Chapter 838

Teresa couldn’t hold back her tears after saying that. She felt as if a weight had been lifted off her chest. Ever since Irene talked to her, she’d felt like a heavy stone was pressing down on her heart.

So Teresa repeated herself, “Unless your mother agrees, I will never take the initiative to come to you with our son.”

The man holding her didn’t react at all. Teresa froze for a moment. When she pushed him away, she realized he’d fallen asleep.

She was so mad that she almost wanted to smack him awake, but then she remembered how exhausted he was from all that traveling, and in the end, she couldn’t bring herself to do it.

With a mix of frustration and helplessness, Teresa shoved him onto the sofa behind her.

She whispered, “I know I shouldn’t take my anger at Irene out on you. Just don’t push me, okay? How can I not blame you? You never take what your mom did seriously, and nothing I say ever changes that.”

Besides, it wasn’t even her place to say it.

Morning sunlight spilled across Jonathan’s face. He woke up on the sofa, rubbing his aching, handsome brow.

Teresa walked over and said, “You’re awake. You got drunk last night, so I made you some gruel. You might as well have a little. It’ll help you sober up.”

Jonathan fixed his gaze on Teresa, and the memories of last night slowly began to resurface in his mind.

“Your brother can hold his liquor. He made me drink four rounds.”

Teresa gave a soft reply and asked, “Do you remember what you said to me last night?”

Jonathan arched an eyebrow and teased, “What did I say?”

Teresa couldn’t help but laugh. She’d expected as much.

“I might as well call you Jonathan, a lightweight.”

Jonathan was speechless. Then Teresa added, “Here, take this back.” Before leaving, Teresa handed him the bracelet.

Jonathan’s face instantly darkened. Then he asked, “What do you mean by this?”

“I only noticed you put it in my bag after work yesterday. I don’t want anything from you.”

Jonathan could tell Teresa was still upset. He remembered that last night, he’d shamelessly tried to hug her, only to be pushed away.

He explained again, “I swear I didn’t know about the news beforehand.”

Teresa’s face was expressionless. “Whatever, it doesn’t matter to me. You don’t have to explain yourself to me.”

“You don’t care?” he fixed his gaze on her and pressed. “Even if I were going to marry another woman, you still wouldn’t care?”

“I do care,” she said.

Jonathan’s eyes flickered. He was about to say something when Teresa cut him off.

Teresa continued, “I care about my dignity. I can accept you remarrying, but not sleeping with me while planning to marry someone else. If that’s happening, let’s not see each other again unless it’s about our son.”

Jonathan frowned and asked, “So you still don’t trust me, do you?”

“How can I trust you? With your power in Nareigh, who would dare leak anything without your approval? Who would have the nerve to speak as your insider or spokesperson without your consent?”

Jonathan frowned and admitted, “It was my mom. She arranged everything behind my back. I never agreed to it.”

Teresa suddenly fell silent. Tears welled up in her eyes once more. ‘So it was Irene,’ Teresa thought, her heart sinking.

Irene was like a thorn lodged deep in Teresa’s heart. Because she was Jonathan’s real mother, she had both the right and the nerve to wedge herself between them.

Every time Irene stepped in, Teresa’s life fell apart. Her pride had been crushed before, but now she had a child and wouldn’t let Irene walk over her again.