Chapter 8: I Have a New Family

Evelyn’s voice, soft and comforting, came through the phone. “Shh, shh, it’s okay, sweetheart. No need to cry.” Teresa’s hand tightened around her phone; a sinking feeling settled in her chest.

The line was silent for a moment before Evelyn’s hesitant voice broke the quiet. “Teresa, is everything alright? I thought we’d agreed you wouldn’t contact me after you got married.”

“Mommy, Jonathan and I have been divorced for a while now,” Teresa whispered.

“What?” Evelyn gasped, her shock echoing through the phone.

Teresa inhaled unevenly, her eyes brimming with emotion. “Mommy, could we meet after my shift ends?”

After a pause, Evelyn replied, “You can come by my place.”

“Got it,” Teresa said, her emotions in turmoil, and hung up. She stopped briefly at the mall before going to her mother’s.

The butler guided her to an opulent villa in the upscale district, a stark contrast to her modest childhood home. The mansion boasted a butler, housekeeping staff, and a palatial interior.

Inside, Evelyn was gently rocking a little girl, trying to soothe her. The child was smaller than Teresa’s son, Michael, with delicate skin and a hair clip that caught the light. Teresa’s gaze shifted to Evelyn, who was dressed impeccably in glittering jewelry, looking as if she’d just left a spa.

Evelyn offered a lackluster smile and gestured toward a chair. “Sit down,” she said, her tone as cold as the marble floor.

“What’s my sister’s name?” Teresa asked calmly, despite the tension.

Evelyn hesitated. “Isabel Wilson. My husband named her.”

Teresa’s mouth tightened, and she fell silent, nervously crumpling a piece of fabric in her pocket. A maid subtly offered a cup of coffee; its aroma briefly eased the tension.

Evelyn’s eyes narrowed. “So, Teresa, what brings you here?” Her clipped tone highlighted the distance between them.

Teresa stated, “Mommy, I’ve decided to quit my job and start my own business. I was wondering if you could help me financially—thirty thousand dollars would cover it.”

Evelyn’s expression hardened. “I won’t give you a penny. I made it clear when you married that my responsibility to you was over. I have a new family now, and my responsibilities are with them.”

Holding Evelyn’s gaze, Teresa said with conviction, “I understand, and that’s why I’m asking for a loan. I swear I’ll pay you back, every cent.”

Evelyn shook her head. “You should talk to your dad. He’s not hurting for money, and he can’t just pretend you don’t exist, right?”

Teresa sighed, her shoulders slumping. “After I married Jonathan, things changed with Dad. He disapproved of him and always hoped I’d marry a wealthy playboy, which wasn’t for me. It bothered him. When I decided to start my business, I knew I couldn’t count on his support, so I turned to you.”

Evelyn shrugged nonchalantly. “Look, you’re in your mid-twenties. You’re an adult. You have to make your own decisions.” Her voice rose, startling the baby, who cried. Evelyn’s eyes softened as she soothed Isabel. “Shh, it’s okay,” she murmured. Her affection contrasted sharply with the coldness Teresa felt from her own family.

Teresa’s heart was hardened to her parents’ lack of love. The pain had faded, replaced by numb acceptance. She’d learned to live without it.

Teresa stood, her voice barely audible. “Got it. I’m leaving. I won’t bother you anymore.” She blinked back tears.

Evelyn, clearly confused, reached out. “Hold on. What went wrong with you and Jonathan? You were so keen on getting married.”

Teresa didn’t turn, brushing away a tear. “We couldn’t make it work, so we separated.”

Evelyn frowned, her voice critical. “Is it because you’re always losing your temper? You’re not a kid, Teresa. If you want someone to spend your life with, you need to work on your attitude.”

With a bitter smile, Teresa turned, her gaze a mix of sadness and defiance. “You’re in no position to lecture me about marriage. Yours is a disaster, and yet here you are giving me advice.”

“You— Get out!” Evelyn snapped.

Without looking back, Teresa left, the star pendant she’d bought for her half-sister jingling in her pocket. She’d chosen it at the mall, thinking it a thoughtful gift despite its modest $1,000 price tag. Ultimately, she decided not to give it, unsure if Evelyn would appreciate its simplicity.

Feeling the financial strain of parenthood, Teresa decided to return the pendant. She returned to the mall.

Inside the store, the sales associate was captivated by Teresa’s striking appearance. “Normally, I don’t do this, but for a looker like you, I’ll bend the rules,” he flirted, grinning as he processed the return.

Teresa’s gratitude was heartfelt, her tone steady. Relief, not tears, washed over her as she watched the money refunded to her account.

Teresa left the mall, picking up Michael’s favorite food when her phone vibrated with a message from Evelyn. She saw a $15,000 transfer and a note:

Evelyn: [Here’s $15,000. For the rest, talk to your dad. I won’t be providing any more funds. I’m content with my life, I cherish my husband, and I’m devoted to Isabel. Please, no more contact.]

[I don’t need it,] Teresa replied, rejecting the transfer.

Evelyn’s reply was icy. [Take the money and let’s call it quits on our whole mother-daughter thing.]

Teresa responded simply and respectfully: [Got it, Ms. Davis. I hope your family’s happy.]

But Evelyn wasn’t finished. A voice call came through; her voice was laced with anger. “Teresa, what’s with the attitude? You come begging for money, and now you’re too good for it?”

Teresa replied steadily, “I’m not being sarcastic. It was wrong of me to ask. I promise I’m out of your life for good.”

Evelyn was mid-conversation when the baby cried. Teresa heard the baby’s sobs and Evelyn’s soft, calming voice. “Sweetheart, it’s okay,” Evelyn crooned. “Don’t cry, baby, Mommy’s right here.”

A pang shot through Teresa. She’d faced hardships—financial woes, a car accident, her divorce—but this was different. Evelyn’s nurturing words were her undoing.

Her hand shook as she hung up. The tears she’d held back spilled over. Her mother’s tenderness was for someone else now, leaving Teresa to face her solitude alone.

Tears streaming down her face, Teresa sat on the mall steps, trying to compose herself. As a new mother, she knew she had to be strong, but for now, she allowed herself to cry.

Jonathan, in a black Rolls-Royce, his face stoic as he reviewed documents, suddenly saw something that made him sharply tell his driver, “Stop the car!”

The car stopped. The driver remained silent, awaiting instructions.

From the back seat, Jonathan watched Teresa crying across the street, his brow furrowed with worry. He hadn’t expected to find her so distraught on his way home from a business meeting.

Jonathan couldn’t believe his eyes. Teresa, always graceful and resilient, was a mess, sitting on the mall steps, her tears visible to everyone.

His driver interrupted his thoughts. “Mr. Lynn, are you stepping out?”

Ignoring the question, Jonathan kept his eyes on Teresa. After a pause, he picked up his phone and dialed a number.