Chapter 170

While they were eating, Irene served Jonathan some food and began talking about his car. “Why did you let Teresa drive your car? Leven wondered why your car wasn’t in the garage and told Heidi about it.”

Jonathan frowned, pretending not to hear. He had just gotten home and was annoyed by such comments. “Let’s just eat and not talk about it,” he said curtly.

Nonetheless, Irene persisted. “Today, in front of your aunt, I must lecture you. It’s been three years since the divorce, Teresa is your ex-wife! Who lets their ex-wife use their car? Aren’t you afraid people will laugh at you?”

Jonathan instantly lost his appetite. He placed his fork down and calmly retorted, “Is it illegal to let my ex-wife drive my car?” “You!” Irene fumed. “Heidi, look at your nephew! He’s driving me crazy. He just can’t forget that woman!”

Heidi supported Irene. “Jonathan, your mother is right. You’re handsome and wealthy. Don’t waste your time on one woman. A sensible person does not dwell on the past.”

“Heidi, I’m not sensible.” With that, Jonathan left the dining table.

Donald stood up. “I’ll go check on Jonathan.”

Edward also lost his appetite. He got up, saying, “Mom, stop. Also, Irene, Jonathan’s just getting over a fever. Can’t you let him eat his hot meal in peace? He’s had it rough always being on the move.” With that, he left.

Irene looked helplessly at Heidi. “See? It’s always my fault somehow.”

Heidi patted Irene’s shoulder. “Don’t be upset, Irene. Young people don’t understand. Tomorrow’s the 19th. We should visit Dad!”

Irene calmed down a bit. “Another year has gone by so quickly.”

“I know, right?” said Heidi.

January 19th was Irene and Heidi’s father, Gordon Zimmer’s, birthday. He was over seventy this year. However, Gordon was peculiar, unlike the endearing Hayden. Gordon preferred living alone at his old home and didn’t like being disturbed or making phone calls. Every year, Irene and Heidi would make a quick visit and leave some money to show respect. If Irene and Heidi stayed too long, Gordon might yell or even hit someone.

After all, Gordon was Irene and Heidi’s biological father. They must visit him at least once a year. Whenever this time arrived, Irene and Heidi would get worried. They exclaimed inwardly, “Here comes another round of beating!”

Early the next morning, Irene and Heidi set off for Fairlake. After traveling so far to see their dad, a few flower pots came crashing toward them as soon as they stepped inside.

“Get out! Didn’t I tell you? Don’t come see me unless you find Fiona!” Gordon yelled.

“Dad, you need to accept that Mom passed away a long time ago!” Heidi said helplessly. “It’s been years, and she left a farewell note—”

Before Heidi could finish her sentence, another flower pot came crashing toward her. It landed right by her feet, startling her enough to step back and yell, “Ah!”

Tears welled up in Gordon’s eyes as he trembled and said, “Fiona will never die! She’ll come back to me one day!”

Irene and Heidi didn’t dare say a word.

It was clear that Gordon could only live for a few more years. He grew weaker each year, his hands trembled more, and he seemed to be holding on just to see Irene and Heidi’s birth mother.

Irene and Heidi were fraternal twins born five minutes apart. Their father was Gordon, and their mother was Fiona Zimmer. Right after they were born, they were taken away by a malicious mistress who was infatuated with Gordon.

To create discord between Gordon and Fiona, the mistress bribed the doctor and lied to Fiona, telling her that both her children had tragically passed away.

Devastated, Fiona fell apart. Meanwhile, Gordon, influenced by the mistress, believed that Fiona was still attached to her childhood sweetheart, who was also her old flame, and treated her with cold indifference.

Disheartened by her husband, Fiona left behind a farewell note and vanished without a trace.

At first, Gordon didn’t think much of it. However, when the spiteful mistress was diagnosed with cancer at the age of fifty, she regained her conscience and revealed the whole truth to Gordon on her deathbed.

Gordon was filled with regret and despair, realizing it was all a misunderstanding with Fiona. Yet, it was too late. He didn’t know where to begin searching for his long-lost wife.

As Gordon grew older, his memory worsened. He eventually didn’t recognize anyone or remember much, except for Fiona.

Gordon had a terrible temper, always grumbling. He preferred solitude and enjoyed sitting in his rocking chair while gazing into the distance, waiting for Fiona to return.

As for Irene and Heidi, being fraternal twins, they looked quite different. Heidi resembled Gordon, while Irene took after Fiona.

Whenever Gordon saw Irene, he would go crazy, asking if she had stolen Fiona’s face. One time, he even grabbed Irene by the neck, anxiously asking where Fiona was. Due to that, Irene didn’t want to visit. She would always visit with Heidi; otherwise, she wouldn’t dare to come alone.

“Dad, we left the money by the door. We’re leaving now!” said the sisters.

Gordon stared blankly, still mumbling under his breath, “Fiona, my Fiona…”

The sisters drove off.

In the car, Heidi shook the old photo in her hand. “With just this extremely faded picture, Dad expects us to find Mom? That’s impossible! I say Mom is definitely long gone.”

Fiona and Gordon were both over seventy now. Even if she hadn’t ended her life back then, she would have already passed away from old age or illness.

Irene thought the same. Surely, their mother had passed away. “It’s not that we aren’t dutiful! But Father’s behavior—the yelling, scolding, breaking things—I’m afraid to let the kids visit. No one can handle that.”

Heidi sighed. “Let’s just hang in there a bit longer. After all, he’s still our dad. His health is declining, and he doesn’t have many years left. Let’s make sure he goes peacefully.”

Irene nodded, a trace of sadness in her eyes. When it came to her dad, she felt a mix of anger, resentment, and heartache. But he was, after all, her father.

In this regard, Irene was quite traditional. The elderly man, with his graying hair, had eyes filled with tears of longing for his wife. As his daughter, she couldn’t remain unmoved.

Irene thought, ‘How can I begin to find someone who left a farewell note and disappeared? Especially when, back then, the internet wasn’t well-developed.’

After returning home, Irene mentioned this to Jonathan. “Heidi and I drove six hours to Fairlake to visit your grandpa. His health is getting worse each year. He doesn’t have much time left, and his only wish is to see your grandma.”

Jonathan took the faded photo and raised an eyebrow. “This is the only photo? Where am I supposed to look? Do you really think I can go to such lengths?”

“I thought you had a lot of connections! You’re the most successful and richest in our family now. If you can’t find her, then your cousins definitely can’t. Please, help us find her,” said Irene.

Jonathan pursed his lips, recalling his eccentric grandfather. As a child, Jonathan and his cousins had visited his grandfather once, only to be harshly scolded and driven away.

“Please, I’m begging you. What if we can really find her?” Irene said.

“I’ll keep an eye out,” Jonathan said, slipping the photo into his pocket.