Chapter 142

“Why did you lie to me?” Jonathan asked, biting her neck harshly.

Teresa said, “You lied to me first about having a fiancée. Why can’t I do the same to you? We’re even… Ouch, that hurts.”

“Tell me you love me,” Jonathan’s voice was unbelievably hoarse. “Say it, and I’ll take you home.”

Even though Teresa was delirious, she couldn’t bring herself to say those words. Instead, she pleaded, “Jonathan, please, not in the car.” And so, Jonathan took her home.

It was already bright when Teresa woke up past ten, finding herself in Luviston Estates. She no longer felt dizzy, but Jonathan was nowhere to be found. She looked for her clothes and finally found her underwear in the trash can, along with a bunch of tissues.

Fuming, Teresa grabbed her phone and called Jonathan. “Jonathan, why did you throw my underwear in the trash? What am I supposed to wear?”

At that moment, in the quiet Horizonlead Group conference room, all eyes turned to Jonathan, impeccably dressed and sitting upright at the head of the table. Though he hadn’t put the call on speakerphone, Teresa’s voice was loud enough to echo through the room.

Clearing his throat, he paused the meeting and stepped out to take the call. “You’re awake? You should get some more rest.”

Teresa said, “Don’t change the subject. Why did you throw my clothes in the trash? What am I supposed to wear?”

“I’ll head back after my meeting and bring you new clothes,” he replied.

Teresa paused, realization dawning. “You’re in a meeting? Don’t tell me your employees heard what I said.”

“No,” Jonathan decided to keep the truth from her, or she would give him an earful. “I was getting ready for a meeting and would be back soon.”

“While you’re at it, get me some emergency contraceptive pills.” With that, Teresa immediately hung up. What happened last night couldn’t be undone, but there was still time to deal with it, as emergency contraception was effective within 24 hours.

After hanging up, Teresa saw Miriam’s name and remembered something, quickly calling her back. “Are you still at my place?”

“Of course, who else would be looking after Michael?” Miriam replied. “I tried calling you so many times yesterday, but you didn’t answer. I actually thought you’d been kidnapped. Just as I was about to call the police, Jonathan texted me, saying you were staying at his place. What’s going on? Didn’t you say you weren’t seeing him anymore?”

“It’s a long story,” Teresa groaned.

Miriam laughed. “You better fill me in when you get back. I’ll take care of Mike for now.”

“I’ll be back soon.” She wanted to go home as soon as possible, but she couldn’t leave without any clothes. Hence, she had no choice but to wait for Jonathan to return.

Jonathan only returned at noon with a shopping bag, tossing it onto the bed where Teresa sat glaring at him. “I bought you the usual brand you wear, one size up.” Teresa blushed as she grabbed the bag and began changing under the covers. Before having Michael, she wore a C cup, but now, she’d moved up to a D. Her friends often complimented her fuller figure. After slipping into her undergarments, Teresa looked at Jonathan and asked, “Where are my cardigan and pants?”

Jonathan raised an eyebrow. “Why can’t you just wear those? It’s warm in the house anyway.”

Teresa said, “Are you kidding me? I’m leaving; we agreed on this last night.”

Jonathan asked, “Agreed on what? On the fact that you’d pay me after I helped you?” Teresa nodded, but before Jonathan could say anything, the doorbell rang. He stepped out briefly and returned moments later, carrying several Chanel bags. He placed them in front of Teresa, letting her choose what to wear.

Teresa randomly selected a bag and slipped into the clothes inside. To her surprise, they fit perfectly.

As she buttoned her shirt, her long hair cascaded over her shoulders, framing her side profile. Her smooth skin and collarbone revealed several visible purple marks from the night before—his unmistakable handiwork.

Jonathan’s gaze darkened as he suddenly grabbed her wrist, pinning her beneath him. “Why did you go up a size after all these years?” he asked, his tone cold. “Didn’t you say last night that you weren’t seeing anyone else?”

Teresa was speechless, realizing she had dug her own grave. She thought, ‘I can’t possibly tell him I’ve gone up a size after having his son.’

She stammered, shoving him. “I–I’ve been exercising more. Maybe that’s why. I really have to go now. I have work to do.”

Jonathan refused to let her leave. Earlier, on the way back, he saw that Teresa had transferred sixty thousand dollars to him, which angered him. He buried his head in her shoulder and muttered, “I don’t want your money. I want to spend more time with you.” Teresa snapped, “Stop being shameless! You were just like a hungry wolf last night!” From the car to Luviston Estates, from the couch to the bed—her memories of the night were a blur, fragmented and hazy.

Jonathan swiftly removed her bra, tossing it aside. He buried his head against her chest, his voice muffled. “It’s not enough.”

Teresa closed her eyes, overwhelmed by his breath and kisses, when a sudden thought flashed through her mind. She pushed him away with force. “I don’t want to get pregnant. Give me the pills. I need to take them.”

Jonathan frowned, a flicker of displeasure crossing his face as he pulled away. “I didn’t buy any.”

Teresa’s heart sank. “Jonathan, don’t you have any decency? I don’t want to have your child. We’re divorced!”

“I want you to have my child,” Jonathan said teasingly, risking everything.

Teresa grabbed a pillow and threw it at him. “You shameless bastard! Go get me the pills! You can’t do this to me! I don’t want to get pregnant.”

The thought of being pregnant with his child again filled Teresa with dread. She didn’t know what she would do; she wasn’t ready to start over with him. On top of that, supporting Michael on her own was already a financial strain. She couldn’t afford another child. “Get me the pills. If you won’t, I’ll go get them myself. Just let me leave.” Jonathan sighed and grabbed her wrist as she punched him, breaking down. “I didn’t go all the way. You won’t get pregnant.”

Teresa froze and sniffled as tears clung to the corner of her eyes.

Jonathan ruffled her hair. “You’re not a child anymore. Can’t you think straight?”

Teresa pursed her lips, recalling that he had taken some “preventive measures” the night before. “How was I supposed to remember those details? I was barely conscious.”

“I’m not lying when I say I care about you,” Jonathan said, his tone softening. “I know you were delirious, and even though I didn’t drink last night, you nearly drove me to the same state. But I still made sure you wouldn’t get pregnant. I didn’t want to see you breaking down like this.”

Teresa remained silent, thinking, ‘As long as I don’t get pregnant.’

Chapter 143