Jonathan’s kiss slammed onto Teresa–fierce, angry, and cold. His lips pressed hard, giving her no escape. Beneath his icy fury, she gasped for air, drowning in the storm of his rage.

Mustering all her strength, Teresa managed to shove him away.

Teresa shouted, her voice trembling with anger, “Get the hell out of my house. Don’t you dare bring your drunken mess in here.”

Jonathan wiped his lips, eyes clearing from the drunken haze. Moments ago, his belt buckle was near Teresa’s face, his desire barely held back. Teresa wasn’t blind. She saw everything.

“Didn’t you hear me? Get out, right now!” Teresa shouted as she wrenched her head away, her cheeks still blazing crimson.

Jonathan took a deep breath and said, “Pay me back with your body.”

Teresa froze in shock, then snapped her gaze to Jonathan.

Jonathan steadied himself, his face still flushed crimson from the alcohol. “Meet me at Forlisle Rose Estates tomorrow,” he said hoarsely. “We’ll have one last talk and put an end to this.”

With that, Jonathan left. He didn’t want to wake Mike.

Teresa slumped onto the sofa, her lips still stinging from where he’d bitten her. Her chest heaved with every shaky breath.

She thought, “He can find anyone to vent his anger on. Why does it have to be me? If I go, I’d be walking right into his trap. There’s no way I could keep the baby a secret if I get close to him again.”

Teresa had no idea what was going on in Jonathan’s mind anymore. The more she tried to figure him out, the less she understood him.

“Mr. Kelly, please bear with us a little longer. Jonathan will be here any minute now,” Irene said.

By noon the next day, Irene kept checking her watch. Jonathan had promised her yesterday that he would make time to come home for lunch with Eason, Katrina, and Yalena.

‘Why isn’t he here yet?‘ Irene wondered anxiously.

Irene was about to call Jonathan again to urge him when Eason, Yalena’s father, said, “If Jonathan is too busy, perhaps we should reschedule for another time. We have rather tight schedules ourselves.”

“Exactly,” Katrina, Yalena’s mother, chimed in. “We still need to take Yalena back to our hometown.”

Irene planned the dinner to discuss Jonathan and Yalena’s engagement, but to her disappointment, Jonathan, the groom–to–be, didn’t show up at all.

Irene quickly rose to her feet, trying to smooth things over. Forcing a smile, she said, “He might be tied up with clients or stuck in a meeting. Let me give him another call and check.”

Just as Irene was about to call, Jonathan walked in.

Jonathan didn’t leave Teresa’s until past midnight. After a restless night battling alcohol’s effects, he arrived late to the office and only came over after handling urgent company matters.

“Mr. Kelly, Mrs. Kelly, I apologize for being late,” Jonathan said, shaking hands with Eason.

Eason, clearly pleased with Jonathan, promptly introduced his daughter, Yalena. Then Jonathan gave Yalena a curt nod.

Yalena hurriedly said, “Mr. Lynn, don’t tell me you’ve forgotten me already. It’s only been a few days. Remember when your grandfather was in the hospital? I even went to visit him.”

Jonathan replied politely. “My grandfather has always appreciated your kindness, Ms. Kelly. It was very thoughtful of you.”

A strained smile played on Yalena’s lips as she said, “Mr. Lynn, please just call me Yalena. My heart has always been set on you, and Irene and I have always gotten along well.”

Yalena had hoped to use Irene to put pressure on Jonathan, but this time, she miscalculated.

After sitting, Jonathan toasted to apologize for his lateness and to honor Eason. He thanked Yalena for her affection but made it clear he wanted only a friendly relationship with the Kelly family, nothing more.