Gabriel: "So when you woke up, you didn't see anyone next to you?"
Sylvia replied three seconds later: "Who?"
Gabriel smiled, his lips pursed. "Trying to play dumb, are you?"
After a long pause, she reluctantly typed a few words: "Fine. I'll pay up."
A cool smirk played on Gabriel's lips as he turned to look for a cigarette. Before he could find one, another message arrived. He glanced back at his phone, and time seemed to freeze.
Sylvia had sent him a money transfer for ten thousand dollars.
Gabriel picked up the phone, his face cold. When he saw the note attached to the transfer, his expression darkened completely.
Cat teaser.
*
Whoa!
That was one expensive cat teaser!
Sylvia put down her phone and continued driving.
More than ten minutes passed before a new message came through. She'd expected an outburst from Gabriel, but instead, it was a surprisingly calm line of text: "Remember to eat breakfast."
Of course, there was no way of knowing what kind of mood he was in when he typed it.
Sylvia smiled, her eyes scanning the streets for a place to get breakfast.
A little while later, as she sat alone by a window sipping some nourishing soup, Sylvia looked at the sunlight streaming in and thought this was for the best.
Not too far, but not too close. He could come and go as he pleased without her asking questions, and neither of them needed to account for their whereabouts.
If one day she grew tired of it all, she could simply disappear from his life without a sound.
Of course, last night was an accident. She had to avoid things like that in the future. Physical dependency could also become an addiction that's impossible to kick.
......
After they left, it was time for Old Mr. Jarvis and Gabriel to head back as well.
The Jarvis family was hosting another dinner for guests that evening, so they needed to get back early to prepare.
Estelle said, "Gabriel, you must be tired too. Let someone else handle the hosting duties."
Gabriel, dressed in a black shirt, looked tall and rugged in the sunlight. "Don't worry," he said calmly. "Bruce, Sean, and the others are there to help."
He patted Estelle's shoulder. "We'll be waiting for you at home tomorrow!"
Estelle smiled and nodded. "Okay."
She turned to give Old Mr. Jarvis a light hug. Jonathan opened the car door and helped the old man inside.
Old Mr. Jarvis didn't say much as they left, his face beaming with a kind smile. He just told Estelle what delicious dishes Mr. Justin would be preparing for her tomorrow.
It was as if he was just heading home first, and she would follow after playing outside for a bit longer.
Only after the car had driven far away did Jonathan take Estelle's hand and lead her back inside.

Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan)
Thank you for the updates....
I love it, I love it! Thank you for the updates....
Dear author Lucy, may we please have updates. Thank you....
There's a song currently playing via YouTube and TikToc by LowDii "Touch Me Softly" that makes me think of Norah and Xavier (Gonzalez). Please, I'm looking forward to updates. Thank you for your writing....
May we please have updates. Thank you....
As the plot thicken. Adrian is done for and he can't try to control Norah, so he'd probably tattle to Janice who's gone for two weeks. Thank you soooo much for the updates....
These updates were too funny. Thank you so much for the updates....
I forgot to add Amy to the group of pregnant women,since she was the first. Emily and Sylvia better be careful since pregnancy is in the air....
Wow! This is great, both Estelle and Magdalen are pregnant at the same time and I hope that Xavier is Norah neighbor. Thank you for the updates....
Author Lucy you're a blessing. Thank you so my for the updates. I hope that Norah's neighbor is Xavier she gets her memory back....