Chapter 241
Jennifer let out a dry laugh. โDonโt compare yourself to Donald,โ she said. โTeresa divorced you ages ago. She told me she only married you because she was moved by your kindness, not because she loved you. If someone you didnโt love kept pestering you, wouldnโt you be frustrated? Let her go, Jonathan. You two were never right for each other, especially with your mother involved.โ
Jennifer was about to confront Irene when Irene and Cathy walked in. Cathy asked Jonathan, โHowโs Donald? Is he going to be okay?โ Jonathan told her not to worry, but Cathy couldnโt help herself. She pressed her hand against the operating room door, as if she could somehow see through it and catch a glimpse of what was happening inside.
Irene turned her sharp gaze toward Jennifer and asked Jonathan, โAnd who might this be?โ Jonathan didnโt mention that Jennifer was Teresaโs sister. Instead, he said casually, โSheโs Donaldโs friend and a doctor here, Jennifer Nelson.โ Jennifer and Irene exchanged brief, polite nods, their expressions distant. Jennifer thought, So this is Jonathanโs mother. Why does she look so much like Genevieve? No, it must be my imagination. Genevieve has always been warm and gentle, but Irene possessed a sharp, commanding presence that made it clear she wasnโt someone to cross.
Cathy walked over to Jennifer and grabbed her hand tightly. โJonathan told me you saved Donald,โ she said. โI canโt thank you enough.โ Jenniferโs eyes widened in surprise. She turned to Jonathan, her face full of confusion.
Once Cathy and Irene were out of earshot, Jonathan explained, โIf they knew Donald got hurt saving you, you might as well kiss your relationship goodbye.โ
Jennifer asked, โWhy are you helping Donald and me?โ
Jonathan said with regret, โI donโt want my relationship with Teresa to affect you two. Donaldโs the kind of man you can trust with your future. I just hope you donโt end up like Teresa and me.โ With that, he turned and walked away.
Jenniferโs heart tightened with guilt as she clenched her fingers. She suddenly wondered if she had made a mistake. She found Jonathan didnโt seem as bad as she had imagined. Then she thought, But it is too late. Iโve already deceived him.
The red light above the operating room finally went out. A doctor stepped out. Pulling off his mask with a relieved sigh, he said, โWe managed to save him. Donโt worry.โ
Cathy exclaimed, โThatโs wonderful!โ She rushed forward, clutching the doctorโs hand as tears streamed down her face. โThank you, doctor,โ she said. โThank you so much! Can I see my son now?โ
The doctor replied, โHeโs still unconscious. Are you his family? Please wait a little longer.โ Cathy nodded and followed the doctor. Jonathan walked alongside Cathy to handle the hospital fees. Cathy tried to decline his help, but Jonathan waved it off.
In another hospital room, Heidi said to Irene, โIrene, the doctor gave Dad a sedative. Heโs asleep now. I canโt believe he managed to make it to Nareigh on his own. Heโs still got some fight in him.โ
Irene sighed deeply. โHe must miss Mom too much,โ she said. โWe just visited her grave.โ Everyone believed Fiona had passed away long ago, so they had buried her belongings. But Gordon believed Fiona was still alive.
Irene called Jonathan over and said, โI gave you a photo of your grandmother. Have you found any leads?โ
Jonathan shook his head. In a world this vast, finding someone who disappeared years ago felt impossible, like chasing a ghost.
Heidi said, โIrene, Mom is definitely gone. Letโs stop looking and stop putting pressure on Jonathan.โ
Irene grasped Gordonโs arm. Her voice tinged with sorrow as she said, โDadโs so stubborn. He just wants to see her one last time. Look at him now. Heโs so thin, like a shadow of his former self.โ
Just then, Cathy burst into the room. She shouted, โHeโs asking for you, right now!โ