Chapter 474

Teresa said , “ Sanford and I aren’t a couple . When Charlie came back to Nareigh , I was driving after him . Sanford just happened to run into me and together we took the elderly woman Charlie hit to the hospital .
“ As for the lawyer , I honestly didn’t know my mom had called you . I didn’t want to trouble you , and I didn’t use Sanford’s lawyer either . I found one myself . This is my mom’s issue , and I don’t want my ex – husband involved .
“ I also just didn’t want people talking about you . Charlie’s hit – and – run case made the news , and I’m guessing the trial will be public .
“ If the media stirs things up and you , as my ex – husband , help me find a lawyer , people will definitely gossip . And honestly , I don’t have the time or energy to just go out for dinner with Sanford .
“ The only reason I did was because the victim’s family blamed me for the accident . When I went to the hospital to visit , they wouldn’t let it go . Sanford stepped in to protect me and got a little hurt . I felt bad , so I treated him to dinner .
“ He came back from Shaville for my sister’s wedding . He doesn’t have a place in Nareigh , so he’s staying at a hotel . I just gave him a ride .
“ That’s it . ” After she finished , Teresa took another sip of her juice .
“ Are you hurt ? ” Jonathan asked . Teresa shook her head .
Jonathan frowned . “ It was Charlie who hit someone and ran . Why won’t the victim’s family let you off the hook ? ”
Teresa gave a wry smile . “ They think if I hadn’t chased after Charlie , he wouldn’t have hit the old woman . So in their eyes , it’s all my fault . ”
Jonathan fixed his gaze on Teresa . “ Let me take care of this for you . ”
“ No need ,” Teresa replied . “ I’ll just stop visiting the hospital . As for the rest , let’s wait for Charlie’s trial and see how many years he gets , how much he has to pay . ”
Jonathan made a soft sound , his eyes growing gentler . “ After everything you just said , am I right to think you actually care about my reputation ? That you’re worried I’ll get dragged down because of you ? ”
Teresa shot him a glare . “ You’re overthinking it . ”
Jonathan just smiled . “ Are you still mad at me ? ”
Teresa huffed . “ I’ve forgiven you . But so what ? Whether I’m mad or not , nothing’s changed between us , has it ? ” Jonathan fell silent .
It was getting late , so it was time to head back . Jonathan picked up Michael and asked Teresa , “ Are we still dropping him off at Miriam’s place ? ”
“ Miriam went back to her parents ‘ house . Just leave the kid with me , ” Teresa replied .
“ If it’s a hassle for you , I can take the little guy with me , ” Jonathan offered .
Teresa thought to herself , ‘ What could Michael be a hassle for me ? ‘
As they passed a convenience store , Jonathan got out and bought some snacks for Teresa to take home .
He parked the car on the curb . It was a summer night , warm and a bit stuffy , so the windows were down . Since Michael was still little , they couldn’t let the AC blow on him directly .
Because the windows were open , Sanford , who was across the street , happened to see them as Jonathan got back in the car .
Sanford had sharp eyes , He spotted Teresa and the child she was holding close .
From where Sanford stood , he couldn’t make out the kid’s face and just saw a small figure in a T – shirt and shorts .
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Sanford frowned . He thought , ‘ Is that Isabel ? But the figure doesn’t look right , Who is that kid ??
The Maybach had already driven off . Sanford kept his eyes on the departing car , squinting thoughtfully .
When they reached the gates of Rosary Estates , Jonathan carried Michael out of the car . Teresa moved to take the boy from him .
“ I’ll carry him to your door , then I’ll head out , ” Jonathan offered .
“ No need , or else I’ll have to make you coffee , ” Teresa replied , still taking Michael from his arms . “ It’s late , you should get some rest . I’ll hand Michael over to Miriam tomorrow . ”
Jonathan’s mind wasn’t on the child at all . He just stared at Teresa , who barely met his eyes .
After a long pause , he finally asked the question that had been weighing on him for so long . “ Is there really no way for us to go back ? ”
Teresa frowned slightly .
“ We can’t go back , and we can’t start over ,” Jonathan said quietly , his voice low .
“ Even if we started over , we’d still end up the same , ” Teresa said .
“ After Hannah and Donald’s wedding , I don’t think there’s any reason for us to sit down together again . Goodbye . ” With that , Teresa turned and walked
away .
Jonathan remained silent .
Even though Teresa had paid Jonathan back , he knew that money was actually Evelyn’s – money Charlie had pocketed for himself . After a lifetime of hard work , Evelyn’s fortune shrunk from millions to just 1 million dollars , and ended up with him .
Jonathan didn’t need that 1 million dollars . He met Evelyn privately and tried to return the money to her .
But Evelyn refused . “ You gave me 2.6 million dollars back then , saying it was for Teresa’s wedding if she ever remarried . I never told her . I just took the money and invested it instead .
“ In the end , I lost it all . I was scammed , but that’s on me , not you . I can’t take this money back . ”
Jonathan sighed . “ Evelyn , I know this was your savings . Please , take it . You still have Isabel to raise . ”
But Evelyn just shook her head . “ I really can’t accept it . I want Teresa to be able to hold her head high in front of you . I was too greedy , too desperate to prove myself , to show I could bounce back no matter what .
“ But you can’t fight time . I was too impatient , too reckless . I trusted a man’s words and invested blindly . If I take your money now , my daughters will only be ashamed of me . ”
All these years , she hadn’t been a good mother . She’d let down her eldest , Hannah , her second daughter , Teresa , and her youngest , little Isabel who still needed her so much .
It was only now that Evelyn truly realized that earning her daughters ‘ respect wasn’t about how much money she made , but about loving them with all her heart .
“ Jonathan , I know you’ve always been good to Teresa . You still care about her , don’t you ? You still love her , right ? ” asked
Jonathan didn’t try to hide it . He was honest and he still loved Teresa .
“ Thank you for always treating Teresa so well . If I’d met a man like you , maybe my life wouldn’t have been so miserable . ” “ Evelyn , please don’t say that , ” Jonathan comforted Evelyn . “ The man who truly cherishes you might be just around the corner .
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Evelyn shook her head , looking a little afraid . “ I’ve stopped hoping to meet a man who really cares about me , I have three daughters now , and Isabel is still so young . All I need to do is raise her well . ”
Jonathan didn’t push the topic and turned it back to himself . “ I love Teresa , but she doesn’t love me .”
“ Jonathan , ” Evelyn said slowly , “ you know what they say – sometimes the people involved can’t see things clearly , but outsiders can . Teresa , actually
she …”