Chapter 437

Donald said he and Jennifer were getting their marriage licenses in August. That day hadn’t come yet. Teresa’s face was cold as she said, “Well, I hope everything goes smoothly for you two. Just make sure you pick a nice day. Don’t go when it’s thundering.” Jennifer could tell Teresa was being sarcastic. She sighed, “You have to promise me, don’t go confronting your ex. Did you forget about the baby you’re carrying? Do you really want both our kids to have no peace?”

Teresa, clearly annoyed, shook off Jennifer’s hand. “Fine, I won’t say anything, okay? Happy now? Please leave.” With a loud bang, she slammed the door, shutting Jennifer out.

Jennifer stood there, unsure whether she should believe Teresa or not. She knocked on the door again. “Teresa, open up. I didn’t want to bother you, but you blocked me everywhere, so I had no choice but to come here. Please, open the door. I’m begging you, just this once. Don’t treat me like this, or I’ll have nothing left. I’m your real sister. Doesn’t that mean anything to you? You can’t treat me like this.”

Teresa leaned against the door, finally unable to resist Jennifer’s relentless pestering. She opened the door again. “I won’t spill the beans. Are you ever going to stop?”

Seeing the tears in Teresa’s eyes, Jennifer fell silent. She finally realized Teresa wasn’t lying. Jennifer let out a long breath, her voice soft. “Thank you, Teresa. Thank you for me, and for my baby.”

Teresa was speechless. “So you didn’t go through with the abortion?” When she’d gone to Shaville for work, Jennifer had said she’d get the abortion herself.

Jennifer shook her head. “Donald’s been so good to me. I just need more time to think about it. It feels too cruel to him.”

Teresa was completely exasperated. First, Jennifer swore she’d leave Nareigh and move to Shaville, but she didn’t. She said she’d never get married, didn’t believe in love, and that men were all the same. But she moved in with Donald and got engaged. She said she’d get an abortion for her career, and now she was keeping the baby. It was always her, changing her mind.

Teresa couldn’t help but give a sarcastic thumbs-up. “Hannah, have you ever kept a single promise? You’re always calling other people childish and immature, but are you really any better?”

“Whatever. I don’t even want to talk to you anymore. I’m blocking you again, and this time it means I don’t want anything to do with you. Whether you keep the baby or not, it’s your business. I’m done interfering. If you ever get married, have Evelyn let me know.”

Other than Jennifer and Donald’s wedding, there was really nothing else Teresa needed to be involved in.

Jennifer was silent for a long time. “Alright, let’s just leave it at that. Still, thank you.” She didn’t say anything more and turned to leave. Teresa closed the door again, her face expressionless.

Edward brought Michael along to have lunch at a nearby spot, Grove Bistro. That morning, Benny had come looking for Jonathan, planning to get him some ginger tea. When he heard Jonathan was going to eat with Edward, and since he had nothing else going on, Benny decided to join in the fun.

“Whoa!” Michael pointed at Benny. “Bunny is here, too!”

Edward looked confused.

Benny greeted Michael, “This little guy thinks my name sounds like a bunny.”

Edward laughed, “He got an insight.” Benny couldn’t help but laugh at that. Jonathan, on the other hand, didn’t smile. He brought over the cake he’d ordered ahead of time. “Happy birthday, Mike,” he said, giving the little grey cheek a gentle pinch. “How old are you now, huh?”

“I’m three!” Michael beamed, enjoying the attention as Jonathan pinched his cheek.

Benny leaned forward, curiosity in his eyes. “Three already, huh? So, Mike, who celebrated your birthday with you the last two years?”

Michael pouted, “Mom never celebrated my birthday. This is my first birthday party.” Michael wished Teresa could be there too; he’d be even happier.

Benny’s eyes grew thoughtful. “So your mom doesn’t celebrate your birthday? That actually reminds me of a tradition from Nareigh.” He explained the custom to Jonathan and Edward. In Nareigh, if a child was born around Halloween, or if a single mom was raising the kid alone, they didn’t throw a big birthday party for the first couple of years—supposedly to keep mischievous spirits from snatching the child away. The child had to be given a godparent, and only after they turned three could they have a proper birthday celebration.

Jonathan raised an eyebrow. “I’ve never heard of this weird superstition?”

Benny just grinned. “You only lived in Nareigh for a few years. I grew up here.”

Today was Michael’s birthday, and it was not Halloween, so that left the other possibility: Michael’s parents got a divorce. Benny was getting more and more interested. He’d been itching to ask since he first saw Michael, and now the urge was back. He reached out and ruffled Michael’s hair. “Hey Mike, can I ask you something? Is your mom’s name Teresa?”

Jonathan just rolled his eyes at Benny.

Edward jumped in, “Benny, what kind of joke is that? There’s no way Teresa had a kid.”

Benny glared at Edward. “Let the kid answer, will you?”

Michael remembered what Miriam had told him that morning, so he just shook his head, looked down, and focused on his ribs, not saying a word.

Jonathan patted Michael on the head, thinking he was just scared. Then he turned to Benny. “If you’ve got something to do, just go. I didn’t even plan on inviting you today.”

Benny spread his hands helplessly. “Don’t you guys think this is a little weird?”

“What’s so weird about it?” Jonathan shot back.

Jonathan had already done many DNA tests with Michael. Just thinking about how Teresa cut him off so completely made Jonathan’s heart ache all over again.

“I know what’s weird,” Edward snapped his fingers. “Mike kind of looks like Jonathan, doesn’t he?”

Benny snapped his fingers, too. “Edward, you just hit the nail on the head.”

Edward had actually thought so for a while. He looked at Jonathan. “Come on, just admit it. Did you freeze your sperm or something?”

Jonathan was really speechless. Edward thought he was spot-on and he continued, “Jonathan doesn’t have any kids, so what if he gets old or something happens and he can’t have any? Maybe he froze his sperm just in case. Then, some woman with an agenda could’ve gotten her hands on it, hoping to use the kid to marry into money. That woman is Miriam’s cousin, and Miriam probably has no idea.” Edward was so proud of his wild theory that he started clapping for himself. “Call me Detective Edward!”