Chapter 694

One after another, they broke down in tears, begging Jonathan for mercy.

But there was nothing he could do about Cheryl.

Cheryl chose to help Teresa hide the truth and decided not to tell him about Michael. That wasn’t illegal. Jonathan couldn’t sue Teresa or Cheryl for it, nor was there any need to do so.

Realizing Jonathan would settle accounts later, Cheryl, ever so quick-witted, quickly scooped up her child and came to plead for forgiveness.

At first, Jonathan was furious that everyone around him had lied to him and kept him in the dark.

But what hurt Jonathan most was the emptiness and cold sense of betrayal that settled in after the anger faded.

He believed he had treated his family and friends well, but this was how they repaid him.

“That’s enough,” Jonathan said as he waved his hand, his voice stripped of any brotherly warmth. He sounded as if he were speaking to strangers. “You can all leave now. I’ve made everything clear.”

“Jonathan,” Cheryl cried, her voice breaking as she clasped her hands and tears poured down her cheeks, “please don’t be angry anymore. Just tell me what I can do to make it right, I’ll do anything you ask.”

“No need,” Jonathan replied. He couldn’t even bear to look at Cheryl anymore.

Jonathan dismissed them coldly and continued, “Is there anything else? I need to pick up Mike from the hospital, so I won’t be seeing you out. Please leave.”

“Jonathan…” Cheryl whispered, unwilling to leave, her eyes brimming with tears as she pleaded for his forgiveness.

Donald gently took Cheryl by the arm and said, “Let’s go back.”

“Jonathan, we’ll be going now,” Cheryl said, but Jonathan remained silent. As the eldest, Jonathan always saw his siblings to the door.

With that, Donald and Cheryl left together. Cheryl held Serena in her arms, her tears falling onto Serena’s face and waking her. Cheryl then gently soothed Serena for a while.

Cheryl asked Donald, who was driving. “Do you think Jonathan is angry with us?”

Donald, his eyes brimming with tears, said, “I think Jonathan is more heartbroken than angry. He probably feels that we’re no longer worthy of his trust.”

Cheryl sniffled and continued, “It’s my fault, I should’ve told Jonathan earlier, but I was so scared you’d find out I was pregnant and make me abort it. I didn’t know what to do, I just wanted to protect my baby.”

Donald sneered, “What were you thinking? You kept the baby without knowing who the father was. Look where that’s gotten you. Honestly, I’m at a loss for words.”

“Serena is innocent, isn’t she?” Cheryl said.

Donald glanced at Cheryl’s child, his niece Serena.

He thought, I don’t even have a kid of my own yet, and Cheryl is already a mom. I can’t believe I’m already an uncle. In two years, this little one will be calling me Uncle. How could I scold Cheryl now? Serena is already here, and she’s innocent.

“Are you planning to raise Serena all by yourself?”

“Yes, that’s my plan. I’m going to raise her well, all by myself.”

Donald thought for a moment and said, “We should tell Mom about Serena and talk it over together.”

Cheryl nodded. This time, she’d follow Donald’s advice.

“Then what about you and Jennifer? She knew about Mike, too. Do you think Jonathan will confront Jennifer about it?” Cheryl asked.

Donald suddenly fell silent. He glanced at his phone, but there was still no word from Jennifer. He shook his head and offered no further explanation.

Jonathan returned to the hospital. The DNA test results were out and were identical to Gary’s previous test results.

Jonathan summoned the company’s legal counsel.

The attorney explained, “Mr. Lynn, since you’ve confirmed paternity through a DNA test, you’re legally recognized as Michael’s father. Though he was born after your divorce, he holds the same legal rights as a legitimate child.”

“Exactly,” Jonathan said firmly. “That’s why I had this DNA test done. He’s my flesh and blood. I could never deny him.”

He knew deep down that Michael might be the only child he’d ever have.

Under current inheritance law, a DNA test is only legally valid if personally undertaken by the individual concerned.

Now that Jonathan has personally acknowledged Michael as his son, Michael is now entitled to all corresponding rights, including child support from his father.

“Mr. Lynn, if the child’s maternal grandmother files for monthly child support payments in court, you’ll be required to appear.”

“Her? Suing me?” Jonathan scoffed, snapping back to court.

A cold smile tugged at his lips. “Let her try. I’d be glad to face her in court.”

“Mr. Lynn, are you considering taking legal action against Ms. Johnston? Should our legal team begin preparing for a custody battle? If you decide to move forward now, we’ll make thorough preparations.”

Jonathan fell silent and didn’t answer the question.

After a long pause, he dismissed the lawyer. “No need to prepare anything else. Just leave the DNA results,” he said.

“Understood, Mr. Lynn. I’m at your disposal anytime.”

Jonathan headed back to Michael’s hospital room.

As Jonathan was about to enter the elevator, he noticed a heavily pregnant woman standing alone, about to step aside to let her go first.

“After you,” Jonathan said politely.

“Thank you,” the pregnant woman murmured, cradling her belly as she gave Jonathan a small, grateful nod.

Jonathan waited for the next elevator, and his brow furrowed deeply.

That pregnant woman reminded Jonathan of Teresa. He wondered, “Did Teresa face pregnancy, childbirth, and raise the child all alone? She never told me about it.

“Why didn’t she tell me? Was it because she didn’t want to remarry me? Did she despise me that much?”

The elevator arrived, and Jonathan stepped into it.

The elevator glass reflected his face. Lost in thought, he didn’t notice that heartache was the strongest emotion showing on his face.

The night stretched endlessly until dawn. Time seemed to crawl, each minute dragging like an eternity. Teresa stayed awake, not sleeping a single moment.

With Michael still not home, Teresa sat on the bed all night. It was the first time Michael hadn’t come back. Though she’d left him with Miriam many times before, she’d never felt this unsettled.

Teresa gripped her phone and wanted to call Michael, but saw his kiddie phone was at home. She thought, ‘He must be thrilled with Jonathan, having so much fun he’s not even thinking about me. I shouldn’t call right now.”

Left alone and lost, Teresa could only stare at the letter she’d written to Jonathan before planning to leave.

The letter revealed she learned she was pregnant with Michael after the divorce and chose to raise him alone. But suddenly, she didn’t want him to know, fearing he’d accuse her of playing the victim.

Teresa tore the letter into strips, one by one, then tossed them into the trash.

The emerald bracelet still lay on the table, Teresa studying it pensively.

Suddenly, a hand snatched the emerald bracelet away.