257.Chapter 257
After Jennifer left, Miriam reached out to Jonathan, trying to calm him down.
Miriam figured Teresa left because she couldn’t bear living under the same roof as Jennifer anymore. Leaving seemed like her only option.
Miriam had always thought Jennifer was too controlling. Even Michael would act. nervous and hesitant around her, like he didn’t dare speak his mind.
When Michael stayed at Miriam’s house, he once mentioned Jennifer. He waved his hand and said, “Jennifer is so serious. She never smiles.”
Then, leaning closer, he whispered, “Miriam, I’ll tell you a secret. I don’t like Jennifer. But don’t tell Mom, okay? She’ll be upset. Mom says Jennifer is family.”
This time, Teresa seemed determined to cut ties with Jennifer for good. Miriam could understand why Teresa made this choice, but it didn’t stop her heart from aching for her best friend. Teresa hadn’t even told her where she was going.
After Teresa reconnected with Jennifer, her calls to Miriam became less frequent. Miriam, busy with her own family matters, also reached out less often. But she had always assumed that having a sister would make Teresa’s life happier.
In reality, that wasn’t the case. If reconnecting with Jennifer had truly brought her joy, she wouldn’t have felt the need to stay so far away from her.
‘Teresa, come back, Miriam thought, her heart heavy with worry.
She wanted to sit down with Teresa and have a heartfelt conversation. If Teresa really couldn’t handle Jennifer, Miriam was more than willing to let her stay with her forever. Whatever it took to make Teresa happy, Miriam would support her.
In the reception room of Horizonlead Group, Simona thought Jonathan had finally agreed to meet her. But Jonathan pulled out a photo and handed it to her. “Isn’t this the photo you used to blackmail my mom? Go ahead. Let’s see if it affects me.”
Simona pressed her lips together and stared down at the photo Jonathan handed over. She retorted, “Are you really not afraid? You know, public opinion can ruin someone. And you’re a CEO.”
Your f
Jonathan’s gaze turned icy. “Your father having.an illegitimate child is far juicier gossip than anything about me.”
Simona froze, her voice rising sharply. “What are you trying to say?”
“Your dad has an illegitimate child, and everyone in the business world knows it. Yet you, his own daughter, are clueless? Honestly, you’re so incompetent. Naturally, your dad would want a backup plan.”
Simona’s face turned red with anger. “Jonathan, I’m my father’s only daughter! If you
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keep spouting nonsense, I’ll sue you for defamation!”
“Go ahead,” Jonathan said coolly. “Make it public that your dad has an illegitimate child. Saves me the trouble of saying it.”
“You-” Simona took a deep breath, grabbed the photo from the table, tore it in half, and stormed out in a fury.
Donald called Jonathan, mentioning that Jennifer had said Teresa might have a house in Lonisburg, though she didn’t know the exact location. It was something Teresa had only casually mentioned.
“Thanks, Donald,” Jonathan said, immediately dropping everything and instructing his assistant to book a flight to Lonisburg. Benny offered to tag along, but Jonathan turned him down–this was something he needed to handle alone.
On the plane, Jonathan kept scrolling through the emails he had sent Teresa, reading them over and over. He had already sent her so many messages.
[Teresa, come back to Nareigh. You’re not in Fernlandia anymore–where are you staying all by yourself?]
[I know my mom went to see you. That photo with the stranger doesn’t mean anything. Even if it gets out, it won’t hurt my reputation. None of this is your fault–you’ve done nothing wrong.]
[You said I’m stuck in the past, that you don’t owe me anything, and you wished me happiness. Teresa, what kind of nonsense is that? None of it’s true. Come back, and I’ll tell you exactly where you’re wrong.]
LE
He had sent over a dozen messages, but they all seemed to vanish into thin air, leaving him with nothing but silence.
Jonathan’s plane landed in Lonisburg late at night. Without wasting a second, he headed straight to a dinner meeting with some of the city’s top real estate developers.
Horizonlead Group was a major player, and everyone wanted a piece of the action. But Jonathan had only one goal: to find Teresa. As long as they could help him locate her, everything else was negotiable.
Tracking down the registered property owners in each neighborhood was at complicated process. It would take at least two days to sort through the records.
“I’ll wait,” Jonathan said decisively, leaving no room for discussion.
After rounds of toasts and small talk, the dinner finally came to an end. Jonathan. returned to a nearby hotel alone. From his window, he gazed at the sea of lights stretching into the distance. His deep–set eyes flickered with a mix of emotions.
That night, Jonathan barely slept. He kept worrying about Teresa. The uncertainty gnawed at him, leaving him restless.
“Mr. Lynn,” The largest real estate developer in Lonisburg called the next day, much
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sooner than expected. “Is this the Ms. Johnston you’re looking for?”
Jonathan took the documents and scanned them carefully. The age and personal details matched perfectly. He was ninety–nine percent certain that this was Teresa.
“This Ms. Johnston is the owner of a unit in Golden Bay Complex, Building One,” the developer confirmed.
Golden Bay Complex was a relatively new high–end complex, completed three years ago. Most of the units were spacious one–bedroom apartments, with prices ranging from 450 thousand to over 600 thousand.
“I’ve already coordinated with the property management. Ms. Johnston’s specific address is the east unit on the third floor. Since you’re probably not familiar with the area, I’ll have someone escort you,” the developer offered.
“Thank you,” Jonathan replied, shaking hands with the developer. This favor would undoubtedly pave the way for future collaborations.
Finally, he was on his way to see Teresa. Sitting in the car, Jonathan stared out the window, his long fingers tapping lightly on his knee, betraying his anticipation and
unease.
Π
