Chapter 711
Jonathan frowned, still thinking about Teresa’s strange behavior the previous night, when his phone rang. It was Gary. Gary asked, “Where should I drop Mike off tonight? Why is Rosary Estates locked?”
“Teresa is at my place,” Jonathan replied. “Just bring Mike to Forlisle Rose Estates later. She’s still sleeping.”
Gary let out a knowing sigh. “Alright, I won’t bother you then.”
After hanging up, Jonathan checked the time, prepared for a meeting, and noticed the overcast sky. He told his staff, “Let’s finish up half an hour early today.”
The employees exchanged glances, whispering, “What’s up with him? That’s two days in a row he’s let us off early.”
It was nearly 5 PM when Teresa woke up. Sitting up in bed, she felt a dull ache in her stomach and was utterly exhausted, lacking strength. It took her several minutes to realize she was in Jonathan’s house.
She got dressed, got out of bed, and prepared to leave quietly. The nanny heard the noise and immediately came from the dining room.
“Ms. Johnston, you’re awake. You must be hungry. Mr. Lynn had me prepare your favorite dishes. Shall I warm them up for you?” the nanny asked with concern.
“No need,” Teresa replied, steadying herself against the wall, her voice weak. “When he comes back, just tell him I went home.”
“Ms. Johnston, aren’t you going to eat?” The nanny watched Teresa limp out the door, looking puzzled.
After Teresa left, the nanny, unable to wait for Jonathan’s return, called him immediately. “Mr. Lynn, Ms. Johnston didn’t eat anything after she woke up. She just left, and she looked pale.”
“I know,” Jonathan replied, frowning as he hung up. He tapped his long fingers on the table and ordered, “We’ll finish in ten minutes. Just the key points, then adjourn.”
The weather was growing increasingly ominous. Already distracted, Jonathan kept stealing glances out the window.
Teresa had only taken a few steps away from Forlisle Rose Estates. Without a car, she planned to walk to a road where she could catch a taxi. Just then, a red Volvo pulled up.
Her face was ghostly pale, with cold sweat on her forehead. She was about to hail a cab to the hospital, but seeing Irene get out of the car, Teresa, pale and weak, stubbornly straightened herself.
Irene glared at Teresa, then glanced in the direction she’d come from, fuming. “What are you doing here? Are you coming out of Jonathan’s villa?” Irene pressed.
“I don’t know,” Teresa shot back coldly. “I’m done with your son.”
That same line again. Irene blocked Teresa’s way.
“Do you think I’m a child, that easy to fool?” Irene snapped. “If you’re over him, why leave his house? Are you jealous, bitter, or just can’t stand seeing him happy with someone better?”
Teresa didn’t want to argue, but seeing Irene’s attitude, she said firmly, “Irene, it’s your son who won’t let me go or leave my family alone. If you’re so capable, control your drunk son and stop him from bothering me.”
Irene laughed. “Ridiculous. Why would my son refuse to let you or your family go? He’s helped you many times. If you hadn’t begged him repeatedly, I doubt he would have kept softening toward you.”
A stabbing pain shot through Teresa’s abdomen. She couldn’t tell if it was a cramp or something worse. Still, she kept her composure. “Fine. Are you done? Can I go now?” she asked.
Irene blocked her way and pulled out her phone. “I’m calling Jonathan now to come back. You can’t keep pestering him. Today, you two will settle this once and for all and go your separate ways.”
Teresa felt weak and couldn’t wait for Jonathan’s return. Her body had felt unwell all day. Summoning her last strength, she violently shook off Irene’s restraining hand.
“You tell him yourself. I’m going home. I don’t have time to wait here for your son with you,” Teresa snapped.
“If you leave now, it means you have a guilty conscience. You’re afraid I’ll say bad things about you to Jonathan,” Irene declared confidently.
But Teresa didn’t care anymore. She never cared about her image in Jonathan’s eyes.
Teresa said, her gaze growing colder, “Say whatever you want to him. I’m worthless trash, yes, not rich like the Lynns. I was blind to marry him. Do what you want. My life means nothing. I’m not afraid of you.”
Irene stood frozen, utterly shocked by Teresa’s sudden self-degradation. In her eyes, Teresa had always been proud and unyielding. She had never heard her speak so harshly about herself before.
Suddenly, thunder rumbled as heavy raindrops began pelting down. Seeing the downpour, Irene shielded her head and quickly scurried away.
Teresa remained unmoved. Gathering her last strength, she walked forward expressionlessly, refusing to collapse before Irene and clinging to her final shred of dignity.
Irene had already reached the entrance of Jonathan’s villa, watching as Teresa’s figure grew smaller in the distance. She shook her head and muttered, “She’s lost it. She’s totally insane.” Turning away, Irene refused to look at Teresa any longer.
Teresa walked endlessly without looking back. Her vision dimmed until, completely exhausted, she collapsed unconscious onto the rain-soaked ground.
With a screech of tires, a Maybach slammed to an emergency stop beside her. Jonathan, his composure shattered in a rare state of panic, jumped out and scooped Teresa into his arms. He frantically patted her cheeks, calling her name, but she was unresponsive. As he cradled her, he realized just how frail her body had become.
Without a second thought, he carried Teresa into the car and barked at the driver, “To the hospital, now!” The driver had never seen Jonathan so distraught.
“Teresa, Teresa!” Jonathan pleaded, holding her tightly and gently patting her face. “Wake up. Please, don’t scare me like this.”
Even though she’d hidden Michael from him and made everyone lie about it, Jonathan had never once wanted to hurt her. The rain outside intensified, hammering against the car windows.
Chapter 711
When Jonathan rushed into the hospital with Teresa in his arms, he was soaked. His coat had kept her mostly dry from the rain until she was in the emergency room.
At Forlisle Rose Estates, Irene’s phone rang. She grabbed it and quickly asked a trusted company lawyer, “Is it true? Does Jonathan have a son?”
“Yes, Mr. Lynn has a three-year-old son,” the lawyer confirmed. “He took a DNA test, acknowledged paternity, and legally transferred properties in Jarisburg and Cranur to the child’s name.”
The news hit Irene like a sledgehammer. She pressed, “What does the child look like?! What’s his name? And who’s his mother?”