Chapter 348

Rebecca was still worried about Teresa. She thought it would be difficult for Teresa, a single woman with two sons, to remarry. Raising two children was exhausting. But that wasn't something she could help with. Rebecca returned to work.

After the parental checkup, Teresa had no choice but to buy a plane ticket. The Teresouth Group's new product launch event for the second half of the year was approaching, and the company needed her. She felt like everything was happening at once, forcing her to be as fast and efficient as possible. That was just how life went—when one was free, one was totally free, but once one became busy, everything came at the same time. Teresa started packing.

Soon, she was ready to return to Nareigh. Michael was in high spirits, jumping around and even helping Teresa with the luggage. “Mom,” he looked up at Teresa and asked, “Is Mr. Lime coming with us too?”

“He…” Teresa paused for a moment and then said, “I’m not sure. I’ll ask him after I finish packing.”

Even after Teresa finished packing, Michael was still thinking about Jonathan. He kept asking her when she was going to call Jonathan. Teresa retrieved her phone, but before she could call Jonathan, Jennifer’s name appeared on the screen.

Jennifer said, “All packed? Let Miriam take Mike back first. You two should leave separately, okay?”

Teresa replied coldly, “No need.”

Jennifer insisted. “Just believe me. Donald said his cousin was still in Everport. He might show up at your place. Just send Mike back first. It’s only a day’s difference.”

“I’ll ask Mike,” Teresa said, glancing at Michael. “We’ll talk about it later.”

Miriam returned, looking absolutely terrible. On the way back with Edward, they had run into Irene. Irene, Edward’s aunt, thought Miriam looked familiar. Edward introduced Miriam as Teresa’s friend. Irene was shocked and immediately became agitated. “Edward, are you out of your mind? What is wrong with you guys? Are there no other women left in the world? You’re dating your cousin’s ex-wife? Does your mom know this?”

Edward said, “No, Mom doesn’t know yet. Miriam and I really love each other.”

Irene said, “This is not right. Let me call your mother right now.”

Edward begged her. “Aunt Irene, please don’t. Miriam and I are leaving now.”

Edward grabbed Miriam’s arm and ran away, without looking back, no matter how loudly Irene shouted after them. Irene yelled, “Edward, you’d better break up with her! Do you hear me?” Even though they were far away, they could still hear her yelling.

That was what Miriam had just gone through. She told Teresa everything. Teresa had a headache. “See? With Irene around, you and Edward will not have any peace.”

Miriam said, “Keep this from Jonathan. This time, I’m totally on your side. If his mom finds out about Mike, she’ll probably lose her mind. I don’t know what she’d do. She is unhinged. She’s been a widow for years, so her hormones must be crazy. She’s got major issues.” Miriam was annoyed by Irene.

“I can’t stay here anymore,” Teresa said. “Irene’s here. Now my sister knows where I live. I have to go back to Nareigh.”

This time, Miriam agreed with Jennifer’s suggestion and decided that Jennifer should take Michael back to Nareigh first. Miriam crouched down to talk to Michael. “Come on, Mike, come with me. I’ll take you back to Nareigh first. We’ll go to the amusement park, okay?”

But Michael shook his head, hugging Teresa tightly. “No, I want to be with Mommy.”

Miriam tried to coax him. “Your mom will be with you soon. We’ll go back first and clean up the old house. Guess what? Edward will be there too. We’ll go back together.”

Hearing Edward’s name, Michael relaxed a little. He really liked Edward a lot.

“Edward is going back with us too, Mommy?” Michael looked up at Teresa. “Really?”

Teresa nodded and gave an ambiguous answer. “Everyone’s going back.”

The little boy was finally persuaded to leave. Teresa promised Michael that she’d come back the day after he did. She told him not to be scared, and they pinky-swore on it. Michael finally agreed to go with Miriam.

All of Teresa and Michael’s luggage had already been shipped back. Since Teresa was leaving a day later, she listed her apartment at Jadeleaf Apartment for sale. She didn’t expect the realtor to get in touch so quickly.

The realtor said, “Ms. Johnston, you’re selling your house at Jadeleaf Apartment, right? There’s a buyer who wants to come take a look at the house. If they like it, they’re willing to offer you 150 thousand more.”

Teresa asked, “Really? When do they want to come by?”

The realtor said, “They are free today.”

Teresa happened to be home. Selling the house before she left sounded like a perfect plan. She figured she probably wouldn’t be back in Everport anymore. But if the wish she made on South Mountain came true, she’d have to come back to Everport one last time.

Just as she was thinking about it, the realtor arrived with the potential buyer. The realtor, a woman, looked Teresa up and down and said, “Wow! I didn’t expect the owner to be so young and pretty! I thought you’d be much older.”

Teresa said politely, “Thanks. Please, come in.”

Then the realtor and the potential buyer both put on clean shoe covers before stepping inside. The potential buyer was a pretty young man. He kept looking at the furniture, examining the layout, everything except for Teresa.

Teresa picked up on it and asked, “Do we know each other?”

The young man replied, “No, no, not at all.”

He quickly turned to the realtor and said it was a nice house, and he would think about it later. As he was about to leave, bending down to take off his shoe covers, a business card slipped out of his pocket. Teresa picked it up. The card read: Deputy Director of Marketing, Apex Group. And at the bottom of the card, in tiny words, it read: Horizonlead Group.

Teresa suddenly figured it all out and asked, “Did Mr. Lynn send you here?”

The man clearly panicked. “No, no, our boss… I mean, I really do want this house! We can sign the contract right now. We can do it online too, if you’re in a rush to leave here.”

Teresa said, “How did you know I was in a rush? Did Mr. Lynn tell you?”

The man started stammering, unable to say another word. Even if Teresa was slow, there was no way she couldn’t figure out why he was acting this way. She thought, “No wonder he seems so nervous around me. He is barely able to speak or look into my eyes.”

Teresa said, “Go back. I’ll call Mr. Lynn myself and talk to him.”

The man said, “It’s not that. I really like this house.”

Teresa said, “Just go back.”

After the man left, Teresa called Jonathan. She heard his deep and mellow voice. “Hello?”

Teresa asked, “Sober now?”

Jonathan replied, “Yeah.”

Teresa said, “We need to talk.” She couldn’t explain everything over the phone.

Jonathan replied, “Just come to my apartment at Jadeleaf Apartment. I’m home alone.”

Then Teresa hung up the phone.