Chapter 788
โThe number you have dialed has been powered off. Please try again laterโฆโ
Donald hung up. He wasn't even sure how many times heโd tried calling Jennifer on the way. Every time, he got the same result.
He knew she must have seen that scene with him and the female doctor at the hospital earlier. They werenโt officially divorced yet; they were still in the cooling-off period. He didnโt want her to get him wrong.
He returned to their place. โJennifer!โ he called out. He opened the door, only to find the place empty.
The house felt so empty. The sofa and coffee table were spotless, and the kitchen looked like no one had cooked there for days. In the bedroom, their pillows were stacked together, and the blankets were folded neatly.
Donald sat down heavily on the bed, feeling defeated. Then he noticed that their wedding photo was still sitting on the bedside table.
In the photo, Jennifer was radiant in her wedding dress, while he stood behind her in a suit. His arms wrapped around her, and both of them were smiling so happily.
He picked up the photo and gently caressed Jenniferโs face in the photo. Memories flashed vividly through his mindโฆ
He sat alone in the house, and guilt washed over him. Only now did he realize just how painful it was to be left alone in an empty home.
Just as he was about to put the photo back, he suddenly heard a crisp metallic clink at his feet. Something had fallen out of the frame.
He bent down to pick it up. The glint of the silver ring stung his eyes.
Donald thought, 'She left her ring at home. There was a time when she would wear her wedding ring every single moment, even when she went to work.'
Donald reached into his pocket, took out his own wedding ring, and set it down next to Jenniferโs, side by side.
Suddenly, his phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID and picked up, โHello, Jonathan.โ
โItโs me, Teresa.โ It was Jonathanโs number on the screen, but it was Teresaโs voice on the other end.
Donald hurriedly said, โHey, Teresa. Whatโs up?โ
Teresa said, โWhereโs Jennifer? Is she with you right now?โ
โNoโฆ I canโt reach Jennifer. Her phoneโs turned off,โ Donald said.
โWhat?โ Teresaโs voice shot up in alarm. โOh, noโฆ Think about where she would go and go look for her! She might do something stupid. Youโre the only one in Nareigh right now. Jonathan and I are on our way back.โ
Donald was stunned. โWhat do you mean, Teresa? I donโt get it. Why would Jennifer do something stupid? She would never do that.โ
Teresa gave him a quick rundown about what happened with Jenniferโs own mother.
Donald was completely stunned. โWhat? Why would Jenniferโs mother say such hurtful things to her? But just yesterday, she told me she hadnโt found her mother yet.โ
Teresa said, โYou know how much she cares about her dignity, Donald. How could she ever tell you something so humiliating? She must have been afraid youโd look down on her.โ
Donaldโs eyes brimmed with guilty tears. โThis is all my fault. I had no idea she was going through something like this. I should have checked on her and cared more, but instead I misled her into thinking that I was cheating on herโฆโ
โWhat?โ Teresaโs voice tightened, and her heart sank at once. โThis is just making things worse for her. Sheโs turned off her phone, which means she doesnโt want to see anyone. You need to find her right awayโand call the police, too!โ
โGot it!โ Without another word, Donald shot to his feet. โIโm going to look for her right now.โ Then he ended the call.
Meanwhile, Teresa had already boarded the plane with Jonathan by her side.