Chapter 774
Whether Jonathan cared or not, Evelyn insisted on apologizing. Remembering how she hadn’t recognized him before and worried he couldn’t give Teresa a happy life, she felt a wave of guilt.
She said, “Jonathan, I misjudged you. You’ve loved Teresa well and built her the life she deserves. She chose right.”
Then Evelyn turned to Teresa, urgent. “If love remains, rebuild.”
“Mom, that’s enough, we’ve moved on. We’ve talked it through and just decided to co-parent,” Teresa said.
“Moved on? Are you serious? Then how did you end up pregnant with his baby?” Evelyn shot back.
Then Evelyn turned to Jonathan and asked bluntly, “Jonathan, do you still love Teresa and care about her?”
Hearing this, Jonathan glanced over at Teresa.
Teresa reached out to cover Evelyn’s mouth, looking a bit impatient. “Enough, Mom. Why do you always say whatever pops into your head?”
Evelyn pried free and said, “Why not? Divorce doesn’t mean you two can’t get back together.”
Jonathan seemed to want to say something, but his son woke up, so he kept quiet.
Michael, still half-asleep in Jonathan’s arms, rubbed his eyes and asked in a sleepy voice, “Mr. Daddy Lime, where’s my mom?” The first thing this three-year-old boy did when he woke up was look for his mom.
“She’s outside talking to your grandma. Want to say hi?” Jonathan replied gently.
Michael remained nestled against Jonathan’s shoulder.
When Evelyn saw Michael, she was happy and smiled at him. While Michael, in his sweet, childish voice, called out, “Grandma.”
After Jonathan settled Evelyn into her room, he said, “Evelyn, get some rest. If you need anything, just let me or the housekeeper know.” Then Jonathan closed the door.
In the hallway, Teresa wanted to talk with Jonathan in private. Jonathan also wanted to chat, so he asked her to come into the study.
Teresa broke the silence first. “Ignore my mom’s bluntness. No ill intent.”
Jonathan fell silent. Then he suddenly stared at Teresa and said, “What if my answer to your mom’s question is yes?”
Teresa froze. ‘What does he mean by that?’ she wondered.
“Don’t you care about everything that happened between us? We went through so many awful, unhappy things,” Teresa asked.
“Didn’t you say you hated me for lying to you about Mike, for taking away your right to be his father? Have you borne no grudge about that?” Teresa added.
Jonathan fell silent again. Finally, he looked at Teresa and said, “I’m a man who knows when to let go. Now that we have two kids, our children shouldn’t relive my fractured childhood.
“See Mike’s fear? He was always scared that we’d leave him. He knows we’re broken. He’s clever.”
Teresa fell silent and frowned at Jonathan’s words. Everything he said was merely about their kids.
She said, “I’m sorry, but if that’s what you’re thinking, I still mean what I said before. I won’t fake reconciliation ‘for the kids’. Emotional stability matters more now.
“After all, if I’m broken after our remarriage, that would hurt them even more.”
“You think I’d break you? Or you still don’t trust me to give our family the life they deserve?” Jonathan asked.
Teresa’s silence was answer enough. She just couldn’t trust him. His mom, who’d been with him the longest, always came first.
Jonathan looked away in disappointment. “Well, just forget what I just said.” After all, she had never trusted him, not even once.
“Get some rest,” Jonathan said.
“Yeah, you too,” Teresa replied.
The next day, the results of the DNA test between Evelyn and Lucas were coming out. Jonathan called Lucas to meet early.
Teresa and Evelyn took a car to the DNA testing center. Meanwhile, Benny arrived, so Jonathan fetched Benny at the airport first.
After picking Benny up, Jonathan went to look for Lucas, who had lost his way again and couldn’t find the DNA testing center.
“Let me introduce. This is my friend, Benny. And this is Lucas, who is probably Teresa’s brother,” Jonathan said.
“Then he might be your brother-in-law?” Benny asked with a grin.
Lucas shook Benny’s hand and said, “Mr. Simpson, nice to see you.”
“Hey, Lucas. Just Benny,” Benny greeted.
Jonathan cut in and said, “Enough with the small talk. By the way, Teresa and I divorced, so he’s not my brother-in-law.”
Lucas was taken aback. ‘Divorced?’ he wondered. Just yesterday at the amusement park, Jonathan had introduced Teresa as his wife.
Jonathan turned to Lucas and said, “Yesterday, I didn’t realize you were family, so I didn’t explain. The truth is, Teresa and I got divorced three years ago.”
Jonathan had to admit that he had introduced Teresa as his wife yesterday out of jealousy. He was worried she’d fall for someone else, so he claimed that on purpose. But he just made a fuss back then.
As the three of them walked along, Benny finally realized Jonathan wanted him here for a lawsuit. It was about the case between Evelyn and Peggy.
“Everything will be much easier if DNA proves Lucas is Evelyn’s son,” Benny said.
“Yeah, it’s almost certain. I’m confident,” Jonathan replied.
Benny nodded. Confidence mattered.
When they arrived at the DNA testing center, Teresa and Evelyn were already there.
Teresa walked over and greeted Benny. “Benny? What brings you here?”
“Business in Jarisburg,” replied Benny.
Teresa nodded and didn’t ask any more questions.
Peggy swept in late, radiating confidence.
A passing nurse, Lucia, called out to her, “Hey, Peggy.”
Hearing that, Jonathan felt uneasy. Vincent’s hospital connections flashed in his mind. He was a hospital director, and Peggy had leaned close to him at the dinner party before.
“Here is your DNA test result,” the nurse said.
Jonathan took the envelope and opened it up right in front of everyone. He flipped straight to the last page and was expressionless.
“What’s wrong?” Teresa asked, stepping up beside him and taking the report.
Evelyn hurried over to get a look as well. However, the DNA test results disappointed everyone.
It showed that there was no maternal match between Lucas and Evelyn.
“Are you happy now?” Peggy sneered.
Lucas’s face turned pale. He was weak, like a drowning man losing his last hope.
“The DNA test result might be fake,” Jonathan said slowly.