Chapter 1049

Sometimes, Jonathan really "hated" Teresa. He couldn't wrap his head around why she always had to be so cold and brutal whenever she talked to him.

Sometimes, he really wished he could be as ruthless as he sounded. He'd tell himself that if she didn’t come crawling back to him, he would never, ever contact her again. It would be a battle of wills, and he would win.

Jonathan wanted to teach Teresa a lesson. He wanted to see how she’d manage in Nareigh with no safety net, to feel that deep exhaustion of having no one to lean on.

He wanted her to taste the same bitter loneliness that was eating him alive. It wasn’t fair for him to be the only one suffering.

But the day Benny called to tell him Teresa’s company was in trouble, Jonathan found he couldn’t just stand by and do nothing. He couldn’t watch her fail.

So, he pulled some strings and helped her behind the scenes. It wouldn’t wound her pride in that way.

When it came down to it, he was weak. He couldn’t stomach the image of her being utterly alone and defeated. He just couldn’t force himself to stop caring.

And now, after hearing Teresa completely lose it and beg him to see the kids, Jonathan’s heart had gone soft as butter.

‘Let this be it, then,’ Jonathan thought. ‘This is good enough. I can’t keep expecting her to chase me across the world. How could she?

‘Even if Michael was the only reason she called… Even if she wakes up tomorrow and doesn’t remember a single word because she was drunk. This is good enough.'

The New Year’s break was just a single day, and Michael had preschool that morning.

Teresa was late dropping him off at preschool since she’d overslept with a killer hangover. Driving there, her head was still throbbing. She was totally out of it.

“Mom? Mom.” Michael called her name a few times, gently poking her arm.

Teresa finally came back to earth. “What is it, Mike?”

“What are you thinking about, Mom? Is something bothering you?” Michael asked.

“No, sweetie, nothing,” Teresa replied, forcing a weak smile.

When Teresa woke up this morning, her phone was pressed against her face. The memories from last night had crashed back into her mind like a slap–all of it, including the call to Jonathan.

She remembered most of what she’d said. It had to have been the liquid courage that had allowed her to break down and cry to him like that.

She wondered if Jonathan would just think she was drunk dialing him and making a scene.

“Mom, we’re here,” Michael said.

“Okay,” Teresa replied, pulling into a parking spot. She got out, adjusted Michael’s collar, and slipped his backpack onto his shoulders.

“Are you going to pick me up this afternoon?” Michael asked.

“We’ll see, sweetie. If I’m not buried in work, I’ll be here,” Teresa said.

“Okay,” Michael said.

A wave of guilt washed over Teresa as she watched him. He looked so defeated. She started to say something, but his teacher was already there, leading him away.

On the way to his classroom, Michael mumbled to his teacher that he was sorry for being late. He said he’d had trouble getting out of bed, and he didn’t mention his mom. The teacher just patted his head and led him to his chair.

A foreign teacher, who graduated from an elite college, was doing foreign language lessons. Every kid at this preschool had rich parents. They weren’t taking any chances with their kids falling behind.

The teacher taught them a word: father. Michael’s eyes went red right away. His vision blurred as a man’s face swam in his mind. He quickly ducked his head, rubbing his tears away with his sleeve.

Just then, a gentle tap sounded at the door. A teacher’s aide peeked in, her eyes finding Michael immediately. “Michael.” She motioned him over.