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This must be how all displaced souls feel . For the first time , the loneliness of displacement truly struck Teresa .
“ We all have our battles , Rebecca sighed . “ I grew up without my parents – put myself through school , scraped by , Now I’ve got stability , but life never stops testing you ” Being an adult meant endless compromises .
Teresa said , “ I really want a drink , Rebecca . Do you get how I feel ? ”
Not a chance , Rebecca said firmly . “ I get it , but no drinking until that baby’s born ”
Carrying a child changed everything . Every choice now carried double the weight . Teresa knew that . She cradled her belly . “ Be kind to Mom , little one . ”
“ Is your firstborn a boy or a girl ? ” Rebecca asked .
“ A boy , ” “ Teresa replied . “ This time , I’m hoping for a girl ”
“ Classic , ” Rebecca chuckled . “ The grass is always greener , ”
“ Girls are easier , aren’t they ? ”
“ Depends on the kid , ” Rebecca said . “ No guarantees .”
“ True enough . ” Teresa agreed . Then she asked about the baby’s gender .
“ Not twins , but too early to tell . Another month , maybe ” She paused . “ Are you considering an abortion ? ”
“ No , ” Teresa said sharply . “ I’m just curious . This baby is mine . Boy or girl – it doesn’t matter ,”
“ Then be patient , ” Rebecca said . “ The surprise will come . ”
Teresa smiled .
The way Teresa dipped her chin when smiling made Rebecca think of Jennifer once again . She shared that same gesture . Yet where Jennifer’s gaze carried the sharp elegance at the corners , Teresa’s eyes softened into crescent moons – their features holding no true mirror .
After some idle chat , Teresa prepared to leave . Before leaving , she paused . “ Would light exercise be alright ? ” She explained , “ My son’s school is having its annual family sports day . ”
“ You’d better not run or jump . Ask a friend to go to the sports day for you ,” Rebecca advised .
“ Alright , I get it , ” Teresa replied .
Rebecca , a few years older , had taken to treating ‘ Teresa like a younger sister . “ You’re so pretty . Don’t stay single . Go find yourself a new guy , you totally could . ”
Teresa shook her head . One marriage was more than enough .
Rebecca sighed , sliding the fruit basket toward her . “ Take these for your son . I don’t really eat fruit . If you need help , just Come find me . I’m at the clinic on Mondays and Wednesdays . ”
“ Thanks , ” Teresa said and left .
When Teresa returned home , it was already evening . She came to the kitchen and began to prepare dinner . Michael fiddled with her phone and ran up to her . “ Mom , you are chatting with Jonathan ! ”
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Teresa snatched her phone back , scrolling through the messages . Relief washed over her – no strange texts from her son . She quickly changed the passcode .
She fixed him with a stern look . “ Go play with your tablet . Don’t sneak my phone again , or I’ll really get mad . ”
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Michael pouted . “ I just wanted to check if Jonathan texted you . Mom , why’s Jonathan’s contact name so weird ? What does it mean ? ”
Teresa had changed Jonathan’s contact name to “ Soused Doggy “ . That was because he was always drinking and blacking out every time .
Michael pointed at the name . “ Mom , what’s a ‘ Soused Doggy ‘ ? ”
“ Uh … It’s ‘ Snazzy Doggy Teresa blurted . “ It means he’s … good – looking ! ”
Michael crossed his arms and rolled his eyes . “ Hmph , don’t try to fool me . I know the word ‘ Snazzy ‘ . That’s not it . ” He peered closer . “ Is that ‘ Silly ? Why’d you call him ‘ Silly Doggy “ ? ”
“ It’s not ‘ Silly Doggy ! ” Teresa groaned . “ Fine , I’ll change it . Okay ? ”
Michael tapped his chin thoughtfully . “ How about … ‘ Good Doggy ‘ ? ”
“ Good Doggy it is . ” Teresa typed the new name with exaggerated flair .
She scrolled through their short chat history and remembered she’d once said , “ Whoever initiates their conversation becomes the dog . ” After that , they hadn’t spoken again . ‘ He had probably come back to Nareigh , ‘ she thought .
“ Mom . ” Michael tugged her sleeve . “ Can I message Jonathan and ask for another autograph ? Heidi tore up the last one . ”
“ He’s probably asleep by now, ” Teresa said , glancing at the time on her phone . “ Don’t worry , I’ll ask him tomorrow . ”
With Children’s Day around the corner , Teresa headed to the mall after work to buy a gift for Michael . She also bought two athletic shirts .
Ivy , tagging along , raised an eyebrow as she saw Teresa buy a kid’s T – shirt . “ Who’s the kids ‘ T – shirt for ? ” she asked .
“ Oh , my neighbor asked me to grab it for her kid ,” Teresa answered .
Ivy smirked and leaned in . “ Don’t tell me you’re planning to wear one as a crop top .
Teresa rolled her eyes . “ They’re children’s sizes . What’s wrong with you ? ”
“ With your figure , you could totally rock it as a tight top . ” Ivy waved her hands at Teresa’s chest . “ Flaunt what you’ve got . If I had your
‘ d be posting selfies every hour on Facebook . But you ? Never see you update anything . ”
haring . Teresa shrugged . She actually used to love posting updates , but ever since Truman tracked her her Facebook posts and started stalking her , she lost all interest in sharing her life online .
at very moment , on the penthouse floor of the building , Jonathan was in the midst of an interview with a financial magazine . Through the floor – to – ceiling windows stretched the breathtaking panorama of Everport .
The interview centered on youth entrepreneurship – a topic Jonathan spoke on with particular conviction , given that he himself was only thirty years old , at the peak of his prime .
Jonathan said , “ Every young person who’s brave enough to start a business deserves applause and recognition , no matter how things turn out . ”
“ Then Mr. Lynn , what’s your entrepreneurial success formula ? ” asked the host .
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“ Your own abilities , opportunities , and reliable alliances as well , ” Jonathan answered .
“ Ah , the trifecta – competence , catalyst , and collaboration , ” the host smiled approvingly .
Jonathan nodded . He was polite , yet he still exuded a powerful aura .
“ Mr. Lynn , you once said that your drive for success was to earn someone’s approval . Have you gotten that person’s recognition now ? ”
A familiar figure flashed through Jonathan’s mind . His eyes softened , and a faint smile appeared on his lips . “ Yes . ”
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“ But from the look on your face , it seems like you’re still not completely satisfied – maybe even a little disappointed . Why is that ? ”
“ When you gain something , you’re bound to lose something else , ” Jonathan murmured .
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