Chapter 403
Cathy let out a sigh. “It’s just such a shame. Werner and I both feel that way. You two were married for two years and didn’t have a child. If only things had been different.”
Teresa said, “Cathy, it’s getting late. I’ll hold onto the money for now, and I’ll talk to my sister about paying Donald back. You should get some rest, too.” Teresa spoke first, wanting to avoid further discussion about her and Jonathan.
Cathy took the hint and didn’t press further. She hung up.
Werner immediately asked Cathy, “So, what did Teresa say? Was the divorce really because of not having kids?”
Cathy sighed. “She’s still young. How could she talk about something like that? She just said their personalities didn’t match.”
Werner grumbled, “That’s just an excuse. I bet it’s because Teresa couldn’t have kids, and then Irene started blaming her for it.”
Cathy glared at him. “Don’t jump to conclusions. What if it’s actually Jonathan’s problem? You never know.”
“Alright, I’ll wait until Jonathan comes back from Nareigh and try to ask him about it on the sly,” Werner said.
At Rosary Estates, after hanging up the phone, Teresa felt even more awake. She went to the dining room and made herself a cup of coffee. As she was putting the coffee beans back in the cabinet, her hand slipped, spilling them all over the floor. Staring at the mess, Teresa frowned, her mind wandering.
It was a perfect summer afternoon, sunny, with a gentle breeze. Inside the upscale Luviston Estates, Teresa was sprawled on the sofa, scrolling through her online shopping cart. She’d been eyeing a $6,000 suit for Jonathan for ages. She really wanted to buy it for him, but he always insisted she shouldn’t spend her money on him. When it came to people she cared about, Teresa was always generous, especially with her husband.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang. Teresa thought Jonathan was home from work and happily went to open the door, ready to call out “Honey!” But instead, she was greeted by Irene, who’d arrived for one of her surprise inspections.
Irene looked around the apartment like a strict department head, her gaze sweeping over everything. There was trash on the floor. The coffee table was covered in snacks, and the kitchen sink was piled high with dirty dishes.
“Teresa, do you even look like a proper wife?” Irene snapped. “Every time I come over, this place is a mess. Just look at those dishes! Don’t you know how to wash them?”
Teresa hurried to explain, “Irene, I was just—”
“Don’t make excuses,” Irene said, cutting her off.
Teresa paused, then held up her finger, still wrapped in gauze. “You’ve really got it wrong. I did the dishes. Yesterday, I accidentally broke a plate while washing up and hurt my finger, so today Jonathan won’t let me do any chores.”
Irene let out a mocking laugh. “Oh please, you broke a plate on purpose just to get out of housework, didn’t you? You’re a grown woman. Using these little tricks for something like this? Aren’t you ashamed?”
Teresa’s face darkened. “What exactly are you trying to say?” She kept her tone in check, remembering Irene was her mother-in-law. “I wouldn’t break a plate just to get out of doing the dishes. Each plate costs over $300. That’s not pocket change.”
Irene said, “No wonder my son can’t save any money. He’s always spending it on you. You even make him buy plates that cost over $300. Why? Are they made of gold?”
“That was something I bought myself—” Teresa started, but Irene cut her off, losing patience.
Irene took a deep breath. “Teresa, don’t blame me for being blunt. I’ve seen plenty of girls like you, spoiled, lazy, and always scheming. If you don’t want to live a proper life and just want to enjoy my son’s kindness, then do us all a favor and ask for a divorce. Don’t hold him back from his career or from finding someone better.”
With that, Irene stormed out, slamming the door.