Chapter 306

305
305
ས 92 % [
+20 )
Teresa stopped in her tracks and turned to look at the drunken man . “ What do you expect from me ? As your ex – wife , everything between us was settled a long time ago , wasn’t it ? ”
Jonathan stared at her distant , frosty expression . He staggered to his feet , letting out a bitter laugh . “ I always thought I was at least a normal person , but with you , I don’t even feel human . ” Teresa frowned .
“ Being married to me made you miserable . Reaching out to you just annoys you . You don’t want to go back to Nareigh , fine . Then the moment you see me , you just hop into another guy’s car like I’m nothing . ”
Teresa pressed her lips together , wanting to say something , but in the end , she stayed silent .
Jonathan gave her another long look . “ By all rights , since you’re so heartless to me , I should be the same to you . Ignore you , and leave you alone . If I could actually do that , I wouldn’t keep coming back , making a fool of myself while you couldn’t care less . ”
He seemed to have given up and turned to leave . Teresa watched his drunken , swaying figure , and when he nearly stumbled , she instinctively rushed forward to steady him .
Jonathan coldly pushed her away . “ Don’t bother me .”
Teresa shouted , “ Watch out for the step ahead ! ” There’s always a threshold at the entrance to these complexes .
But he didn’t even try to lift his foot . Teresa thought , ‘ Whatever , I’ve already warned him . If he trips , that’s his own problem .
She turned away , not wanting to look at him , but after just three steps , she couldn’t help glancing back .
She saw Jonathan , tall and imposing , leaning against the wall with his arm propped up and his forehead resting on it . Teresa just couldn’t pretend not to see him and walked over .
“ Are you alright ? Are you feeling unwell ? ” asked Teresa .
Suddenly , Jonathan grabbed Teresa’s wrist , his eyes locking onto hers , full of accusation . “ Who was that guy ? ”
When she didn’t answer , he let go , a bitter , self – mocking smile tugging at his lips .
Jonathan said , “ I have no right to ask . I’m just your ex – husband . What right do I have to question you ? Maybe I should go to the circus . CEO of Horizonlead Group ? I’m nothing but a clown . ”
Jonathan was truly drunk . He’d never put himself down like this if he were sober . Seeing him like this made Teresa feel awful , but then she thought of Michael waiting at home , and forced herself to hold back .
Teresa noticed Jonathan’s Maybach parked nearby . She had no idea how he got here .
But he’d been drinking . No matter how he got here , there was no way she’d let him drive off in this state . Especially when he was so out of it , she couldn’t just stand by and watch him risk his life .
“ You’re drunk . Let me call you a cab . Once you’re done here in Everport , just head back to Nareigh , okay ? ”
“ Whether I go back or not has nothing to do with you . I’m staying in Everport for work , not because of you . ”
“ Did I ever say it was because of me ? ” Teresa couldn’t be bothered to argue with a drunk , so she flagged down a taxi for him .
She opened the back door . “ Driver , please take this guy to the Golden Diamond Hotel . ”
Jonathan flopped onto the back seat . Teresa helped tuck in his long legs , noticed his crooked tie , and straightened his collar so he could breathe easier , even lying on his side .
1/3
13:17 Thu , 22 May M
305
92 %
20 )
Only then did Teresa straighten up , patting her pockets for her phone to pay , only to realize she hadn’t brought it . Luckily , she found fifty bucks in cash in her other pocket .
She handed all the money to the driver . “ This should be enough . Please make sure he gets there safely . Alright , you can go
now . ”
The driver glanced at her . “ Aren’t you getting in ? You two look just like a married couple . ” He could tell from the way Teresa fussed over Jonathan , just like a wife taking care of her husband .
“ Me ? With this drunk dog ? We’re not even close .” Teresa shut the door .
She watched the taxi drive off until it disappeared from sight . Only when he was completely out of view did Teresa finally turn away and head home .
“ Mom ! ” Michael was waving Teresa’s phone around on the couch . As soon as he saw her come in , he hopped off and toddled over on his little legs . “ Why can’t I send a message to Mr. Lime ? Can you help me ? ” He held the phone up for her to see .
Teresa quickly snatched her phone back from him and saw the screen was still on Jonathan’s chat window .
Even though Jonathan had deleted her , she hadn’t deleted him . With a one – sided delete , one could still see the other person’s name and messages on WhatsApp , but one couldn’t send anything .
A message popped up : [ Please send a friend request . You can chat once the other person accepts . ] Underneath was a button that said [ Send Friend Request ] .
Teresa sighed , exasperated . “ You’re messing with my phone again ? What am I going to do with you ? ”
Michael looked up at her , all pitiful . “ You weren’t home , and your phone was just sitting on the table . I didn’t know where you went . I was worried about you .”
Teresa ruffled his hair . She’d only gone downstairs for a minute .
“ My dear Michael , you … didn’t actually tap ‘ Send Friend Request , ‘ did you ? ” asked Teresa .
Michael spread his hands . “ I forgot ! I tapped the phone a bunch of times , but the messages just wouldn’t go through . ”
Teresa was speechless .
“ Mom , this is Mr. Lime’s number , right ? I remember this profile picture . It’s definitely him . You just went to see Mr. Lime , didn’t you ? You went to see him without me . ”
“ I didn’t see him . One of my bosses got drunk , so I just helped him get home . ” Teresa put her phone away . “ Alright , go take a shower and get ready for bed . ”
Michael looked at her , not quite convinced . “ Really , Mom ? You smell like Mr. Lime and there’s a bit of alcohol , too .”
“ Come on , seriously , where did you get that nose from ? ” Teresa laughed , half exasperated , half amused .
Teresa nudged Michael’s little shoulders . “ Off to bed , kiddo . Be good , I still have dishes to finish .”
Michael waved at Teresa before heading back to his room .
Teresa took a deep breath and glanced at her silent phone . Even if Michael sent another friend request , it’s not like Jonathan would add her back anyway .
The next morning , Teresa got Michael ready for kindergarten . He was still thinking about last night . “ Mom , did Mr. Lime message you ? ”
“ Nope . There’s nothing for us to talk about , ” Teresa replied .
2/3
13:17 Thu , 22 May MCO .
305
92 %
“ But what about me ? I still want to ask him for another autograph . ” Michael was still hung up on it . His last one had been torn by Heidi , and even though they’d taped it back together , he really wanted a new one .
Teresa didn’t say anything , just straightened his clothes and took his hand as they headed downstairs .
Michael clearly wanted Jonathan’s autograph again . Teresa didn’t respond , but she quietly made a note of it in her heart .
After dropping Michael off at kindergarten , Teresa headed to school and happened to run into Ivy .
Ivy called out to her , “ Teresa , was that little boy with the blue backpack your son ? ”