Chapter 633

Maybe there was no way for them to go back to how things were, and the best they could hope for now was simply to co-parent their children.

“Just do as I said,” Gary said, his eyes lingering on a photo of Mike flashing a peace sign by the TV. He added, “When Jennifer comes back, just tell her what we discussed. Since she doesn’t want to see me, I’ll leave first.”

Teresa sat alone on the sofa, her mind racing with thoughts of what was about to unfold. She had to come clean.

Jennifer returned soon after. Teresa noticed the troubled expression on her face and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Jennifer explained, “I just dropped Donald off at the airport. He bought his mother a villa in Soronfield for over 600 thousand dollars.”

“Where did Donald get that kind of money?” Teresa asked.

“Where do you think he got it?” Jennifer shot back, her tone laced with irony.

Suddenly, Teresa understood. A wave of discomfort washed over her. She asked Jennifer, “Did you tell Donald about Mike’s true parentage?”

“How could I possibly tell Donald?” Jennifer’s face was etched with sorrow. “Do you know what he said to me? He told me Werner’s image had collapsed, and Jonathan would be his faith, someone he looks up to as a brother.”

She let out a bitter laugh. “He already respected Jonathan so much, and now that Jonathan lent him money, he practically worships him. He said this was his debt alone, and it wouldn’t affect my quality of life.”

Jennifer’s eyes filled with tears as she looked at Teresa. “He’ll resent me. No, he’ll despise me. He’ll divorce me, convinced I’ve betrayed his trust and shattered everything he holds sacred.”

Teresa remained unmoved, determined not to let Jennifer’s tears sway her. She was afraid of disappointing Jonathan.

Jennifer hung her head low. “Even the car Donald’s driving now,” she mumbled, “was bought for him by Jonathan.”

Teresa froze. She thought the car was bought by Werner and Cathy.

Jennifer continued, “After Irene’s father-in-law ruined my wedding, the very next day, Donald showed up with a brand-new car. I didn’t bother to ask, and he never told me. I figured if he didn’t want to talk about it, I’d just pretend not to know."

“Today, he finally told me. Can you believe it? The car was a gift from your ex-husband, and even the money for the house was borrowed from your ex-husband.” Jennifer wiped away the last of her tears.

“I tried to convince him. Jonathan’s loaded anyway. But he told me I was wrong, that I shouldn’t look down on Jonathan’s money. He just won’t let me say a single bad word about Jonathan anymore."

“Donald…” Jennifer whispered, her voice trembling. “He’ll be the first to leave me. He’ll leave me for good.” Tears streamed down her cheeks. “I can’t live without him. He’s my only warmth. I can’t lose him.”

Teresa took a deep breath. In the past, she would have just let herself be pushed around, she thought. But not anymore.

Donald admired and respected Jonathan immensely, and with Jennifer’s repeated deceptions, it was only natural he’d be disappointed when the truth came out. She wasn’t sure whether Jennifer and Donald would end up divorcing.

Teresa said, “Jennifer, you’re still carrying his child. If you tell him you’re pregnant, he might reconsider for the baby’s sake.”

“No, he won’t,” Jennifer cut Teresa off, her voice laced with despair. “If he knows I deliberately hid my pregnancy and lied about it just to get a promotion, what will he think of me? He’ll see me as calculating, selfish, and heartless.”

Jennifer couldn’t bear to imagine the look of utter disappointment in Donald’s eyes. Or even worse, Donald might loathe her.