Chapter 554

But the next second, Miriam’s call came in. Miriam informed Teresa that Jonathan had already brought Michael back home safely and even picked up some toys for him along the way.

Miriam said, “I’ve already asked Mike. He told me he was worried about Jonathan and went to check on him. When Mike says that, what else can I say?”

At Miriam’s words, Teresa finally exhaled in relief, the tight knot in her chest loosening at last. She replied, “It is a relief that Mike is okay. I’ll head over soon.”

After hanging up, Teresa finally turned to Jennifer. She reached out, intending to help Jennifer up, but Jennifer had already stood on her own.

Jennifer narrowed her eyes at Teresa and snapped, “You pushed me? You dared to push me.”

Teresa said, “Are you a broken record? Why didn’t you just give me my phone? Do you even know how panicked a mother gets when her child goes missing? Oh, wait, of course you wouldn’t know.”

Jennifer said, “All I know is, if I hadn’t stopped you, you would’ve caused irreparable damage.”

Teresa was sick and tired of Jennifer’s know-it-all attitude. She thought, ‘No matter what I say or do, it is always wrong in Jennifer’s eyes.'

Teresa snapped, “So what if I told Jonathan today? You saw what happened to Sanford. I just don’t want Mike to end up like him.”

Jennifer scoffed, “How dare you mention Sanford? You keep telling me to look at his fate, but you should be the one paying attention. His family was nearly destroyed, his reputation left in ruins. That’s just how Jonathan operates.”

Teresa retorted, “Sanford provoked Jonathan first. Besides, he’s not even Jonathan’s full brother. How can their situations be the same?”

“But the outcome would be the same. If you tell Jonathan about Mike now, Mike will most likely be labeled an illegitimate child,” Jennifer said coldly.

Teresa froze, stunned by the accusation. Just as Teresa was about to retort, Jennifer cut her off sharply.

Jennifer looked at Teresa with a mix of disappointment and frustration. “Wasn’t it because you were afraid Irene would snatch Mike away that you hid him in the first place? You felt utterly powerless, so you didn’t dare reveal the truth about your child.

“Do you think Irene, the way she is now, would let you off or acknowledge Mike? Not a chance. Just look at what happened to Sanford.

“In Irene’s eyes, you’re no better than Sanford’s mother–a woman who secretly had a child behind everyone’s back. She’ll only see you as cheap, even worthless, and she sure as hell won’t acknowledge you.”

Teresa snapped, “I don’t give a damn whether Irene acknowledges me or not.”

Jennifer shouted, “She won’t just reject you, she’ll reject Mike, too. Why can’t you ever listen to reason? Why are you always so damn stubborn? Mike is the last person Irene would ever acknowledge, never, not in a million years.

“Listen clearly. You’re long since divorced from Jonathan now. You have absolutely no ties left with the Lynn family–none whatsoever.

“Your child, Mike, and even the one you’re carrying now, will be born illegitimate, completely unacknowledged. Do you understand?”

Teresa’s eyes reddened slightly, but she kept her composure and firmly countered Jennifer, “No. That’s not going to happen.”

Jennifer retorted sharply, “How can you be so sure? You saw what happened to Sanford. So what if his father was a Lynn? Did that help him or his mother get accepted by the Lynn family? Not a damn chance.”

“My situation is completely different from Sanford’s,” Teresa shot back.

Jennifer snapped, “What difference does it make? As long as Irene is around, Mike will end up just like Sanford.”

Teresa’s feelings, Jennifer, disregarding her refusal to meet her gaze, Jennifer’s expression seemed intent on making her words even more brutal. Seeing the stubborn defiance in Teresa’s reddened