Chapter 865

Irene’s heart seemed to break as tears streamed down her face.

Biting her lip, she felt so wronged it hurt. “I just wanted Mike to have your last name. I wanted him to have a good life with you. Was that so wrong?” she said.

“So why did you have to do this behind my back? Did you think you could push her around however you wanted when I wasn’t watching?” Jonathan demanded.

“I’ve never once bullied Teresa,” Irene said.

“How long are you going to keep being so stubborn?” Jonathan pressed, his words cold and deliberate.

“I give you money so you can live comfortably, not to humiliate her. You call her crazy and say she’s unfit to raise Mike. Isn’t that bullying? Does it only count if you poison someone?”

Irene’s heart twisted in agony. This was her old scar, her deepest regret. Jonathan knew it all too well, yet he still tore it open without mercy, exposing her guilt over what happened to Yorick.

Irene broke down and added, “I couldn’t stand her always hanging around you. Who keeps meeting their ex so often after a divorce? I only saw her twice and never bullied her or caused trouble without reason.”

“And what about before the divorce?” Jonathan asked, each word deliberate and heavy. “Are you saying you never bullied her then?”

“I didn’t!” Irene shot back defensively.

Even now, Irene was still denying it. Jonathan slammed his hand down on the table with a loud bang.

“I already spoke to the Luviston Estates guard. He said even before Teresa and I divorced, he saw you entering with a furious face and leaving angry. Are you still going to deny it?”

Irene froze. Tears hung stiffly on her cheeks, her fingers starting to tremble uncontrollably.

“It’s because I went to see you, as your mom. I wanted to check on you, made you some food, but you weren’t home, so I left,” she stammered, her voice shaky.

“Isn’t that strange?” Jonathan scoffed, disbelief clear in his tone. “Every single time you came looking for me, Teresa happened to be out, either on a business trip or at work.”

Irene fell silent again.

“What’s wrong? Run out of excuses to hide your vicious act?” Jonathan pressed. His tone was cold as ice, each word deliberate and sharp.

“You knew she was pregnant, didn’t you? You did it on purpose. You wanted something to happen to her, to the baby she’s carrying. Would that make you satisfied?” Jonathan spat out.

Irene shook her head desperately. She thought frantically, ‘No, I didn’t. How could I ever hurt my own grandchild? I would never do that.'

‘All I wanted was to put Teresa in her place, to scare her, and to make sure she knew I wasn’t someone to mess with.'

But at that moment, Irene wasn’t the only one hurting.

Jonathan felt a deep, numbing pain. The mother he thought was overbearing had been secretly hurting Teresa, playing the victim and turning him against her, just like she was doing now.

“Jonathan, I swear I didn’t mean it. Can’t you understand how a mother’s heart works? Everything I did was for you, so you could have a child who shares your last name. We’re family. How could I ever hurt–” Irene pleaded.

“I’ve heard enough of that,” Jonathan said, cutting her off coldly.

He clenched his fists and yanked Irene up. “I trusted you despite what everyone said. I respected you and believed you were hardworking. Seeing Teresa outside like that, I finally saw what kind of person you are.”

Jonathan thought, ‘What about now? Who can I possibly trust now? Is there anyone left I can trust at all?’

Irene took a shaky, deep breath, her whole body trembling. Then she added, “I thought Teresa always complained about me to you, trying to drive a wedge between us. That’s why I couldn’t stop myself from confronting her.”

“You thought? Did you ever once ask me?” Jonathan pressed. His eyes were bloodshot, blazing with fury.

“You say she complained about you? The worst thing she ever said was that I should find a daughter–in–law you liked, someone who’d make you happy."

Jonathan understood why Teresa would become upset whenever his mom was mentioned.

Jonathan had always been like a clueless fool.

He knew Irene didn’t like Teresa, and Teresa didn’t like Irene either. But he’d always thought that even if they didn’t like each other, they would never cross the line and hurt one another.

He never thought Teresa would be bullied by Irene. But the sight of Teresa in the rain, begging and trying to win over Irene, kept haunting Jonathan’s mind, breaking down his last bit of resolve.

He took a deep breath and jerked his hand free from Irene’s grasp. Then he demanded, “You’re going to the small town to take care of my Grandma. I’ll send you over there right now.”

“I’m not going,” Irene protested. ‘What kind of place is that small town anyway? There’s not a soul in sight for miles. I can’t stand living in such a tough, isolated environment,’ she thought frantically.

Jonathan’s expression was cold and unyielding. “I’ll have someone build a villa for you over there. You and my Grandma will live together, and you’ll have everything you need.”

“I’m still not going,” Irene shouted and broke down in tears. The thought of that remote place made her panic. It felt like being cut off from the world. Just thinking about it sent her heart racing in fear.

Jonathan ignored her pleas. “If you’re scared, I’ll have Heidi go with you. The two of you can take care of my Grandma together and look after her in her old age.”

Irene’s legs went weak with fear, and she started sobbing even louder. She gripped Jonathan’s clothes tightly, refusing to let go. “Jonathan, don’t drive me away. I don’t want to leave here. I’m your mom.”

“I know I was wrong, Jonathan. I’m apologizing to you,” she pleaded.

But when Jonathan turned away, unmoved, Irene broke down even more, sobbing and wailing, “Do you want me to beg you? Would that be enough?”

“Enough,” Jonathan barked, turning around to face her.

He fixed his gaze on Irene, who was still putting on an act.

“You don’t owe me an apology. You owe Teresa one. Unless she says otherwise, stay away from her and the child. Promise you’ll never go behind her back, never humiliate or bully her again.”

Irene gritted her teeth, looking conflicted.

“Not going to apologize? Then I’ll have a helicopter ready for you right now. You’re leaving immediately,” Jonathan said coldly.

Seeing Jonathan about to make the call, Irene’s eyes flashed with reluctance. She hurriedly blurted out, “I’ll do it. I’ll apologize. Isn’t it enough if I apologize to her?”

Chapter 865

“Fine, I’m taking you there now. You’ll apologize face to face, sign away all custody rights, and everything will be in writing with a witness. Don't approach Teresa or the child again without permission, and I’ll have you thrown in jail.”