Chapter 776
Teresa hadn’t expected Peggy to become this extreme.
Teresa said, “Let’s wait for the DNA test results. There’s no need to feel bad. If Lucas turns out to be your son, you’d have four kids.”
Evelyn met Teresa’s gaze. “Yes. If Lucas truly is my son,” she thought, “Teresa, Hannah, Isabel, and Lucas. That would mean I’d have four children."
“Thank you for comforting me, Teresa,” Evelyn said softly. “You’ve matured so much.”
When they got home, Teresa went to keep Michael company.
Evelyn’s phone rang. It was Jennifer. “So, how did it go? Is Peggy your cousin? Could she be my mom?” she asked.
“Hannah, I’m still not sure. We’ve already done the DNA test. The results come out tomorrow,” Evelyn replied.
“A DNA test?” Jennifer asked. “With whom?”
“Peggy’s son,” Evelyn answered.
“I see,” Jennifer said, her voice tight. “If he is your biological son, then it confirms the babies were swapped back then, and that would mean I am the daughter of that awful woman.”
“Awful woman?” Evelyn asked, confused. “Have you known about what Peggy did in the past?”
Jennifer fell silent for a couple of seconds. “What did she do before?”
“You don’t know? Then why did you call her an awful woman?” Evelyn asked.
“The way she acts–so vulgar, hanging all over that old man, flirting shamelessly. It’s disgusting. Of course, she’s an awful woman! How could someone like that possibly be my mother?” Jennifer hissed, contempt dripping from every word.
Evelyn went quiet. ‘So Jennifer doesn’t know about Peggy’s past misdeeds after all,’ she thought.
“Why are you so quiet?” Jennifer pressed. “Stop dodging the question. Tell me, what did she do?”
Evelyn hesitated, not sure if she should tell Jennifer the truth.
Jennifer instantly sensed Evelyn was holding something back. She hated being kept in the dark, hated deception. “Fine. If you won’t tell me,” she said coldly, “I’ll find out myself eventually.”
“Hannah, it’s not that I don’t want to tell you. I just don’t want to upset you,” Evelyn explained.
“Let me talk to her,” Teresa said, walking over. She took the phone from Evelyn. “Jennifer? It’s me.”
Jennifer immediately recognized Teresa’s voice. “Teresa, just tell me what are you guys hiding from me?” she demanded.
“I need you to be prepared for this,” Teresa said carefully. “Please, when you hear it, don’t lose your cool and don’t do anything rash.”
“I won’t,” Jennifer shot back. “Honestly, keeping me in the dark like this is what’s making me feel like losing it and doing something rash.”
Teresa was silent for a long moment. After a silent nod from Evelyn, Teresa finally spoke. “Peggy left Nareigh because she did something deeply shameful. She had an affair.”
Jennifer listened, surprisingly calm. “So she was the other woman? She wrecked someone else’s marriage?” she clarified, her voice unnervingly flat.
“Yes,” Teresa replied. “She came between a married couple and hurt the wife.”
Jennifer took a deep breath, her eyes darkening with revulsion. “Of course. That explains how repulsive she is.”
‘The kind of woman who breaks up marriages deserves nothing but contempt,’ she thought. Taking another steadying breath, she stated flatly, “Forget the DNA test. She is not my mother. My mother has to be someone else.”
Teresa said, “Regardless of whether she’s your biological mother or not, Mom just wants you to know, you’ll always be our Hannah.”
Jennifer was taken aback.
Evelyn took the phone back, her voice thick with unshed tears. “Hannah, Teresa is right. As long as you consider me your mother, you’ll always be Hannah to me. That will never change. You’ll always be my daughter.”
Jennifer recalled the time she’d nearly been hit by a car–how Evelyn had rushed to pull her to safety, gripping her hand, asking worriedly if she was hurt.
She was deeply touched. But she didn’t want her fragility to be discovered. She grasped for an escape, “Something just came up. I have to go. Text me the address of the DNA testing center. I’ll be there tomorrow too,” she said. The call ended.
Teresa looked at Evelyn. “Don’t worry. I didn’t tell her Peggy was the one who came between you and Philip. Let’s leave it at that for now. Time to sleep, okay?”
Evelyn nodded. “You too. Get some rest.”
It was nearly midnight when Jonathan finally got home. Seeing Teresa sitting on the couch, he paused, clearly surprised. “Why are you still up?”
“I couldn’t sleep,” she replied. “You’re back late.”
“Benny went back to Nareigh, so I drove him to the airport,” Jonathan said as he took off his coat and hung it up.
Teresa handed him a glass of water. “Actually, there’s something I wanted to ask you.”
“Go ahead,” Jonathan said, raising an eyebrow.
“Is it because those previous DNA tests were falsified? That’s why you’re so suspicious now?” Teresa asked.
Jonathan’s gaze settled on her, his expression unreadable. “Kind of,” he said, offering no further explanation.
Teresa nodded. “I’m sorry. Sorry for making you lose faith in it all. It was because of what happened with Mike before.”
“If tomorrow’s results show Lucas isn’t Mom’s son, then let’s go back to Nareigh,” Teresa said.
“Tired?” Jonathan asked. “What if he is your brother? You do look alike. You even act somewhat similarly.”
“Act similar?” Teresa echoed.
“Yeah, you both care way too much about how people feel–even when those people don’t really matter,” Jonathan said.
Teresa faltered, searching for words. “Peggy and my mom look a lot alike too. It’s hard to say,” Teresa finally responded.
“Then we’ll wait for tomorrow,” Jonathan added. “Now I only trust myself.”
The next morning dawned as usual. Teresa and Evelyn were in the car together, heading out for breakfast before going to the DNA testing center for the results.
Evelyn glanced at Teresa. “Jonathan bought property here in Jarisburg, you know. Wouldn’t it be wonderful for Mike to come here for school someday?”
Teresa shook her head. “We talked it over. We don’t plan to let Mike leave home during kindergarten or elementary school. We’ll see what’s next when he’s in middle school. As for education, I don’t have to worry. Jonathan will ensure he gets the best education.”
Evelyn squeezed Teresa’s hand. “Mike deserves the best, and so do you. You’re my daughter. Before you married, I gave you everything I could provide materially. Now that you’re raising your child on your own, I’m worried.”
Teresa’s eyes misted over. “Mom, please, stop. I’m fine. Really.”
Evelyn sighed. “If you didn’t love him, you wouldn’t have one child and be carrying another now. I know you–you’re just so stubborn, pig-headed. If you truly didn’t care, you wouldn’t have fought the entire family to marry him back then.”