Chapter 570

Teresa left Jonathan’s villa and headed to Miriam’s place to pick up Michael, but Miriam said that she would bring Michael over to Teresa. Teresa was too exhausted to make the trip herself, so she readily agreed.

Miriam dropped Michael off. While the boy was playing in his room, Miriam immediately caught the telltale marks on Teresa’s neck.

Miriam said, “Mike had a slight fever yesterday. I tried calling you, but you didn’t answer.”

Teresa’s heart skipped a beat. She was about to check on Michael when Miriam suddenly grabbed her hand.

Miriam said, “Mike is fine now. He just had a low fever.”

After a sigh, Miriam continued, “I called you yesterday, but you didn’t pick up. Jonathan answered instead. The moment I heard his voice, I figured you two were together. That’s why I didn’t tell you about Mike being sick. So don’t blame yourself. I know if you’d known he was ill, you would have come right away.”

Teresa slumped on the sofa, with her head hung low in self-reproach. She said, “Thank you, Miriam. If it weren’t for you, I don’t know how I would have gotten through this alone.”

Miriam couldn’t bear to see Teresa like this. She sat down beside Teresa and held her hand. Miriam said, “You can’t keep this up forever. Come clean with Jonathan about Mike. If he dares to give you any trouble, I’ll take you and Mike and leave here.”

Teresa frowned, suppressing her unease. “I’m just afraid that I’ll never be able to leave if I tell him the truth.”

Miriam reassured her by saying, “Don’t worry. You’re Mike’s mother, so custody will go to you. You don’t have to stress about Irene.”

“How can I not worry?” Teresa said bitterly. “Irene never accepted me, and I divorced Jonathan just to please her. I was so naive. I thought I could keep it from Mike forever, but I overlooked one crucial thing. Mike was born after Jonathan and I divorced. He is a child born outside of marriage. That makes him illegitimate.”

Miriam’s heart skipped a beat. “No. Mike is Jonathan’s son. How could he be an illegitimate child? Who put that idea in your head? Was it Jennifer again?” Miriam couldn’t think of anyone but Jennifer who would constantly guilt-trip Teresa like this.

Teresa said, “She does have a point. I just can’t bear to imagine Michael, a lively and cheerful boy, being looked at with prejudice. What would he think? How would he feel?”

Miriam noticed the tears welling up in Teresa’s eyes. Teresa’s fingers were ice-cold, and even as Miriam held her hands tightly, Miriam couldn’t seem to warm away the deep chill.

Miriam said, “This isn’t as serious as you think. Let Jonathan handle his mother. He must make him choose between you and his mother.”

“Forget it.” Teresa pulled her hand away. “Jonathan was raised by his mother alone. Why should I be the reason he’s labeled as ungrateful? Why let people think I’m the one coming between him and his mother?”

Miriam stroked Teresa’s head. “You’re overthinking everything. Stop letting it get to you.”

Teresa said, “I just can’t stop thinking about it, Miriam. You know, Irene is capable of anything.”

Miriam said, “But how much longer can you keep Mike a secret? I know you still have feelings for Jonathan, or you wouldn’t have…” Miriam trailed off, her gaze flicking to the telltale marks on Teresa’s neck.

Miriam finally admitted that she had spotted the hickey on Teresa’s neck the moment she walked in. As a woman, Miriam just got it.

Teresa hastily pulled a scarf over her neck and gave an awkward cough. She asked, “The concert tickets were from Jonathan. Why did you keep it from me?”

Miriam froze for a moment, and then she blinked innocently. “He told me not to say anything. How did you know? Did he tell you? How could he fish for credit in front of you?”

Teresa said, “He didn’t fish for credit.” She hesitated because she didn’t know how to put it to Miriam.

“Anyway, I don’t want to see Jonathan again,” Teresa said. “If it really comes to that, I’ll just take Mike and leave.”

In the past, Miriam would have supported every decision Teresa made. Miriam was her best friend and trusted her completely. Miriam never wanted to interfere with Teresa’s choices.

But things were different now. Miriam found herself reconsidering her stance. After seeing Teresa go through all these ordeals, she knew Teresa’s resolve must be wavering, too. Teresa could no longer be as unyielding, cold, and unfeeling as she was right after the divorce. Miriam’s advice remained the same. She wanted Teresa to come clean.

Miriam said, “Your only problem is Irene. Damn that woman. She really pisses me off. Tell me, why doesn’t she like you? Is she just jealous because you’re more attractive than she ever was? I swear, many women envy their daughters-in-law for being prettier.”

Teresa said, “Irene just wants Jonathan to marry an understanding woman, ideally, someone who grew up with him. Honestly, if Yvonne were still alive, she would be Irene’s top pick.”

Miriam suddenly asked Teresa, “Do you think Yvonne is really dead?” Miriam wondered if Yvonne faked her death.

Teresa wasn’t sure if Yvonne was dead or not. After all, Jonathan had told Teresa that Yvonne committed suicide due to depression, and since the divorce, Teresa had never seen her again.

Miriam said, “If Yvonne is really dead, you don’t have to worry about her popping up and coming between you and Jonathan after you remarry. You two can finally give Mike the family he deserves. As for Irene, just let Jonathan handle her.”

“No,” Teresa said stubbornly.

Miriam frowned. “Why must you always put yourself last? You don’t want Jonathan to have conflicts with his mother, and you don’t want to make things hard for him. But doesn’t this torment you? You let Jonathan think you don’t love him anymore, and let Mike grow up misunderstanding you. I just can’t stand seeing you shortchange yourself like this.”

Seeing the tears welling in Teresa’s eyes, Miriam gave her a comforting pat on the shoulder. “Just let Jonathan handle everything. Don’t worry if he can handle it. If things really go south, worst case, we’ll just take Mike and leave.”

Teresa took a deep breath and said, “Miriam, please give me a few more days to think about it.”

Miriam nodded. “At first, Benny and I thought you two had fallen out of love, especially you. I thought you’d stopped loving Jonathan long ago. Who would’ve thought you still… Alas.”

Miriam finally knew that Irene was the real source of Teresa’s worries.

After seeing Miriam out, Teresa went to check on Michael. His fever was gone, but she still pressed her forehead to his, just to be sure.

After Michael fell asleep, Jonathan called Teresa. She noticed he had called twice and, after a brief hesitation, she picked up.

Jonathan asked, “Are you okay?”

Teresa replied, “What could possibly be wrong with me?”

Jonathan said, “I took a nap and had a dream. You were running a fever in it.”

Teresa instantly fell silent. After a while, she replied, “I’m not running a fever.”

“Alright. I just came home,” Jonathan said. He noticed Teresa hadn’t taken the necklace, but chose not to bring it up. Then Jonathan teased, “Why didn’t you do the dishes after breakfast?”