Chapter 299

Back when they were in Nareigh, Jonathan used to drive to Rosary Estates to see her frequently. But now, she had left Nareigh and preferred to live independently. Nevertheless, his Maybach was parked outside.

After Teresa changed her clothes, she went downstairs. Jonathan was still asleep in the car, eyes closed. She had to knock on the window to wake him.

He hadn't slept so soundly in ages. Curled up in the car, he'd actually managed a full night's rest. He rolled down the window.

Teresa asked, "Why are you here so early? Is there something else you need?"

"Your shirt," Jonathan said, handing her a bag.

Teresa took the bag containing the shirt. "You can go now. Don't block the road."

Jonathan frowned. Her impatience fully roused him. "There's one more thing I forgot to mention yesterday."

"What is it?" Teresa's heart clenched.

"Cheryl told me about you selling your house," Jonathan said. "The buyer is Cheryl's classmate. They gave Cheryl the final payment, and she wants to give you the money, but she hasn't been able to reach you."

Teresa sighed in relief. She'd worried he'd find out about the baby, and it had scared her. "Just let Cheryl keep it."

She figured Cheryl's pregnancy must be quite obvious by now, and Cheryl shouldn't be short of cash. Teresa always considered Cheryl a little sister.

Jonathan insisted, "That money belongs to you. Let me add you as a friend so I can transfer the money."

Teresa had a new account registered with her Everport number and barely used her old one. But she wouldn't add Jonathan as a friend. "I'll send you my payment code."

Since they weren't contacts, Jonathan couldn't send a large sum directly. He said, "You can just add me, get the money, then delete me if you want."

"Let's do that," Teresa said, wanting to end this quickly. She accepted his friend request.

She never imagined the first person she'd add to her new account would be her ex-husband. She couldn't help glancing at him as he initiated the transfer.

Jonathan sent the money, and Teresa accepted it. She said, "Alright, you can go now."

"Let me treat you to a meal," Jonathan changed the subject, his tone gentle.

Teresa firmly shook her head. She didn't want to repeat past mistakes. "No need. If you have anything else to say, say it now."

She added, "If there's anything left unsettled between us, let's resolve it now. If not, then that's it. I truly enjoy living on my own these days, and I don't want any interference. And please, don't tell anyone where I live. Not even my family. I'd really appreciate it."

When she finished, Jonathan's face hardened. "So in your eyes, I'm just someone who can't keep his mouth shut?"

Teresa said, "Does it even matter? I'm doing great here. My life is peaceful, and I'm happy. Can you just leave?"

She had chosen a city he never expected. Everport wasn't as developed as Nareigh, but Jonathan understood her choice. It was close to Nareigh and Lonisburg, and near her grandparents' house. Even though Everport wasn't the capital, it was still a good place to settle down. He'd studied maps with Benny and predicted she'd choose a city near Nareigh. He'd been right—she was always attached to home.

"Anything else?" Teresa asked, her tone cold.

Jonathan just looked at her for a long moment. Finally, he said nothing more. He got in his car and drove away. Teresa only exhaled once his car disappeared.

When Teresa got home, she took the shirt from the bag, only to find there were two shirts inside. One was the white shirt she'd worn yesterday, stained with wine. It had been washed and dried, though faint traces remained. The other was a brand-new white shirt, her size, still tagged.

Suddenly, Teresa remembered seeing him asleep in his car. She wondered, 'Did he wash my shirt, buy me a new one, and then spend the night in his car?' It didn't matter; he was gone. On the table, the roses were still in full bloom, their fragrance filling the room.

She pulled out her phone to send a quick thank you for the new shirt, but the message wouldn't send. She had deleted him many times before, but this time, he'd deleted her. Teresa thought, 'Maybe that's for the best.'

Teresa didn't take Michael to kindergarten that day. She worried Jonathan might see him, however unlikely. To be safe, she decided to wait a couple of days. Since she had classes, she went straight to school.

"Hey Teresa, are you doing okay after yesterday?" It was Ivy, the teacher who'd lent her a jacket. Teresa returned the jacket and gave Ivy some hydrating face masks as a thank you.

Teresa said, "No worries. Just be careful around Lysander."

Ivy took the masks and whispered, "We were all talking yesterday—it looks like Lysander is interested in you. His family is very influential, so keep your distance."

Teresa nodded. Later that afternoon, Lysander called Teresa into his office.

Lysander looked at Teresa, smiling. "I had a little too much to drink. I wanted to apologize, but you left after going to the restroom."

"I wasn't feeling well, so I took a cab home," Teresa answered, maintaining her distance.

"Not feeling well? Want me to get a doctor, Teresa?" Lysander asked.

He gestured for Teresa to come closer, but she didn't move. She said she was feeling much better.

"Really? You still look a little pale," Lysander pressed.

Expressionless, Teresa said, "I'm fine now. Is there anything you needed?"

Lysander leaned back and lowered his voice. "You're still on a contract here, right? It's a shame—your pay isn't as good as a full-time job. If you want to go full-time, I can make it happen."