Chapter 365

Teresa spoke, enunciating each word. “We’ve both chosen our own paths, and we’re going to see them through to the end. Whatever the price, we brought it on ourselves. I don’t blame you anymore, and you shouldn’t blame me either.”

“Teresa.” Donald’s voice suddenly came from behind her as she finished speaking. Donald had come to Teresouth Group today with Jennifer.

Seeing Jennifer’s red eyes, Donald walked over, put his arm around her shoulders, and said to Teresa, “Honestly, Jennifer really loves you, you know. She cares about you as her sister. She actually bought a place for you in Chesburg at first, thinking you’d want to live there. But then she figured you liked Nareigh more and worried one apartment wouldn’t be enough, so she sold the first one and bought you this place in Newuze Garden. She really put a lot of thought into it.”

“Oh, well, thank her for me. She’s just a real saint, isn’t she?” Teresa replied, her voice thick with sarcasm.

Donald couldn’t understand why Teresa always treated Jennifer like this. Maybe little sisters just didn’t get how much their big sisters cared. He said, “Teresa, Jennifer and I are getting engaged. Everyone in the Lynn family wants you to come. Grandpa especially hopes you’ll be there. Even if you don’t want to go to the ceremony, can’t you at least come for a meal? Is no one from Jennifer’s family coming at all?” After all, a wedding was about two families coming together. Jennifer not only had no family here—she barely had any friends either.

“Let your future mother-in-law go. I’m sure she’d love to. As your cousin’s ex-wife, and with Irene in the picture, it’s really not my place to go. Otherwise, Irene would have my head. That’s it,” Teresa said, and with that, she left. No matter what anyone said, she wasn’t going to go.

Donald put his arm around Jennifer, trying to comfort her. “Don’t be upset. If your sister doesn’t want to come, that’s fine.”

“How about I call your mom? If you don’t want to talk to her, I can do it. She should come by at least once, right?”

“Let’s talk about it when we get home.” Jennifer wiped away her tears, gently pushed his hand away, and headed to the restroom.

While Donald waited outside the restroom, the secretary took Michael’s hand and got into the elevator. “Mike, you must be tired from playing. Let’s go find your mom,” the secretary said.

“My mom’s done with her meeting, right?” Michael asked.

Just as the elevator doors were about to close, Donald’s sharp ears caught Michael’s voice. The staff elevator was made of glass and slowly ascended. Donald looked up and spotted Michael inside.

When Jennifer came out of the restroom, Donald quickly pulled her over and pointed up at Michael. “Look, it’s that kid again. Why is he at Teresa’s company?”

Jennifer frowned, her voice flat. “Didn’t I already tell you? The kid’s mom is just a good friend of Teresa’s. Teresa’s just helping her out with the kid.”

Donald hesitated. “But my mom said she heard a kid calling Teresa ‘Mom’ last night.”

Jennifer said, “What’s that supposed to mean? She’s my own sister—like I wouldn’t know if she was seeing someone. Or are you saying the women in the Johnston family are that cheap, having a kid with an ex?”

Donald pressed his lips together and tried to reassure Jennifer. “Hey, don’t get upset. That’s not what I meant. It’s just that the kid is always hanging around your sister, and it just feels kind of weird to me.”

Jennifer linked her arm with his and quickly changed the subject. “Let’s not talk about that kid. Call Evelyn. If she doesn’t want to come, then forget it. You know I can’t stand her anyway.”

“Alright, I got it.” Donald let Jennifer pull him along, but before leaving, he still glanced back at the elevator, looking a bit puzzled.