Teresa just wanted some peace to rest for a while. Besides, Michael was sleeping in the back seat, and she didn’t want to wake the kid up.
Jennifer didn’t seem to hear Teresa at all and kept complaining. “You should have confronted her right away, pointed at Irene, and told her not to get too arrogant.
“If Hayden hadn’t been there–if we weren’t worried he’d have a heart attack, none of us would’ve put up with that crap. “f can’t stand it like you. Irene just looks down on both of us, especially you.
“She treats you like an easy target because you’re too soft. Every time, you let Irene have her way for your ex–husband’s sake. So for a man like that, you swallow your anger and make me embarrassed too.”
“That’s enough! Haven’t you said enough already?” Teresa shouted, and Jennifer’s hand on the steering wheel paused.
“Why are you yelling at me? Am I not just telling the truth?” Jennifer snapped.
Teresa spoke each word deliberately. “I told you, I don’t want to talk about this anymore. Why are you still nagging me? Mind your own business first.
“You’ve faked reports more than once. You care too much about saving face. Like Jonathan said, you don’t have the right
to lecture me,
“Don’t you feel embarrassed? Lying about being pregnant, using a baby as leverage to force a marriage. Honestly, I was too ashamed to even criticize you in front of the Lynns today. You’re even more shameful, making me hang my head in
shame!”
“You…” That hit Jennifer hard, hurting her pride. She couldn’t accept that her own sister called her behavior shameful. She let out a cold laugh. “Get out of the car. Right now.”
“Fine, pull over. We’re getting out.” Teresa was
fuming too, and without another word, she got out of the car.
Michael had already heard their whole argument–he’d been awake for a while by the time Teresa carried him out.
After Teresa and Michael got out, Jennifer scowled and sped off.
Teresa watched the Mercedes–Benz C260 speed away. She was the one who bought it for Jennifer. After crashing Teresa’s Porsche in an accident, Jennifer just handed her 30 thousand dollars and settled it.
She thought bitterly, ‘I said I didn’t want to hear it, but she just kept going on and on. I don’t owe her anything. Why do I have to put up with all of Jennifer’s stress?
‘Everyone has bad days, but I never dump my problems on her. Jennifer always unloaded hers on me. Why am I always the one who has to give in to her? She’s my big sister, but has she ever cut me any slack?‘
“Mommy.” Michael rubbed his eyes, crying as he hugged Teresa. “Let’s never ride in Jennifer’s car again, okay? Can we just take our own car? I don’t want her to yell at you. Don’t let her treat you like that. I hate Jennifer.”
Teresa’s heart twisted with pain as she realized how hurt and upset Michael was. She quickly said, “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I
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didn’t mean to scare you. Alright, we won’t ride in her car anymore. We’ll just take a cab and find Miriam first”
Michael finally nodded. Teresa wiped his tears, hugging him teriderly. Michael wiped Teresa’s tears, too. He didn’t want to see his mom always getting yelled at by Jennifer.
When the cab arrived, they got in, and Michael rested his head on Teresa’s lap, ready to catch some sleep again. “Mommy, when will our car be back? I don’t want to keep taking cabs, okay?” he asked.
“That car is gone for good, baby. I’ll buy a new one when I have time,” she said softly.
“Mommy, just let Mr. Lime buy you one. He’s my dad, after all,” Michael mumbled before drifting off again.
Teresa gently stroked Michael’s hair, not saying anything more.
Jonathan had just finished dealing with family matters and making sure Hayden was settled. Then he headed back to Rosary Estates first.
He knew Teresa had taken Michael to pick up Miriam. He’d already called Edward earlier, who told him their flight would land at Nareigh at five.
Jonathan glanced at the clock. It was exactly 5 p.m. He figured Teresa should be at the airport by now. The truth of her words lingered–the bracelet lay in pieces, and no amount of fixing could undo what was broken.
He thought for a moment, then walked to her room on impulse. He looked at her desk and found no bracelet. The trash can still held nothing. ‘Did she throw it away or hide it somewhere?‘ he mused.
Just as he was about to open her drawer, his hand paused. It suddenly occurred to him that if he touched her things, she’d definitely be mad. He didn’t want to snoop through her stuff.
Jonathan turned to leave Teresa’s room, but his eyes were drawn back to the trash can. There, among the strips of torn
letter paper,
he caught sight of his own name written there.
He paused, frowning. Then he bent down, tipped the trash can over, and dumped everything onto the floor. Picking up the torn strips one by one, he instantly recognized Teresa’s handwriting.
It was a letter she’d written to him. Jonathan carefully spread the scraps out on the floor, piecing them together like a jigsaw puzzle. Soon, the whole letter was laid out before him.
Jonathan read the entire letter carefully. She described finding out she was pregnant after their divorce, having the baby, and raising the child alone. It was tough.
When he read about how she had to bargain with the shop owner over groceries, and how she never realized how tough it was to run a household until she had to do it herself, Jonathan’s eyes suddenly turned red with emotion.
He could clearly picture her, heavily pregnant, going out alone to buy groceries. She couldn’t cook, but for their child, she made an effort to learn. Even if the food wasn’t good, she did everything she could.
Jonathan reached up to wipe away his tears. He wondered how she managed alone on her low salary while raising the child.
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Later in the letter, she mentioned she didn’t want him to go after anyone who was innocent–Christian, Sherry, Cheryl, Miriam, or Jennifer. She just wanted him to let it go. But honestly, he’d never really gone after anyone.
[Jonathan, if you’ve read this letter, I still want to apologize. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about Mike sooner. Honestly, there were so many times I really wanted to tell you.]
Jonathan’s brow softened a little. ‘So, there have been times when she wanted to tell me. But why did she never mention it? What was holding her back?‘ he wondered.
He felt like there was something Teresa was hiding beyond this letter. Now, more than ever, he wanted to know what was really going on in her head.
At Nareigh International Airport, Teresa spotted Miriam from afar.
Miriam was wearing sunglasses, and Edward was right beside her, pushing a suitcase.
“Miriam!” Teresa waved at her.
Miriam let go of Edward and immediately ran toward Teresa. As soon as they met, Teresa couldn’t help but hug her tightly, tears streaming down her face.
Miriam hugged her back, her voice brimming with excitement. “I missed you like crazy, Teresa. I have so, so much to tell you!”
