Hayden said, “Mike, sweetie, why are you missing your mom all of a sudden?”

Michael shook his head, keeping it down. “I just… really miss my mom,” he mumbled.

Seeing the tears welling up in Michael’s eyes, Hayden immediately turned to scold Irene, “This is all because you were too fierce. You scared Mike!”

Irene protested, feeling wronged, “Dad, I’ve been nothing but gentle with Mike! I didn’t even dare to speak loudly.”

Hayden pointed toward the door and said, “I don’t care. Just leave. You’re not welcome here.”

Irene forced a smile, holding back her frustration. “I need to take a call.” She knew Hayden had always disliked her.

“Jonathan,” Irene snapped the moment the call connected. “I’m at the Lynn residence. Mike said you and Teresa took him to Jarisburg together. Did Teresa really go to Jarisburg, too?”

“Why couldn’t she?” Jonathan shot back.

Irene said in surprise, “Why didn’t you tell me about this?”

“Why should I? You never asked,” Jonathan replied coolly.

Irene was momentarily at a loss for words. “Seriously, what are you thinking? What kind of divorced couple goes on trips together? You’re a CEO. People are going to talk, you know!”

“We’re Mike’s parents. We were just taking him out for some fun. As long as he’s happy, that’s all that matters. I didn’t overthink it,” Jonathan replied. “I’m busy. Gotta go.” Then he ended the call.

Irene was speechless. She thought, ‘Every time I try to talk to him, he just says he’s busy. Honestly, kids are only cute and easy to handle when they’re still little…’

Teresa drove to the Lynn residence and immediately spotted Irene’s car parked outside. Her face instantly turned cold.

She thought, ‘I knew it. Irene wouldn’t miss this. Jonathan said he wanted to let Hayden see Mike, but he was actually letting Irene see Mike, right?’

Teresa drove the car away and then called Jonathan. She said coldly, “I’m at the Lynn residence. Call the security guard and have him bring Mike out. Don’t say I’m here. Just tell them Benny is picking him up. I’m not going inside. If your family notices I’m pregnant, there’s no way I can explain it.”

With that, Teresa hung up. On one hand, she couldn’t explain the pregnancy; on the other, she wanted to avoid any confrontation with Irene.

Jonathan called her back. “Grandpa had Werner take Mike over to your place. Didn’t you see them when you were heading there?”

“Maybe we just took different routes and missed each other,” Teresa said. “I’ll turn around and go back now.” Then she hung up again.

On her way back, she stopped by the mall to pick up some snacks. As she was about to load her things into the car, she just happened to spot Irene’s car parked nearby.

Teresa pretended not to see her and quickly got into her car with the snacks in hand. However, Irene got out of her car, walked over to Teresa, and knocked on her car window.

Teresa took a deep breath. She thought, ‘Damn it. I was hoping to just ignore her and slip away. Why did she come over?’ Then she rolled down the window and asked calmly, “What’s up?”

Irene scoffed. “Wow, you really have no manners, do you? You saw me and didn’t even bother to say hi? Do I have to come over and beg you to talk to me?”

Teresa sneered. “I didn’t want to make you uncomfortable. I know when to keep my distance.”

“You!” Irene said self-righteously, “If you really knew when to back off, you wouldn’t still be pestering my son!”

“Seriously? How exactly am I pestering your precious son?” Teresa shot back.

“Didn’t you go to Jarisburg, too? Jonathan took Mike there for a trip. What were you doing tagging along? If that’s not deliberately pestering him, then what is?” Irene accused.

Teresa shot back, “Am I not allowed to go to Jarisburg for my own business? Besides, it’s totally normal for divorced parents to take their kids out together these days. It’s all for the kid’s happiness.