Chapter 333
332
Benny said , “ Miriam was hit by a car . ”
Teresa froze , then quickly asked Benny , “ When did it happen ? Is it serious ? How is Miriam doing now ? ”
“ It doesn’t look good , ” Benny replied .
“ What do you mean it doesn’t look good ? Just tell me what happened ? ” Teresa’s voice rose sharply , filled with panic .
Benny was silent for a few seconds , then let out a sigh . “ She’s still alive , but … Miriam just didn’t want you to worry . She was afraid that you might think you’re no longer friends because it’s been so long . She didn’t want to trouble you . ”
“ How could she not be my friend ? ” Teresa retorted .
Benny sighed again , and he said , “ She found out you were in Everport . She’s upset that Jonathan and I didn’t tell her . ”
Teresa tightened her grip on the phone . She didn’t want to explain anything to Benny . “ I’m booking a flight back to Nareigh right now . ”
Just because Teresa hadn’t seen Miriam or told her where she was didn’t mean she didn’t care about her .
After all these years of friendship , if she didn’t care , she wouldn’t have sent Miriam expensive gifts every year . Now , upon hearing about the accident , Teresa’s heart was pounding with worry .
“ You don’t have to buy a ticket . I’ve already got one for you . Just come to Everport Southwest Airport ,” Benny said . At that moment , Teresa didn’t even pause to wonder how Benny managed to buy her a ticket without her ID .
Teresa had planned to ask Jonathan to take care of Michael for a few days , but she couldn’t get in touch with him . This only made Teresa more anxious .
Maybe Jonathan was also with Miriam . Perhaps things were even worse than she had thought . Having no other option , Teresa called her former colleague , Ivy , who lived nearby .
Teresa called her and said , “ My friend’s child is with me , but she’s not in Everport . Something urgent has come up , and I need to go back home for a few days . I can’t take care of him at the moment .
“ Ivy , could you help me watch him for two days ? I’ll pay you . I really don’t know anyone else reliable around here . ”
Ivy said , “ Sure , just bring him over . I’m at school right now . ”
“ He’s still at kindergarten , near the Everport Experimental Primary School . He hasn’t finished for the day yet .”
Teresa was in the car , having already arranged things for Michael with Ivy . Now , she was at the airport . Inside the terminal , Benny had turned on his live location . Teresa quickly located him and jogged over .
Teresa asked , “ How’s Miriam doing now ? ”
Benny said , “ It’s … pretty serious . ”
“ How serious is it , exactly ? ” Teresa grasped Benny’s arm . “ Tell me the truth . ”
Benny said , “ Don’t get stressed out . Miriam didn’t want me to tell you . She just doesn’t want you to worry about her .”
Teresa said , “ How could I not worry ? What time’s our flight ? Let’s go right now . ”
Teresa’s hand , still tightly grasping Benny’s arm , was trembling slightly . Her voice was tense with anxiety . Just then , a woman wearing a baseball cap walked by Teresa’s left side . She had overheard everything they had just said .
The woman said , “ Hey , gorgeous , here’s your ticket- ”
332
Suddenly , a plane ticket was handed to Teresa . She froze , glanced at the woman , who was bundled up in a hat and mask , and then looked down at le ticket : Nareigh → Everport .
She stared blankly at the woman . Unable to hide any longer , the woman eagerly took off her hat and gave Teresa a huge hug
Teresa snapped out of it . Looking at the woman in shock and excitement , with tears sparkling in her eyes , she exclaimed , “ Miriam . is that really you ?
“ I’m sorry , Teresa , ” Miriam said reluctantly as she let go . “ I asked Benny to lie to you . I thought you no longer cared about me and that you didn’t regard me as a friend . ”
Teresa came to her senses and started hitting Miriam on the head . “ Are you crazy ? What’s wrong with you , Miriam ?
“ How could you trick me like that ? Do you know how worried I was ? Do you know how anxious I was on the way to the airport ? I thought I’d never see you again . ”
Miriam said , “ I thought the same . If I hadn’t known you were in Everport , I would have thought I’d never see you again . I really thought you about me any longer . ”
Tears welled up in Miriam’s eyes as she reached out and touched Teresa’s face . “ Why have you lost so much weight ? ”
“ No way , I look the same as always . ” Teresa pinched Miriam’s cheek . “ But you , you’ve definitely put on a few pounds . ”
Miriam covered her face . “ No , I’ve gained only five pounds , at most . ”
Teresa smiled , “ It seems that love truly is powerful . ”
didn’t care
All this time , Benny had been quietly watching their reunion . His phone rang , and when he saw the caller ID , he picked up . “ Hey , Jonathan . Nothing’s wrong . I just wanted to let you know that Miriam’s in Everport too .
“ What ? You said not to let Miriam pull the car accident trick on Teresa ? Sorry , too late – the show’s already over , and the two sisters are hugging it out right now . ”
After hanging up , Benny finally said , “ Jonathan’s here too . Here’s the plan : I’ll set something up for the four of us . Let’s go eat . ”
“ Alright , just wait , Benny . Teresa and I are definitely going to get some payback , ” Miriam laughed , throwing her arm around Teresa’s shoulders .
The group left the airport . A black Maybach pulled up , its meteor shower – like headlights shining brightly . Jonathan got out and walked directly towards
Teresa .
When he saw the tears in Teresa’s eyes , he instinctively reached out to wipe them away and then patted her on the shoulder . “ I didn’t know about this . I opposed scaring you like that . ”
Miriam had actually asked Jonathan to cover for her . She wanted him to team up with Benny and pretend that she had been in a car accident , just to see how Teresa would react and find out if she still cared .
But Jonathan refused to go along with it , so only Benny ultimately helped Miriam carry out the act .
“ Alright , ” Benny said , slinging an arm around Jonathan’s shoulders. “ All four of us are here . Let’s celebrate Miriam’s birthday .
“ And the fact that we found Teresa in Everport , and most importantly , our friendship . My treat . Pick any five – star restaurant you want , and tonight , spend as much as you like – I’ll cover it . ”
“ That’s enough , ” Jonathan said , opening the car door . “ Let’s all get in first . ”
“ Well . Thanks for driving , Jonathan , ” Benny said , hopping in first without hesitation . Teresa hesitated for a second , but Miriam linked arms led her into the car .
rand
At the restaurant , after they ordered , several bottles of Louis XIII were set on the table , looking grand and impressive . Benny turned to Teresa and Miriam . “ What do you two want to drink ? Should I order some red wine for you ? ”
09:37 Sat , 24 May
332
Teresa shook her head . “ You guys go ahead . I’m not drinking tonight . ”