Jonathan smiled faintly and handed her a key adorned with a star-shaped charm—the key to the villa, which he considered hers. His deep eyes were filled with unwavering tenderness. While Teresa was preoccupied with thoughts of leaving, Jonathan focused on finishing his work quickly so he could return. Neither of them noticed the woman standing behind them. From the shadows, she watched, her eyes blazing with envy and resentment as they lingered on Teresa.

Teresa turned to Jonathan and said, “In a few days, I’ll be moving out.”

“You’re doing it again. Didn’t I tell you? Stay as long as you want; no one will ever ask you to leave.”

“If it’s like last time, borrowing the car and letting your mom find out…”

“Then tell me,” Jonathan said, gripping her shoulders, “Whatever happens, let me know right away. I’ll handle it.”

Teresa thought, Handle it? But you can’t fix things when you’re caught in the middle.

“I’m just giving you a heads-up. I could move out at any time.”

“No, you can’t!” He broke off, coughing suddenly, his voice catching as if something had lodged in his throat. Teresa didn’t want to burden him further.

Teresa thought, Some things, once understood, don’t need to be said aloud.

“Go focus on your work. Take care of yourself, and stop worrying about me,” she said.

“You don’t get it. A man needs someone to think about—it’s what keeps him moving forward,” Jonathan said, ruffling her hair with a helpless smile. “When you have free time, think about me too.”

“I’ll try.”

Jonathan sighed. “I’m leaving now.”

“Take care and have a safe flight.”

Jonathan turned to leave but suddenly spun back around. Ignoring Teresa’s resistance, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her deeply. After several minutes of passionate kissing, he finally let her go.

Jonathan licked his lips, his eyes lingering with worry. “I’m really leaving now. Don’t forget the medicine in the fridge. Take out a packet each day, heat it up, and drink it while it’s warm. Three times a day, after meals.”

“You’re worse than my sister with all this nagging.”

“If I ever stop nagging, it means I’ve stopped caring.”

Teresa froze for a moment.

Jonathan boarded his flight. Teresa watched his figure disappear from her sight before turning to leave. She didn’t need to drive today; Jonathan’s driver would take her home.

She lingered at the airport for a long time before silently turning away, like a traveler leaving their hometown without a word. After Teresa got into her car, she still didn’t notice the owner of the white Porsche behind her. The woman’s eyes burned with jealousy and resentment, wishing she had been the one Jonathan held and kissed just moments ago.

“Teresa, Jonathan… If I can’t be happy, neither should you,” the woman murmured.

The next day, just as Teresa was about to head out, she received a call from the hospital. Evelyn had been hospitalized again, rushed in for emergency treatment.

When Teresa hurried to the hospital, Evelyn didn’t say a word before slapping her across the face.

Evelyn said, “Take a look at this.”

Teresa held back her emotions and looked at the photos Evelyn had thrown at her. She had no idea who sent them. The images showed her and Jonathan in Chicoham, strolling hand in hand along the beach. In the car, she was asleep, leaning against the seat, while he bent down to kiss her cheek. Every moment had been captured.

It was clear someone had been following them and secretly taking these photos. Teresa had only shared her trip with a few close friends online, visible to them alone. Jonathan hadn’t publicized his travels, so no one should have known.

Teresa’s first thought was that one of her friends had betrayed her.

Teresa asked, “Who sent you these photos?”

“I don’t know who sent them. They arrived at Rosary Estates, and I signed the package. I didn’t know you’d gone crawling back to your ex-husband. Why do you have to degrade yourself like this?”

Teresa pressed her lips together and calmly replied, “First of all, it’s not that I didn’t want to see you. It’s just that five people living in a three-bedroom apartment felt cramped. And Mike is intimidated by your strict demeanor.”

Evelyn glared at Teresa. “Moved into your ex’s place? And went on a trip with him, holding hands like lovers. I see, you were afraid of being photographed in Nareigh, so you ran off to another city to embarrass yourself.”

Teresa had been holding back her emotions all this time. But Evelyn suddenly said, “You had his child but hid it from his family. Why not go all the way? Your sister keeps telling you to leave, but you won’t. I didn’t raise you to be someone who divorces and then crawls back to her ex.”

“Sorry, you didn’t raise me at all. What I do with my ex is my business, not yours.”

Evelyn’s words struck a nerve in Teresa. Her stubbornness flared up, and in a fit of defiance, she turned to leave. But suddenly, a loud thud echoed behind her. She spun around to see Evelyn collapse on the floor.

“Mom!”

Evelyn’s life wasn’t in danger, but the doctor scolded Teresa, accusing her of being a heartless daughter who deliberately upset her mother. Teresa remained silent, too drained to explain herself. She exhaled slowly and said, “As long as she’s okay. Sorry for the trouble.”

The doctor said, “Hey, you’re her daughter. Stop stressing your mom out. We’re doctors, not miracle workers. Saving her twice in one day? I’m completely wiped.”

“Sorry,” Teresa said, her gaze empty, lost in thought.

Evelyn’s youngest daughter, Isabel, was in Jennifer’s lounge. Teresa went over to check on her. Isabel was crying her heart out, tears streaming down her face. Jennifer, however, sat there unmoved, showing no intention of comforting her.

Jennifer’s expression shifted the moment she noticed Teresa’s flushed face. Her concern broke through her usual composure as she walked over quickly. “Teresa, why’s your face so red? Did something happen?”

“It’s nothing. Just a mild allergic reaction,” Teresa replied lightly.

“Let me take a look,” Jennifer said, leaning in with a worried frown. “This doesn’t look like an allergy. Did someone hit you? Tell me the truth.”

“No, really, I’m fine,” Teresa reassured her. “Mom just pulled through earlier. I came to check on Isabel.”

Jennifer finally relented, though her tone was sharp. “You insisted on bringing her back, so she’s your responsibility.”

“I know,” Teresa replied, her brows furrowing slightly.

For some reason, Isabel started crying again. Jennifer’s irritation was obvious; she didn’t even glance at Isabel, her disdain for this younger sister from a different father clearly evident. Teresa, on the other hand, picked up the child and began soothing her. Her movements were practiced as she gently patted Isabel’s back.

Under Teresa’s comforting touch, Isabel gradually stopped crying. Her tiny hands clung to Teresa’s jacket zipper, holding on tightly.

Evelyn slowly opened her eyes, her gaze falling on Jennifer. With a soft smile, she said, “Hannah, could you do me a favor and bring your sister here? I need to have a proper talk with Teresa.”

Jennifer didn’t say anything right away. She first called the doctor to check on Evelyn, then went to get Teresa. Leaning against the wall outside the room, Jennifer could only catch bits and pieces of their conversation—words: “leave,” “be good to Hannah,” and “support each other as sisters” drifted faintly to her ears.

Evelyn spoke earnestly, “Teresa, listen to me. I’ve been through this myself. Don’t keep getting tangled up with your ex. Jonathan’s mom isn’t someone you can handle easily, and a marriage without your parents’ blessing will never bring you happiness.”

Jennifer saw tears streaming down Teresa’s face.

“Your sister is a good person,” Evelyn continued warmly. “She’ll take care of you and Mike. Teresa has always been so kind to her family.”

Hearing this, Jennifer felt her chest tighten as tears welled up in her eyes. She quickly wiped them away, turned, and walked out before anyone could notice.

After waking up, Evelyn shared a lot with Teresa. She reminisced about the time she only gave her fifteen thousand, and Teresa ended up refusing it. Later, when Teresa opened an online store, Evelyn quietly used Isabel’s account to buy a bunch of clothes.

“Once I’m out of here, Isabel and I are heading straight to Fernlandia!” Evelyn declared. Clenching her teeth, she added fiercely, “I’m Evelyn, two ways and setting anyone down? Watch me rise again.”

Teresa was momentarily at a loss for words. “Mom, you’re almost fifty… sixty? Who cares? I’m not about to roll over and give up. I’ve had enough of wasting my time.”

“I’ll start from scratch,” Evelyn retorted, her determination unwavering.

Teresa couldn’t help but smile. Evelyn’s fierce spirit and stubbornness had never changed; both were strangely admirable. Maybe it was her newfound resolve, but Evelyn recovered faster than anyone expected. She wasted no time on passports for herself and Isabel, preparing to send them off to Fernlandia to start fresh. Teresa and Jennifer spent the whole night discussing and finally came up with a plan. The whole family would move to Fernlandia. Teresa would stay behind to handle the company’s operations in Nareigh while she managed things remotely. Michael would stay with her, and Jennifer planned to transfer to Shaville. This was the preliminary plan.

Evelyn was determined to start fresh abroad, searching for business opportunities to rebuild her sum and make a real effort to earn money. Teresa watched Evelyn board the plane.

“Take care on the way, and let me know when you arrive,” Teresa said.

Evelyn hugged Isabel tightly, nodded, and walked toward the gate. And then they boarded the plane.

“Why didn’t you send Mike to them? He’s going there eventually, right?” Jennifer asked as she and Teresa departed the airport, her tone curious.

“Mom’s already exhausted taking care of one kid. Two would be too much for her. Plus, Michael doesn’t want to leave me; he needs to stay by my side,” Teresa explained calmly.

Jennifer frowned, her expression tightening.

“Don’t worry, I’m not about to stress Mom out so much that she ends up in the hospital again,” Teresa added, her voice steady but tinged with guilt.

Jennifer clenched her teeth. “Even if you made her so mad she dropped dead, I wouldn’t care. What matters is you. As long as you’ve figured things out, that’s all I care about. Letting you go is for your own good.”

“Yeah…” Teresa murmured, her voice heavy with sadness. Her chest felt hollow, and she couldn’t even pinpoint why her thoughts drifted to that man—the one who had looked at her so tenderly during his business trip.

Evelyn and Isabel had already landed safely in Fernlandia. Evelyn called Teresa to let her know, and Teresa simply replied, “Got it.” Teresa and Hannah were staying behind to wrap things up, but they’d be leaving Nareigh soon. She had no choice but to go. Still, before leaving, there was one thing she had to confirm—something she couldn’t leave unresolved.