Chapter 164

Jennifer deleted the conversation, erasing all of Jonathan’s messages as if nothing had happened. The message read: [She’s in the shower.]

The response Jonathan had anticipated left him stunned. A storm brewed in his eyes as he frantically called Teresa. “Sorry, the number you have dialed is currently unavailable…” The automated voice echoed. He gripped his phone tightly, almost crushing it.

Though scheduled to return in a few days, he couldn’t wait any longer. He ordered his secretary to book the fastest flight back to Nareigh, not even bothering to choose a seat. He was determined to go back immediately.

Meanwhile, at Rosary Estates, Teresa changed into clean loungewear after showering. Exiting her room, she saw Jennifer opening a parcel. Smiling, she walked over. “I bought these clothes for you. Do you like them?” Jennifer shot her a glare. “How many times do I have to tell you not to buy me stuff? I wear a lab coat at work, so it doesn’t even matter what I wear underneath!”

Teresa smiled. “But you still have weekends and holidays, right? You’ll need a few nice outfits. Don’t be too frugal with your clothes. You might hesitate to spend, but I’m not.”

“You’re unbelievable.” Jennifer chuckled.

“Oh, right.” Teresa looked around the room. “Where’s my phone?”

Jennifer pointed to a socket below the television. “It ran out of battery, so I charged it for you.”

“Okay then.” Teresa went to dry her hair.

A woman’s hair care routine was never a simple task. After drying her hair and moisturizing, Teresa finally picked up her phone, only to find it had turned off.

Unbothered, she tucked Michael into bed. It wasn’t until she settled into her own bed that she powered on her phone, which immediately began ringing. She answered, seeing Miriam’s name on the screen.

Miriam’s voice sounded frantic. “Why was your phone turned off for so long? I tried calling so many times!”

Stunned, Teresa replied, “My phone was charging and I just turned it on. What happened?”

Miriam was on the verge of breaking down. “Jonathan said you weren’t answering his calls, so he called me to ask who you were with. I told him I didn’t know, and he got so upset, demanding answers. I was terrified! I’ve never seen him this anxious before. He’s flying back now, probably already on the plane. Seriously, what’s going on between you two tonight?” Teresa struggled to find words.

“What’s wrong, Teresa? Why aren’t you saying anything? Did something happen? Talk to me,” Miriam said.

Teresa snapped back to reality, utterly confused. “Nothing happened. I texted him earlier today but haven’t looked at my phone since.”

Teresa opened WhatsApp, but her chat history with Jonathan had somehow been deleted. She clicked into his profile, but all their messages were gone. Their entire conversation history had disappeared.

Teresa frowned, a pang of emotion tugging at her heart. No matter how angry she got, she only ever blocked him. Blocking him wouldn’t erase their chat history. She couldn’t explain it, but she couldn’t bring herself to delete their messages.

“He’ll arrive in Nareigh around dawn. Let me know if he calls you. I thought something serious had happened between you two. I was so scared!” Miriam continued.

“Okay, got it. You don’t have to worry now.” After hanging up, Teresa went to Jennifer’s room.

Jennifer told her the truth: “He texted you when I was receiving the parcel. I saw it and told him you were in the shower.”

Teresa frowned. “What? Why would you respond to a suggestive message, no less?”

Jennifer lifted her head, displeased. “You’re one to talk. You’ve been sleeping with him? Since when? And why don’t I know?”

Teresa was taken aback. “What did he send?”

Jennifer replied, “I forgot. I deleted them all. It was just a load of harassing texts anyway.”

Chapter 164

Teresa’s voice tightened with displeasure. “No matter what he sent me, it should have stayed between us. I have a right to my privacy, and even as my sister, you shouldn’t be responding to my messages. I gave you my password because I trusted you, not so you could snoop through my messages. I told you to help me with receiving the parcel, not invade my personal space.”

Jennifer was puzzled. “You’re still in love with him? You’re still hung up on him, aren’t you?”

“I’m not hung up on him!” Teresa exclaimed.

“You’re lying!” Jennifer snapped. “You’re still attached to him, aren’t you? That’s why you can’t let him go, always holding onto some soft spot for him. Haven’t our parents’ failed marriage taught you anything? Look at you, drawn back in like a moth to a flame. You’ve hit a dead end, gotten a divorce; so why are you going back now?”

Teresa calmed down. “I’m not going back to him. I’ve said that I won’t get back together with him. What more do you want?”

Jennifer demanded, “I want you to stop talking to him and cut all ties with him. Pack up your things and leave Nareigh behind. Let’s you, me, and Mike move to a new city and start over as a family.”

Just as Teresa was about to respond, her phone rang. Glimpsing the caller ID, she turned to leave without a word.

“You’re not going anywhere! It’s late!” Jennifer shouted. “Don’t you dare leave, or you’re no longer my sister!”

Despite her words, Teresa walked out without a second glance.

Jennifer was seething with rage. Teresa was her only family. She cared for Teresa and Michael more than anything, and if it weren’t for them, she would have left Nareigh for another city long ago. Alas, Teresa did not appear to appreciate her effort. She was frustrated.

Jennifer stepped out of the room and saw Michael at his room’s doorway, looking at her with teary eyes. She walked over, asking, “Mike, why are you awake?”

Michael wiped his tears. “Please don’t fight with Mommy, Aunt Hannah. Mommy is a scaredy-cat. Don’t scare her, please!” Jennifer was overwhelmed with guilt. She crouched down, comforting him. “I’m sorry, Mike. I didn’t mean to frighten you. My voice was too loud, wasn’t it? I promise I won’t do it again.”

Memories of her childhood with Teresa flooded Jennifer’s mind—how they used to hide by the door whenever Evelyn and Philip argued, too terrified to make a sound.

At that moment, Jennifer realized that she couldn’t repeat her parents’ mistake. She hugged the boy, saying, “I’m sorry, Mike. From now on, I’ll make sure to talk to your mom more kindly. But there’s one thing I want you to remember. You and your Mommy are my only family. Everything I do is to protect both of you.”

Teresa drove to Luviston Estates. The call she had received earlier came from Benny. According to Benny, Jonathan was so desperate to contact Teresa that he reached out to almost everyone he could, including Miriam and Benny himself. It had been a long time since Benny had seen Jonathan so anxious.