Chapter 402

When Teresa got home, Isabel and Michael ran to greet her, and she embraced them in a big hug. Ever since Teresa returned from Strico, Isabel's attitude had noticeably improved. But occasionally, she would look at Teresa with sad eyes and ask, “Is my mom going to leave me? Will you leave me too, Teresa?”

Teresa would reassure her, “Your mom’s not going to leave you. And even if it’s just me, I’ll take good care of you.”

The children munched on custard tarts, but Teresa seemed lost in thought. Her mind kept returning to Jennifer’s situation, leaving her feeling helpless. She didn't want to know Jennifer's secret, and hoped Jennifer wouldn't involve her in the ensuing mess.

After dinner, a call from Cathy startled Teresa. For a moment, she worried Cathy had discovered Jennifer’s pregnancy.

“Hello?” Teresa answered, her voice more cautious than usual.

“Teresa, you’re still up, right? I hope I’m not bothering you,” Cathy said.

“No, Cathy. It’s only ten. I don’t usually go to bed this early.” Teresa locked her bedroom door; with Michael and Isabel asleep, she didn't have to worry about the children interrupting.

Cathy got to the point. “I just sent you some money on PayPal. Can you check if I got your account right?”

Teresa, fresh from the shower, hadn't checked her phone. Opening PayPal, she saw Cathy had returned the 220 thousand dollars she’d transferred earlier.

“Cathy, what’s this about?” Teresa asked.

Cathy explained, “Well, Teresa, Werner and I talked it over, and we really can’t accept that money. You work hard for what you earn, and about the house, Donald was out of line. He should have told us before using the car money to help your sister buy a place. But what’s done is done. Now that Donald and your sister are engaged, we’re all family. Werner and I think it’s best to just let it go.” Cathy glanced at Werner beside her.

Werner nodded, having just opened a bottle of fine wine Jonathan had sent. He sipped it as they spoke.

“Cathy, you and Werner really don’t need to worry. That money was just what my sister owed Donald, and I paid it back for her. I’m doing fine. Teresouth Group pays me a good salary,” Teresa reassured them.

“Even so, Teresa. Werner and I just think if you and Jonathan ever got back together, we’d still be one family. There’s no need to make things awkward between us, right?” Cathy asked.

Teresa fell silent. After a long pause, she said, “Jonathan and I aren’t getting back together.”

“Teresa, I’ve always thought of myself as your family, so I hope you don’t mind me asking something personal. I’m just being honest, so don’t take it the wrong way,” Cathy said.

“Go ahead, Cathy,” Teresa replied, unsure what was coming.

Cathy hesitated, sounding a little embarrassed. “Was it because you and Jonathan didn’t have kids?”

Werner leaned in, gesturing for Cathy to put the call on speaker. He wanted to hear Teresa’s answer, too.

Teresa sighed inwardly. “Cathy, Jonathan and I have been divorced for over three years. We just weren’t right for each other, and that’s all.”

“If it’s just a matter of personality differences, you can always work through it. But if it’s about not having kids… Technology has come so far, and Jonathan is rich now. Don’t give up so easily,” Cathy advised.

Teresa was bewildered. She didn’t understand why Cathy kept focusing on children.

She said, “That’s not it at all, Cathy. It had nothing to do with having kids. We were both busy with our careers and just didn’t get around to it. It’s not that we couldn’t have kids. Really, please don’t overthink it.”