121.Chapter 121
121.Chapter 121
She looked up to see Donald, the young resident, offering it shyly as he asked, “Dr. Nelson, you haven’t eaten yet, right? Would you like to join me in the cafeteria?”
Jennifer was about to decline but something made her change her mind, and she agreed to join him.
Sitting across from each other, Donald placed some ribs from his plate onto Jennifer’s. “Here, eat more. You’re so thin; it’s like food never sticks to you,” he teased.
Jennifer looked up and said, “I have a question for you.”
“Go ahead,” Donald said, holding his breath as he thought, ‘Is she going to ask if I’m
interested in someone?‘
“Your last name is Lynn–are you related to Jonathan Lynn, the CEO of Horizonlead Group?” she inquired.
“Huh?” Donald blinked in confusion, caught off guard by Jennifer’s sudden interest in his family.
Jennifer clarified, “It’s just that a friend of mine has a colleague named Teresa, who mentioned her husband is Jonathan Lynn. Your last name clicked because there aren’t many Lynns in Nareigh. I figured you might be related.”
Donald chuckled, admitting, “Jonathan is indeed my cousin, and Teresa is technically my ex–cousin–in–law since they haven’t remarried yet.”
Jennifer blinked, taken aback. It was baffling how small the world was. The persistent admirer who’d transferred departments just to be near her turned out to be Teresa’s ex-
husband’s cousin.
Curious, Jennifer asked, “Why’d they split? Doesn’t the guy care about his own kid?”
Donald blinked, visibly puzzled. “I don’t know why they got divorced, but I’ve never heard of a kid. Where’d that come from?”
Jennifer froze for a second. “No kid?”
Donald spoke frankly. “None. Who told you that?”
Jennifer quickly responded, “Oh, must’ve been a mistake or something I
misremembered. You know how gossip gets passed around.”
Donald studied her as he dabbed at his lips with a napkin. “I thought you weren’t into gossip. Isn’t work supposed to be your one and only passion?”
There was no mistaking the admiration he held for her enigmatic, distant charm.
Jennifer replied, “You give me too much credit. I’m just an ordinary person.”
As she lowered her gaze, sipping her corn soup, her thoughts churned. ‘Teresa definitely has a child. Could it be that Donald truly has no idea? Did Teresa deliberately
121.Chapter 121
keep the existence of Michael a secret from her ex–husband’s family, even from Jonathan?‘
‘Michael must be Horizonlead Group CEO’s son. I even went out of my way to buy their magazines just to learn about Teresa’s life. He’s the spitting image of Jonathan. I’m almost certain they’re father and son,‘ Jennifer pondered.
“What’s on your mind? I’ve never seen you so distracted,” Donald asked.
Donald’s words brought her back to her senses. She smiled lightly and said, “Just realizing it’s almost New Year’s Day, and, as usual, I’ll be spending it alone.”
“What about your family?” Donald inquired.
“I don’t have one,” Jennifer replied, shrugging. “They don’t really care about me.”
“Then,” he began, gathering his courage and reaching across the table to take her hand. “Let me take you home. Spend New Year’s Day with my family.”
Jennifer froze before pulling her hand away as she refused, “Thanks, but I’m not into younger guys. Besides, I’m not interested in dating right now.”
Jennifer’s heart was firmly locked on her career, not romance. She had clawed her way up, starting with nothing and overcoming life–threatening trials. There were still scores to settle, and she wasn’t about to lose focus now.
She aimed for greater respect and higher accolades. Right now, the only thing that truly captivated her was the prospect of professional advancement.
Still, Teresa’s story gnawed at her mind. ‘A single mom raising her child without the father’s involvement, and the father, a wealthy businessman, doesn’t even know. Why? Is she avoiding a custody battle? Afraid he’ll leave her with nothing?‘
Jennifer’s heart ached for Teresa. She‘ understood too well how children without love became adults who guarded their treasures fiercely. For Teresa, Michael was everything.
Jennifer ended her shift with these lingering thoughts and made her usual stop at the bakery.
She had always adored sweets, a small indulgence she clung to since her childhood. Yet, after so many years of hardship, even the sweetest flavors left a bitter aftertaste.
Suddenly, a hand clasped her wrist firmly, making her turn.
Evelyn’s eyes brimmed with disbelief, her voice shaky as she tightened her grip. ” Hannah… Hannah, is that really you?” she murmured.
Snapping out of her daze, Jennifer impatiently jerked her wrist away from Evelyn’s grip. “Who’re you? I don’t know you. Seems like you’ve got the wrong person,” she snapped.
Evelyn looked at her with a mixture of emotions. “Sorry, you look so much like my daughter. If she had lived, she’d have looked just like you,” Evelyn explained.
Jennifer sneered, pointing behind her. “Your daughter’s crying in the car for you. You
121.Chapter 121
should probably check on her.”
Evelyn continued gazing at Jennifer and muttered, “I guess I must’ve been mistaken. I‘ m really sorry.”
Jennifer turned and walked away, her expression unreadable. As she walked, she
could hear Evelyn’s soft voice behind her, comforting the child, “Isabel, it’s okay,
sweetheart. Don’t cry.”
Upon returning to Nareigh, Jennifer immediately dug into Evelyn’s life. She learned that Evelyn had remarried and now had a daughter. Jennifer had witnessed it firsthand- the way Evelyn doted on this little girl.
‘She never cared to check on me all these years, so why reach out now with such warmth?‘ Jennifer’s thoughts twisted with bitterness. ‘Such pathetic maternal love, so laughable and deplorable.’
The only family Jennifer had left was Teresa, someone who, like her, had been abandoned by their parents. But Jennifer had never realized how much struggle Teresa had faced on her own.
‘Why does life deal us such a cruel hand? Why are we condemned to this misfortune?‘ Jennifer thought sorrowfully. ‘At least, Teresa didn’t suffer as much as I did when I was
a child.‘
That night, Jennifer returned home, pouring herself drink after drink.
Nareigh, unchanged yet so different, mirrored the brokenness of her family. Her father‘ s coldness, her mother’s selfish pursuit of happiness–both led to Jennifer being abandoned, left with a sister who felt more like a burden.
‘Isn’t focusing on career better?‘ Jennifer thought bitterly. ‘Had Teresa’s circumstances been different, she would have gone to a better, more reputable hospital. Nareigh was always just a temporary stop in her journey through this city and its inhabitants.‘
Jennifer’s phone lit up. Reading the caller ID, she wiped her tears and picked up the call.
“Jennifer, I’ve got everything set up for you at the Shaville hospital. You can transfer anytime,” informed the person from the other end.
She took another sip from her drink and replied, “I’m fine here at Nareigh Maternal and Child Health Hospital for now. I’ll stay a bit longer.”
“Why? Don’t you hate Nareigh?” the person asked.
“I do, but I ran into my sister here. She’s in a tough spot, and I need to help her out first. Once I can, I’ll leave Nareigh with her,” Jennifer explained.
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