Chapter 452

Jennifer spotted the collapsed woman before Donald did. From her angle, she was fairly certain it was Cheryl! Jennifer knew Cheryl was in Lonisburg, but she didn't want to leave the car; she was too scared.

“Jennifer, did you see that? Is that Cheryl?” Donald asked.

“No, you’re mistaken,” Jennifer replied quickly.

Donald said, “But she looks like her. I’m going to check—”

Seeing Donald about to pull over, Jennifer grabbed his hand. “My stomach hurts so much. Please, just drive! Take me to the hospital. Hurry!”

“Okay, hang in there. I’ll look for a hospital nearby,” Donald said, worry etched on his face.

“Just keep driving. I think there’s a hospital ahead,” Jennifer urged.

Seeing Jennifer’s frown and shaky voice, Donald didn’t hesitate. He accelerated, speeding past the girl collapsed on the ground, surrounded by a crowd.

Cheryl lay on the ground, her face pale, lips drained of color, her vision fading to black. She thought, ‘Am I dying?’ In a daze, she felt a cold hand patting her face. She couldn’t make out the person’s face, but the presence felt familiar. Like someone drowning, she clung desperately to that hand. “Help. Please help me.”

The next moment, everything went dark.

Jennifer spotted a restroom and asked Donald to pull over. When she returned, she acted calm and told him she was fine.

Donald still looked worried. “Maybe we should go to the hospital for a checkup. We can visit Ms. Nelson next time.”

Jennifer shook her head. “I’m okay. I just ate something that didn’t sit right, but I feel much better after using the restroom.”

Donald let out a sigh of relief. “Are you sure? You scared the shit out of me just now.”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Jennifer said, getting back into Donald’s car.

While Jennifer was in the restroom, she secretly texted Cheryl to ask if she was alright, but Cheryl didn’t reply. Jennifer was sure the woman who fainted was Cheryl. She kept checking her phone, waiting for a reply, but there was still no notification.

Donald glanced at her. “What’s up? You seem distracted.”

Jennifer paused. “I just texted Cheryl. She said she was fine and didn’t faint, so I guess you must have mistaken that woman for her.”

Only then did Donald feel relieved. “I was just about to call her myself, but since you already checked, that’s a relief.”

“Yeah,” Jennifer replied.

After a long journey, they finally arrived at the small town where Jennifer had grown up. The road was muddy and Donald couldn’t drive in, so he and Jennifer had to walk the rest of the way. Donald lugged all their bags, while Jennifer walked slowly behind him. A child at the school gate shouted, “Ms. Nelson, come out. Someone is here for you.”

Donald glanced around at the old buildings and a group of scruffy girls in faded clothes, feeling sad. He figured these were probably children from poor families who didn’t have anyone to care for them.

A strong, clear voice rang out. “Who is it?”

An elderly lady with gray hair, leaning on a cane, came out of the office. Genevieve wore glasses; her face was full of wrinkles, but her eyes were bright. The years had left their mark on her, and though her once-beautiful features showed signs of age, it was clear she must have been stunning in her youth.

“Hi, Ms. Nelson. It’s me, Jennifer,” Jennifer said softly, reaching out to shake Genevieve’s hand.

Genevieve stared at Jennifer for a few seconds, then broke into a delighted smile. “It’s you, Jennifer! My dear, you look so pretty. I almost didn’t recognize you.”

Jennifer hugged Genevieve. “I’m so sorry I haven’t come to see you in so long. Last time I met up with Rebecca, we promised we’d come back together when we had time, but I’ve just been so busy.”

As Jennifer spoke, she introduced Donald to Genevieve. “This is my husband, Donald Lynn.”

Donald set down the bags and shook Genevieve’s hand. “Ms. Nelson, Jennifer told me a lot about you. Thank you so much for saving her when she was little. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have met someone as wonderful as her. I don’t know how to thank you enough.”

Genevieve looked Donald up and down, taking in his tall frame and handsome face, and smiled. “You seem like a good man. Where are you from?”

“He’s from Nareigh,” Jennifer said. “I work in Nareigh now too, at the best hospital in the city. I’m an attending physician now.”

Genevieve nodded approvingly. “Good. I always knew you would make something of yourself. I’m proud of you.”

Jennifer said proudly, “I would never let you down. I’ve always put my studies and career first all these years, and I only started thinking about marriage once my career was stable.”

Genevieve nodded. “That’s right. As a woman, you can’t let love cloud your judgment, and you should never give up your career for a man. Before getting married, you need to have your career. Even after marriage, you should always prioritize yourself. Don’t end up with nothing to your name.”

Donald quickly replied, “Don’t worry, Ms. Nelson. Jennifer is the love of my life, and I’ll take care of her and treat her well forever.”

Genevieve opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something more, but in the end, she just smiled gently and remained silent.

“Ms. Nelson, we actually came to invite you to our wedding. We’d love for you to be our witness,” Jennifer said. Jennifer told Genevieve that she had found Teresa and that her family had always wanted to thank her for everything.

Genevieve replied, “I appreciate your kindness, but I won’t be attending your wedding. The kids here need me. If I left, the school would be in complete chaos.”

Donald said, “Ms. Nelson, the kids here all seem well-behaved. How about I find a few teachers to help you out? Jennifer and I can book you a hotel in Nareigh.”

“Yeah, Ms. Nelson, just come to our wedding. We’d love to see you there,” Jennifer added.

Genevieve was firm. “Thank you for the invitation, and I wish you both a lifetime of happiness. I really can’t leave here. You know what, I’m in a good mood, so let me draw an oil painting for you as a gift.”

There were paint brushes in the office. Genevieve found a piece of paper and began to paint. By the time she was done, the painting had become more than just an image; it was a blessing, a wish for the newlyweds.

She said, “May your days be as tranquil as this scenery and your love as enduring as the blossoms in spring.”

Donald and Jennifer took the oil painting and said, “Thank you, Ms. Nelson. This means a lot to us. We love it.”

Genevieve held Jennifer’s hand, then Donald’s, and said with a smile, “I hope you both honor your marriage and always stay loyal to each other.”

Donald noticed a trace of sadness in Genevieve’s eyes, though he couldn’t quite figure out why.