Chapter 151

Teresa answered, “Yes, I’m her daughter.”

“Oh, you should take better care of your mother. She seems quite lonely. She’s always by herself and has no one to look after her,” said the doctor.

‘She has no one to look after her?’ Teresa mused, frowning. She then returned to Evelyn’s ward. Evelyn, facing Teresa’s questioning, frowned and explained that Charlie was on a business trip and busy with work. Besides, her illness wasn't serious, so she could stay in the hospital alone.

“Then why didn’t you call me?” Teresa asked, clenching her fists.

“That’s enough. You’re really long-winded. I’m fine. It’s all Melanie’s fault for being a blabbermouth,” Evelyn said casually. She urged Teresa to leave, mentioning her impending discharge in a few days.

Teresa refused to leave. Sitting by the bed, tears welled in her eyes and flowed freely. “Mom, I still care about you. I’ve already cut ties with Dad because he tried to sell me. But you’re different. Even though you remarried, I still want you to be happy.”

She continued, “Now that I can make money, I don’t need you to support me. My only wish is for you to stay healthy. If you ever get sick again, tell me right away. In any case, I can at least come and take care of you for a few days!”

She added, “Who else do you have besides me? That little one-year-old daughter of yours? Can she take care of you besides crying for food?”

Evelyn had three daughters. Teresa was the second, but since her older sister was deceased, she was now the eldest. Evelyn turned away; her eyes suddenly reddened. She said, “I dreamt of Hannah again a few days ago. I dreamt of her gripping my neck and asking me why I gave birth to her. She died tragically. She said it was so cold on the cliff, and she was really scared.”

Teresa responded, “Dreams are always the opposite of reality, so don’t think about Hannah anymore. Didn’t we agree not to mention her again?”

Evelyn hadn't mentioned Hannah since Teresa’s childhood. However, since Evelyn had been alone in the hospital, she’d often been reminiscing about the past.

“Do you think I decided to have another child because of Charlie? Do you really believe that I would go through all that just…?” Evelyn’s voice trailed off.

Teresa was taken aback. A tear rolled down Evelyn’s cheek. “It’s because… I just can’t get over the loss of your sister.”

She continued, “It would be wonderful if she were still alive. You would all be happy. But she’s gone, and I thought if I had another child, that child would probably be the reincarnation of Hannah.”

“Heavens have been good to me; I gave birth to another daughter. Isabel might be the reincarnation of Hannah, and I treat her well as a way to make up for your sister,” she added.

Teresa was speechless. Evelyn doted on Isabel because she saw the child as Hannah’s reincarnation. At that moment, Teresa understood Evelyn’s feelings, being a mother herself.

“Mom,” Teresa said, walking up, gently patting Evelyn’s shoulder and hugging her. “Please don’t cry anymore. Your eyes aren’t good to begin with. Don’t make it worse, okay?”

Evelyn sniffled. “Isabel is being cared for by the nanny at home. She must be missing me. I’ve got to get discharged soon and go home to care for her.”

Teresa bit her lip. “If you’re really worried about Isabel, I can take care of her for a couple of days.”

Evelyn gave Teresa a sidelong glance. “Do you even know how to take care of a child? Forget it. I’m afraid you don’t even know how to change your sister’s diaper.”

“Who says I don’t? I also—” Teresa began, then stopped.

“You also what?” Evelyn snickered.

Teresa was silent for a few seconds, shaking her head. She didn’t want to tell Evelyn about Michael. She felt that if she did, Evelyn would scold her for being foolish and having a child with her ex-husband, and wouldn't feel sorry for her.

Evelyn glanced at Teresa again. “Don’t you have to work? Go back.”

Teresa shook her head. “I finished my work for today, thanks to Ms. Ziegler for introducing me to a few clients. She’s really nice.”

Evelyn nodded. “Melanie is indeed nice, but she’s a bit blunt. She’s a good person. I met her when I first started my business. I even advised her not to get married back then. Marriage is the tomb of love.”

Teresa didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She wondered if Melanie’s unmarried status stemmed from Evelyn’s marriage, perhaps learning a lesson from Evelyn’s experience.

Suddenly, Teresa’s phone rang. It was from Nareigh Maternal and Child Health Hospital. Puzzled, she answered.

In an instant, Teresa’s face changed dramatically. “What? I’m heading over right now!”

Seeing her panicked rush, Evelyn quickly asked, “What happened?”

“A friend of mine got in a car accident. I’m going to check on her now. She doesn’t have any family, just me,” Teresa answered.

“Alright, you better go now. Drive safely.” Evelyn watched Teresa hurry away and sighed, thinking, “If only Hannah were still alive, at least they could have supported one another.”

Teresa rushed to the hospital and saw several doctors in white coats hurriedly pushing a stretcher toward the elevator. Jennifer was covered in blood, her arm hanging limply. Her bloodied face and clothes reminded Teresa of her late grandparents. Her heart ached at the frightening scene.

Teresa dashed over. Donald was also beside the stretcher, ignoring her.

“You’re here…” Jennifer smiled weakly, her eyes flickering.

Tears filled Teresa’s eyes as she followed them into the elevator. “How did this happen? We were just having breakfast together this morning.”

“Don’t cry… I…” Jennifer started, but the elevator doors opened, and the stretcher was wheeled out.

“Dr. Nelson is severely injured and needs an emergency blood transfusion!” a doctor urgently informed Donald, who was intently watching Jennifer. “I remember she has a B blood type. Hurry and get some from the blood bank.”

Donald was about to speak when Teresa stepped forward. “I have B blood type! Take mine. I can give my blood to Dr. Nelson!”

“No,” Jennifer, near death, shook her head feebly. “Teresa, you can’t. Blood transfusions between immediate family would cause hemolytic…”

Teresa stiffened, gaping at Jennifer. Donald also stiffened, quickly averting his gaze and rushing to contact the blood bank.

Jennifer reached out her bloodstained hand and held Teresa’s. “Teresa, I’m your sister… your biological sister, Hannah… I didn’t die back then… I was so scared that if I die today, you’ll never know about this. But now I’ve finally said it… If I die today… then…”

“Maybe I was always meant to die… Back then, when I was a child… that year…” Jennifer trailed off, weakly releasing Teresa’s hand.