Chapter 344

Teresa thought about it for a moment and then said, “You’ll have to ask Miriam. She’s taking the kid back and giving him to her cousin.”

Benny asked, “What do you mean? Aren’t you going back to Nareigh?”

Teresa replied, “Okay.”

Benny became quiet for a while. “Really? I thought you were going back. Jonathan told me you should go back.”

Teresa replied, “I might not go back. Miriam will. The kid’s going with her. Like you said, he’s not my own, so I don’t have to be too involved in his life, right?”

Benny fell silent again. Teresa’s words left him speechless. He sighed.

Benny said, “Alright then. I’ll get in touch with Miriam.”

After hanging up, Teresa was about to take a break when the doorbell suddenly rang. She never expected it to be Jennifer—Teresa was stunned. Before she could even close the door, Jennifer strode right in.

Jennifer said, “When we were on the phone, I heard a bus. The next stop was Jadeleaf Apartment. I looked up this neighborhood and figured you might live here. I bribed the security guard. Honestly, the management here is terrible. They told me everything, even your apartment number.”

Back in Nareigh, the security team of Rosary Estates actually did their job. Teresa was furious. “What are you trying to say? You just have to be involved in every part of my life? Are you happy now? Yes, I live here. You found me again. I have nowhere else to hide. Satisfied?” She pointed at the door, demanding that Jennifer leave.

Jennifer stayed calm. “Teresa, you’re being paranoid. What I mean is, this place isn’t safe—the environment is bad, and the security is even worse. You’re here alone. You’re so pretty. It’s too dangerous.”

Teresa didn’t say a word. She just snorted. Jennifer continued, “I checked it before I came—there is a school around here, right? You bought this place for Mike’s schooling, didn’t you?”

Seeing that Jennifer acted like she knew her very well, Teresa became even colder.

Teresa said, “Wow, so the ‘normal’ you checked if my place is near a school. Only you get to decide what normal people are like, huh?”

Jennifer said, “Do you really have to talk to me like this? We are sisters. Do we have to be like this?”

Jennifer had come here alone, without Donald. She just wanted to have a calm and serious conversation with Teresa. But Teresa left her no choice. Teresa might have had a reason to stay here before. But after Jennifer found her again, even her last safe place didn’t feel safe anymore. Teresa was on the verge of breaking down.

“I have no family to rely on. I only have my child now. I already gave up everything for you. What else do you want from me?”

Tears welled up in Jennifer’s eyes. She said, “I am your family! You’re my only sister. Of course, I want you to be happy.”

A single tear slid down Jennifer’s cheek, but she quickly wiped it away. Suddenly, they heard a voice. “Mom.” The childish voice broke the tense silence. Teresa turned around and saw Michael, who had woken up at some point. He ran over on his short legs and threw himself into Teresa.

Jennifer smiled, staring at Michael, who had grown much taller. “Hey Mike, I’m here with you. Aren’t you happy?”

Michael shook his head and looked up at Teresa, terrified.

Michael asked, “Mom, is she going to live with us again?”

Teresa shook her head, trying to reassure him. She put her arm around his shoulders. “See? We don’t want to live with you. When we did, we were always on edge, scared we’d say something wrong and make you mad.”

Jennifer took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. She said, “I know I used to be too controlling. Sometimes I just couldn’t keep my temper.” She gently patted Mike’s head. “Don’t be scared of me, Mike. Your mom and I are your only family.”

But Michael just hugged Teresa even tighter, still looking terrified. “Jennifer, don’t be mean to my mom. I’ll protect her.”

Jennifer’s heart ached. She said, “Mike, I’m not here to be mean to you. I want to take you and your mom back to Nareigh.”

Michael’s eyes lit up like two little light bulbs. He looked at Teresa, excitement shining in his eyes. “Mom, are we really going back?”

Teresa could tell that Michael wanted to go back a lot. Nareigh had great public facilities, and the houses there were way nicer. Teresa couldn’t argue with that—even if she could make herself adapt to tough places, she couldn’t change what her child wanted.

“Let’s go back to Nareigh,” Jennifer said, enunciating each word. “I can protect you now. You can live however you want.”

Teresa was speechless. She said to Michael, “Go back to your room. I’m not going to argue with your aunt. Be good, okay?”

Once Michael left, Teresa said to Jennifer calmly and coldly, “Let’s talk, just the two of us.”

Jennifer stepped into Teresa’s room, looked around, and sighed. “This room isn’t even as big as your walk-in closet back at Rosary Estates. Why put yourself through this? You’re only punishing me.”

Teresa said, “But it’s peaceful here. No nagging, no lectures, no one would judge everything I do. And most importantly, Mike doesn’t have to tiptoe around you anymore.”

Jennifer said, “What…” She had to admit that she had done something wrong before. She and Teresa used to argue all the time, and Michael would always overhear them.

Jennifer said, “I have my own house in Nareigh. I won’t be living with you two. Jonathan came to me. He won’t pester you again. And I promise, I won’t be living with you either.”

Teresa looked at Jennifer and asked, “You really can’t stand him, can you? Then why are you with Donald, his cousin?”

Jennifer said, “How could our situations be the same? Your ex-mother-in-law was a nightmare. My future mother-in-law is actually pretty decent and nice. She, at least, is gentle.”

Teresa gave an unconvincing smile. “Your future mother-in-law? Sounds like you’re going to get married.”

Jennifer replied, “That’s the plan. We love each other. The only thing I cannot get over is you. Finding you made me so happy. I really hope you’ll come back with me.”