Chapter 589

Teresa didn’t pursue the topic further. “How much longer are you planning to stay in Nareigh?” she asked bluntly.

“I’ll wait until you’ve told Jonathan about Mike before I leave. When the time comes, you can put all the blame on me. I just don’t want to see you or Jennifer struggling because of this.”

“I appreciate your kindness. If you want to stay with Jennifer, go ahead. But don’t do it for me. I can handle my own affairs.”

Teresa’s stubborn streak kicked in. She refused to let an unrelated man like Sanford get involved in her business with Jonathan, let alone cover for her. With that, she turned to leave.

Sanford’s phone suddenly rang. He answered it. All Teresa heard was a sharp, shocked gasp from the other end of the line.

After hanging up, Sanford’s face drained of color in panic. His mother in Shaville was critically ill. Her cancer had metastasized. He had to leave at once.

“Get me a cab, quick! I need to get to the airport right away.”

“My car’s downstairs. I’ll drive you there,” Teresa offered.

Sanford frantically gathered his belongings and hurried out.

Teresa dropped Sanford off at the airport terminal. He had already booked the earliest available flight, departing in just forty minutes.

Jonathan was returning to Nareigh through another terminal concourse after a two-day business trip. As his driver went to retrieve the car, he spotted Teresa talking with Sanford diagonally across from him.

Jonathan frowned, his gaze sharpening as he fixed his eyes intently on Teresa.

“Mr. Lynn?” The driver pulled up and called out to him.

“Give me the car keys,” Jonathan commanded, his voice clipped. “I’m driving myself home.”

“Right away, Mr. Lynn.”

Teresa hadn’t seen Jonathan yet. She left the airport and headed toward the parking lot. She had just opened her car door when someone abruptly slid into the passenger seat.

Teresa jumped in fright. If she hadn’t seen Jonathan sitting there, she would have screamed and called the police.

“What are you doing here?” Teresa clutched her chest in shock, staring incredulously at Jonathan, who had appeared as silently as a shadow.

Jonathan shot her a glance. “Didn’t I text you that I was away on business? What are you doing here?”

Teresa said lightly, “I was just dropping off a friend.”

“Since when have you and Sanford been friends?” Jonathan’s gaze bore into her. “I told you not to trust him and to stay away. Why won’t you listen? He’s only getting close to you to get back at me. He’s always believed my mother and I stole the father who should’ve been his.”

“His mom’s critically ill, and the cancer’s spread. He was rushing back, so I just gave him a ride. Happy now?”

Jonathan shot back, “Couldn’t he just take a cab? Why did you have to drive him yourself? What are you, his personal chauffeur?”

Teresa, fuming, jabbed a finger at the car door and snapped, “Get out of my car!”

Jonathan buckled up silently. “So, you can give him a ride, but not me? Looks like I haven’t tired you out enough. I thought you’d be stuck in bed these past two days, but here you are, still running around.”

“You-” Teresa was rendered speechless, then finally spat out, “You’re crazy!”

Jonathan leaned back and closed his eyes, feigning rest. Teresa didn’t actually kick him out of the car after all. “Where to?” she asked tersely, but he remained silent.

Teresa was about to drop Jonathan off at Horizonlead Group when his phone rang. He rubbed his throbbing temples as he listened to the caller, his expression gradually darkening.

Teresa seemed to hear shouting coming from the other end of the call, though she couldn’t make out what was happening. Yet Jonathan seemed completely unfazed.

Teresa couldn’t help asking, “What’s wrong?”