Chapter 172

The day after Irene questioned Jonathan about lending his car to Teresa, he applied to change the license plate. The Maybach's current plate was TJ143. Michael only recognized the numbers. “Mr. Lime, what do the squiggly lines at the front mean?”

“I’ll tell you when you’re all grown up,” Jonathan replied.

“It’s a promise, then. Don’t forget that, Mr. Lime,” Michael stated.

Jonathan suddenly realized Michael no longer called him "Mr. Daddy Lime." Instead of questioning him, Jonathan gently patted Michael's head. “All right, I won’t forget.”

“Mr. Lynn,” the driver softly reminded, “you have a meeting scheduled with the CEO of Strategic Dynamics Group at three o'clock.”

Hearing he had to return to work, Michael clung to Jonathan, looking up at him. “Mr. Lime, can you play with me a bit longer, please?”

Jonathan couldn't refuse. “Play what?”

Michael replied, “Can you lift me high in the air like I’m flying?”

Bending over, Jonathan lifted the boy, and Michael guffawed with joy.

Jennifer, searching for Michael, saw this from across the street and frowned. She considered retrieving him, but instead went to speak with the daycare teacher.

Soon, the teacher approached Jonathan and Michael. “Mike, you can’t just run off like that. Come on, let’s go back.”

Jonathan then noticed the daycare sign and understood the situation. He gently set Michael down. Michael looked at Jonathan longingly. “Bye, Mr. Lime.”

“See you, Mike.” Jonathan watched as the teacher led Michael away, then hopped into the car.

The driver, noticing a fleeting sadness in Jonathan's eyes, asked, “Mr. Lynn, do you really like children?”

Jonathan didn't deny it. He said that if he and Teresa had a child, he would love them dearly. He had grown up without a father, and if he ever had a child of his own, he would give them the world.

That night, Teresa planned to pick up Michael from Miriam's house, only to be told Jennifer had already done so. When Teresa returned to Rosary Estates, Jennifer said, “That bestie of yours is so carefree, dropping Mike off at the daycare without a word. What if something happened?”

Teresa furrowed her brows. “Don’t say that, Hannah. Miriam has a job to worry about. I’m already grateful she watched Michael for me.”

Jennifer changed the subject. “I’ve arranged with the hospital to switch shifts. Just focus on the company’s product launch event. I’ll take care of Mike for the next few days.”

Teresa nodded and checked on Michael, noticing a tinge of sadness in his eyes. She asked, “What’s wrong?”

Shaking his head, Michael embraced Teresa. “Mommy! I saw Mr. Lime today and even said hi. He came back from his business trip. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Oh, I forgot. I’ll be busy and coming home late for the next couple of days, so Aunt Hannah will be looking after you,” Teresa said.

“Mommy, why don’t you send me to Mr. Lime’s place like before New Year’s Day? He can accompany me?” Michael suggested.

Teresa froze. “Why? Don’t you like Aunt Hannah?”

“I do. Aunt Hannah is family, and I like her. Still, I like Mr. Lime even more,” Michael said.

This rendered Teresa speechless. Michael continued, “Mommy, I’ll be good. I promise! I won’t call Mr. Lime Daddy. I also promise I won’t mention your name.”

Unable to refuse, Teresa comforted Michael. She was about to leave when Jennifer stopped her, clutching her wrist. “Where do you think you’re going? That’s my business. Even if you’re my sister, you should cut me some slack.” Teresa shook off Jennifer’s grip.

“It’s my fault I got distracted today. I saw your ex’s car across the street—it just happened to be on Capstone Fourth Hood. Mike saw him, so he went over to say hi,” Jennifer explained.

“Just beg me like this? It’s my fault. I’ll talk this out with Jonathan. Not letting them…”

“Cruel! What about us family trying to take Mike away from you? Isn’t it cruel to hear the boy cry for his mom?” Jennifer remarked, her impassioned steps stopping altogether.

A sigh escaped Jennifer. “You’re too soft-hearted! Mike isn’t even three. What could he possibly understand? If somebody else was nice to him, he’d just be as happy and attached to them. I’ve been keeping this for too long. I even switched the DNA samples for you. If you tell your ex now, all my efforts will go down the drain.”

Teresa stared at Jennifer in disbelief; a hint of guilt crossed Jennifer’s face. “I was the one who switched the hair samples for the test! Your ex came to our hospital to see his cousin and asked Donald for a DNA test. I swapped the samples while Donald wasn’t looking. What, you think you could keep the truth about Mike from him until now?”

Coming to her senses, Teresa grabbed Jennifer’s shoulders. “Are you out of your mind, Hannah? You don’t have to do this for me. You’re a doctor! Misusing your power like this is illegal. If you get caught, your career will be ruined.”

“I know, but you’re my sister. Since you wanna keep this a secret, I’ll help you. I wasn’t thinking straight at the time. Besides, we’ll be leaving Harigh sooner or later. Your ex doesn’t know about the boy, so nobody knows about what I did. Once we’re gone, it’ll be like nothing ever happened,” Jennifer said.

Powerless, Teresa loosened her grip. She understood everything. She learned why Jonathan claimed Michael wasn't his son. Jonathan had gone to Donald at the hospital for a DNA test, but it wasn't luck that kept the secret; it was Jennifer who switched the samples. Teresa had also asked Cheryl to keep Michael's background a secret, but the stakes were different. Cheryl was Jonathan's cousin; Jonathan would spare Cheryl. Jennifer, however, was a different story, especially since she was a doctor. Teresa dreaded imagining what Jonathan would do to expose Jennifer if he found out. Jennifer blurted out, “If you tell your ex now, I’ll be screwed. He’ll expose me, and I’ll lose my hard-earned job and have my medical license revoked. His family will then take Mike away. By then, you’ll have nothing left.”

Pausing, she continued, “So, are you still going to tell him about Mike? Haven’t you realized yet?”

Teresa was speechless. She stayed silent for a long time, clenching her fists, then stepped out, shutting the door behind her.

Jennifer stared at Teresa’s departing figure, wondering if Teresa would tell Jonathan everything about Michael, waiting to see whose side Teresa would choose—hers or Jonathan's.

(The remaining text appears to be unrelated snippets and will be omitted.)