk her eyebrows.

'Now, what is this weirdo doing, huh?'

The man sipped once more. "Ah, much better." He sighed in bliss. Afterwards, he noticed Vera's weird stare. He chuckled in embarrassment. "Sorry for that... Now, where was I again?" He scratched his scalp. "Ah! Let me introduce myself first, seeing that neither Clarissa nor Theo bothered introducing me to you."

He gazed at Vera's eyes, which revealed strength and regrets. "I am Theo's father, and Clarissa's former husband, Rafael Marchyll."

"Oh?"

"'Oh'? I've expected more from you!" He took a sip from his tea once more. "Well, don't mind it. Let me get started."

---

"You've left them because of... what!?"

Rafael leaned and put a hand over her mouth. "Shh, don't be loud!" He sighed. "But it's true. I've left them because I had an affair that did not even last that long. Shameful, right?" He laughed pitifully.

'An affair... how... awful...' Vera shied away from these thoughts and went back on the conversation. "And you lied at them for what?"

"Huh?"

Vera really wanted to smack the man right on his imbecilic, dumbfounded face, yet she held herself back. "What is your reason for lying at them?"

"I just wanted to spare them from the shame..."

"And you've brought them much more pain in the process. Do you even know what your cowardice brought them, huh?"

"I..." Rafael was speechless. "I..."

"You wanted what? To make them hate you so they can move on easily, huh? Guess what, you failed!"

"But I was panicking... I didn't know what---"

"That's it! I've had enough!" Vera slammed the table hard. Rafael just stared at her with his mouth hanging open. "I've had enough of all of your lies! Just answer this last question truthfully."

Rafael looked down in shame. "What is it?"

"Do you regret those things you did to them?"

"What are you saying?!" Rafael stood up in righteous anger. "Of course I do! I've spent countless nights thinking of what if's, but---"

"Then why don't you apologize to them?"

Rafael was rendered speechless. "But... I've already did so much damage... what else could I do?"

"You know that your son is dying, right!? He's got less than two months left in this world, and you're still being a coward!?"

Rafael's face was drained of color. "T-t-two months? B-b-but the doctors..."

Vera calmly stood up. "If you want to at least have the chance to talk with Theo before he leaves this world," Vera turned her back and paused for a moment. "Come back here, in a week. I'll try talking to him."

She left the man, who was motionless as he tried to gather his thoughts. Vera, on the other hand, was frantic. Her heart hammered through her chest, yet she felt that this was the right step to make.

'This was it... For despite his apparent happiness... He needs closure from his father...'