Chapter 837

Teresa let out a sigh, but then suddenly remembered something and hurried out. Jonathan was about to get in his car and leave.

“Wait,” that familiar voice called after him, stopping him in his tracks.

Out of the corner of his eye, Jonathan spotted Teresa. The hard lines on his face softened a bit as he turned to face her.

“After all that drinking, how are you planning to drive home? Let me drive you,” Teresa said.

“You? No way. You’re pregnant. You shouldn’t be driving at night. I already got a designated driver. He’s on their way,” Jonathan replied.

Teresa just stayed quiet. When the designated driver showed up, Jonathan suddenly reached out and took hold of her wrist.

“I need to talk to you. Let’s go to my place and have a real conversation,” Jonathan said.

Teresa had things she wanted to say to him, too. Then she got in the car with him.

Neither of them said a word the whole way. The heart of Nareigh was ablaze with city lights, the streets packed with endless streams of cars. Soon enough, their car rolled to a stop in front of Forlisle Rose Estates.

Teresa had just stepped inside when Jonathan grabbed her and kissed her, urgent and hungry. One hand held her face gently, but she pushed him away with all her strength.

“Quit acting crazy just because you’re drunk,” she snapped.

He hadn’t been drunk last night, but tonight, he was. He’d had at least three glasses back at her place, and it was the strong stuff, whisky.

“You do care about me, don’t you? Otherwise, you wouldn’t have been so worried about me drinking and driving,” Jonathan said, pulling her into his arms, not caring about anything else.

Jonathan then added, “My mom asked me home for dinner, but I came here instead. I knew you didn’t want to see me, but I still showed up. Is there any hope for me?”

Teresa was silent for a moment, then pushed him away again. “You’re drunk,” she said.

She remembered how he always acted when tipsy, speaking with sincerity so heartbreaking it nearly brought her to tears. But she never believed anything he said while drunk, knowing he would forget it all by morning.

Jonathan stared at Teresa and said, eyes intense. “Why won’t you believe me? I’ve explained everything. I’m not marrying anyone else. Can’t you see who I want to be with, who I want to spend my life with?”

Teresa took a deep breath and shook her head. “There’s nothing left for us to talk about right now. Let’s wait until you’re sober, then we can talk.”

As Teresa turned to leave, Jonathan caught her hand and pulled her back into his arms. “Don’t go,” Jonathan pleaded.

Jonathan said, “It’s so late. How will you even get home? Maybe it’s the booze talking, but stay here tonight. Your mom and brother are at your place, and there’s not even a bed for you.”

“Jonathan, what do you want?” Teresa demanded. She tried to push him away, but he pulled her closer.

Jonathan held her tightly, as if he never wanted to let go. His voice was rough with longing as he said, “I just want you to feel at home here, I want us to live together, like a real family.”

Teresa just stood there, stunned. His deep, magnetic voice lingered softly in her ear.

Jonathan’s voice grew tense as he said, “I’m not some noble man. Can’t you see everything I’ve done for your family?! I want you and Michael here. I’ve held back for so long. I want to give you both a better life.”

His words trailed off, his voice turning hoarse as he said, “Why do you always end up breaking my heart?”

Teresa could feel how aggrieved and wronged he was at that moment. No matter how much of what he said was true, Teresa enunciated every single word, making sure he heard her loud and clear.

She said firmly, “Jonathan, as long as your mother is still around, our son and I will never move in with you.”