Chapter 854

Everyone spoke up, offering comfort. Teresa’s eyes turned red again. Sometimes soft words cut deeper than knives, making tears fall even faster.

“Thank you, guys. You’re making me tear up,” Teresa said.

“Come on, why are you crying? We’re all old friends here. Don’t be so polite,” Miriam said, gently wiping away Teresa’s tears.

Benny asked Teresa what she wanted to eat, then said he’d wash some fruit.

“Benny, let me give you a hand,” Edward said as he came up behind Benny, holding a bag of cherries and strawberries.

Miriam held Teresa’s hand and told her about how she’d gotten into an argument with Irene at Edward’s place the other night. Teresa’s heart dropped.

“Miriam, you don’t have to worry about me next time. If Irene gives you a hard time, stand up for yourself and don’t let her get to you,” Teresa said. She didn’t want to drag Miriam into this mess.

“Got it. And you, too,” Miriam replied.

Miriam said seriously, “Don’t let yourself get wronged or hurt. No matter what happens, we’ll always be your strongest support.”

Then Miriam hugged Teresa tightly. Teresa hugged her back and said, “Thanks, Miriam.”

As night fell and everyone else left, Teresa watched as Lucas walked back in.

“Lucas,” she called out.

“Have your friends all left?” Lucas asked.

“Yeah, where’s Mom? Has she gone to the airport?” Teresa asked.

Lucas said, “She had already boarded the plane.”

He sat across from Teresa on the sofa, peeling an apple for her. Teresa shook her head. She’d already eaten a lot and couldn’t take another bite.

Lucas said, “I talked to the doctor about your situation. He told me the baby almost suffered from oxygen deprivation. What happened?! I know you’d never do anything to hurt your child.”

“I’m sorry, this was all my fault. I just thought I’d meet her for a short while and come right back. I didn’t think anything bad would happen,” Teresa said.

Lucas asked gently, “Who did you go to meet, even if it was for a little while?”

Teresa struggled to get the words out. “Jonathan’s mom,” she finally said.

“Really? If she’s Jonathan’s mom, why were you afraid she’d find out? I thought she’d be as warm as Jonathan,” Lucas said.

“You’re wrong. Jonathan’s mom is not a warm person at all,” Teresa replied.

Teresa couldn’t hold it in anymore. She finally let out all her fear and anxiety about Irene to Lucas. She also told him about how Irene threatened to fight her for custody of Mike.

“How could she do that?” Lucas said, shocked. “She threatened you with money to force you to give up custody of Mike?”

“Yeah, I turned her down,” Teresa said, her voice steady and unwavering.

“Since having Mike, it’s been my duty as his mom. I’ve made mistakes, and life gets hard, but I’d never abandon him, let alone treat him like something to sell,” she said firmly.

But Irene had crushed her, making her feel worthless. No matter what Teresa did or said, Irene never believed her, and she had no idea how to earn Irene’s approval.

Seeing Teresa bury her face in her knees, hiding her pain, Lucas gently stroked her head, heart aching. “Don’t cry, Teresa. You don’t need her approval. No one’s taking Mike from you.”

“But Lucas, I’m scared she’ll take my child away,” Teresa whispered, her voice shaking.

For three years, she had raised Mike all by herself, enduring more hardships than she could count.

Teresa believed she could handle anything and stay strong, but some things still broke through her defenses, reopening old wounds that never healed, leaving them raw and bleeding again.

Lucas couldn’t help it. Tears also slid down his cheeks, his heart aching for Teresa.

Lucas thought to himself, ‘Jonathan has no idea about any of this.’