Donald admitted with a heavy heart, “Jennifer switched the samples when I wasn’t looking.”
Jonathan narrowed his eyes and asked, “Jennifer?”
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Donald sighed and said, “Well, I’m still not sure if Teresa pressured Jennifer into this. But Jennifer did swap last year’s DNA test results, leading to your misunderstanding all this time. I sincerely apologize on her behalf.”
Jonathan’s lips curled into a mock smirk. He thought, ‘A simple apology, and they expected me to just forgive and forget? I let those minor offenses slide before.
‘I helped Teresa’s family get promoted, pulling strings behind the scenes for Jennifer’s promotion. And this is how they repay me?‘
Jonathan fixed Donald with a probing stare and asked, “You’ve had no idea all this time?”
Donald nodded. Seeing the suspicion in Jonathan’s eyes, he knew that Jonathan wouldn’t trust anyone now. He explained, “I truly had no idea about any of this until Mike was hospitalized that day.
“When I saw his name, I grew suspicious. Behind Jennifer’s back, I secretly ran a DNA test. The moment the results confirmed Mike was your son, I came straight to tell you.”
Jonathan paused for a moment. He thought, ‘I’ve done more than one DNA test with Mike before. What happened to those
results?‘
He averted his gaze. Deep within his eyes, an impenetrable wall had risen–one that seemed to allow no one but him inside. He said, “Call Cheryl. Tell her to come back immediately.”
Donald asked in surprise, “Why do you want me to call Cheryl? Does she know about the truth, too?”
“I’ll settle every single score,” Jonathan said coldly, his glacial gaze unwavering as he strode out. Then he made another
call.
The moment the call connected, Jonathan declared, “Mike is my son.”
Silence lingered on the other end, broken only by Christian’s sharp intake of breath.
Jonathan repeated, “Mike is my son. Not yours.”
Christian knew full well that Jonathan had uncovered the truth. He took another deep breath and said, “Yes, Mr. Lynn.”
Jonathan said, “Start thinking of an excuse, Christian. Everyone who hid this from me–none of them will get away with
it.”
Christian’s heart sank. He thought, ‘I’m done for. Everyone who concealed Michael’s identity–we’re all finished.‘
Jonathan ended the call with icy finality. From that moment on, it was as if he had become a completely different person.
He thought, ‘All the people I trusted in this world–my family, my lover–they’ve been playing me for a fool. A glacial chill deepened in his gaze.
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Barred from entering the airport for causing a public disturbance, Gary simply plopped down on the ground, letting the night breeze wash over him.
He suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of relief. He no longer had to worry about Michael turning out like he once did.
Gary believed that even if Jonathan were to hold everyone accountable, Michael would be the only one Jonathan would
ever spare.
He thought, ‘Mike is innocent. He longs for his father. He has the right to know who his father is–and Jonathan has the right to know his son, too.‘
After settling Liora’s funeral and arriving in Nareigh, today was the first time Gary truly felt at peace–until a towering figure cast its shadow over him.
“Give me the car keys,” Jonathan said flatly.
Gary fished the car keys from his pocket and handed them to Jonathan. He asked, “Jonathan, why don’t you look happy?”
Jonathan’s gaze turned glacial as he countered Gary, “You’ve known about this all along. Why wait until today to tell me? Did Teresa tell you to keep quiet?”
Gary replied, “No, it’s not like that. This has nothing to do with Teresa. I decided on my own to get the DNA test. I knew you’d only believe me if I showed you proof–without it, you wouldn’t have trusted me.”
Jonathan remained silent. He could tell Gary was still hiding something, and he wondered who Gary was trying to protect.
He averted his gaze and said, “Unlike those who kept this from me, at least you chose to tell me. I’ll let you off–for now.” With that, he drove off without another word, his face an unreadable mask.
Gary frowned. He realized Jonathan was consumed by both anger and betrayal. He pulled out his phone, about to contact Teresa, then thought better of it. He believed that Jonathan wouldn’t hurt Teresa
anyway.
At Rosary Estates, Teresa kept checking the time–6:30 already, but Jennifer still hadn’t returned. She thought, ‘I have to leave with Mike now; the plane won’t wait. If we reschedule, we might miss the chance altogether.‘
Rosary Estates held countless memories for Teresa. Since Michael was born, she had lived here alone with Michael. In her bedroom, the letter she had left for Jonathan still lay on the table.
She took one last look around. The bracelet Jonathan had given her–her most cherished keepsake–rested quietly atop the letter she had left for him.
She thought, ‘It’s time to go. There’s nothing left to hold me back.‘
That rainy afternoon, seeing Michael still asleep, Teresa found herself inexplicably driving to Horizonlead Group. She didn’t know why she just needed one last distant glimpse of Jonathan.
She thought, ‘Goodbye, Jonathan. This time, maybe it is goodbye for good.‘
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Teresa called out, “Michael, it’s time for us to go.”
Michael replied, “But Jennifer isn’t back yet. She still has your car.”
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Teresa said, “Jennifer went to see Donald. She must have gotten caught up talking with him and can’t make it back right now. I tried calling her, but she isn’t picking up my calls either, so we’ll just have to go ahead without her.”
Michael nodded, holding Teresa’s hand. He asked, “Mommy, should we call a cab?”
Teresa replied, “Let’s just grab a cab once we’re downstairs.”
Michael nodded again, still wearing the T–shirt printed with Jonathan’s autograph.
When Teresa was hiding with Michael in Everport, she snuck him a T–shirt autographed by Jonathan. Michael cherished the T–shirt and even brought it back to Nareigh.-
Earlier that day, he dug it out and insisted on wearing it, so Teresa indulged him.
Teresa thought, ‘It doesn’t matter whether he wears it or not–Jonathan will never know anyway.‘
Teresa shut off all the power in the house, changed into her shoes at the entryway, and prepared to leave. She wheeled
the suitcase to the door and was just about to close it.
Just then, the elevator across the hall chimed as its doors slid open.
Teresa casually glanced over and froze at the sight of Jonathan in the elevator. She stood rooted to the spot, utterly
stunned.
Jonathan emerged from the elevator, slow and deliberate. With a slight lift of his thin eyelids, he fixed Teresa with a piercing stare. His deep–set eyes radiated a stormy, oppressive intensity, like thunderclouds pressing down.
Teresa felt that at that moment, Jonathan seemed like a completely different person. His expression was cold and
accusing, his gaze demanding answers from her.
Teresa felt a chill running through her entire body. She realized something. Instinctively, she clutched Michael’s hand tightly and began to retreat backward with a hint of fear.
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