Chapter 406
Teresa: [Nothing. I just watched a TV show and now I’m in a bit of a mood.]
Jonathan: [Another one of those sad dramas? Seriously, you should cut back. They’re bad for your sleep.] Jonathan: [I’m heading to bed, babe. Barely got any shut-eye on the plane.]
Teresa: [Alright, go get some rest. You must be exhausted.]
Jonathan: [You didn’t even say you missed me.] It sounded like a complaint.
Teresa thought, ‘What’s the point of saying it out loud?’ She missed Jonathan, but all she could do was think about him. She couldn’t actually see him. She wished he could spend more time with her and that they could really talk about his mother. But he was so busy, and she couldn’t bring herself to take up any more of his precious time. He was so busy that he could only catch sleep whenever he managed to find a few spare moments. Teresa kept telling herself things would get better eventually. For now, she just had to hang in there. After all, it was Jonathan’s mother.
Irene showed up again the next day, banging on the door with a steaming pot of bone broth in her hand. She plopped it down on the table, clearly annoyed. She snapped, “I made this for my son to help him get his strength back, but he says he’s out of town for work and insisted I bring it to you instead.”
“What do you even need it for? All you do is lounge around at home all day.”
The more Irene talked, the angrier she became. She shot a glare at Teresa’s hand. “How long has your hand been hurt now? Still can’t use it? I was a daughter-in-law, too, but I never made a big deal out of everything like you did.”
Teresa listened quietly and then pushed the pot back toward Irene. “I don’t like it. Please take it back.”
“What? Did I say something wrong? Jonathan married you, but you’re useless at everything. So what if you’re pretty? Do you think looks can put food on the table? You don’t work. You don’t do chores. You can’t even compare to Yvonne,” Irene said.
Teresa took a deep breath, trying to reason with Irene. “Can’t you be reasonable? You always come here just to pick on me, but you’re out shopping and eating with Yvonne. I’m Jonathan’s wife. Isn’t that a bit much?”
“What’s so wrong about it? Now, are you blaming me, Teresa? Look at Yvonne. She’s sweet and considerate. She grew up with Jonathan, and she’s hardworking. That’s what a good wife looks like. She’s the one who deserves my son,” Irene said.
She added, “If you’re going to keep holding on to Jonathan, at least give him a child. You’ve been married this long and still haven’t gotten pregnant.”
Teresa’s patience snapped. “Jonathan’s career is just taking off. We agreed not to have kids so soon. We want to wait until he gets promoted. Then we—”
Before Teresa could finish, Irene cut her off. “With you around, how’s my son supposed to get ahead? He’s always thinking about you, always hovering around you, acting all sweet and lovey-dovey. How is he supposed to focus on work when he’s constantly taking care of you?”
“When did I ever ask him to take care of me all day?” Teresa retorted.
“Well, I’ve never seen you do anything for him. You’re not fit to be his wife. If you know what’s good for you, just have a kid, leave Jonathan an heir, and then get out of his life,” Irene barked.
Irene’s words echoed in Teresa’s mind for a long, long time.
Every time those petty, unpleasant memories crossed her mind, it only strengthened her resolve not to get back together. She was sure the new wanted to go back to how things were.