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Jennifer was still a little annoyed . “ He’s just your cousin . Do you have to treat him like that ? ”
Donald frowned . “ Come on , I’ve told you before – Jonathan grew up without a dad , so we’re really close . To me , he’s just like a real brother
Seeing this , Jennifer didn’t say anything more . She stared out the window with a blank expression . Though she was reluctant inside , she had no choice but to endure it at that moment .
“ Is Donald always that rude to you ? ” Jonathan asked as he followed Teresa inside .
Teresa frowned and said , “ No , he’s not . I don’t think it’s a big deal , so don’t let it mess with your relationship .”
“ I’ll talk to him when I get back , ” Jonathan said , dropping onto the couch , crossing his legs , and rubbing his aching temples . “ Sit down . ”
Teresa went to the kitchen , made some coffee , and brought it over . “ All I’ve got is instant coffee . Hope that’s okay . ”
“ Anything’s fine , ” Jonathan muttered , looking pretty out of it .
Teresa glanced at him . “ What’s wrong ? It seems like you’re in a bad mood . ”
Jonathan stared at her , hesitating . “ To leave Nareigh , I had so many things to do that I barely had time to sleep . How could I be in a good mood ? ”
“ But you still had time to drink – and even came to me when you were drunk ,” Teresa said , looking away .
“ I was still somewhat clear – headed . I remember what I said when I was drunk . ”
Teresa’s fingers tightened , her cheeks flushing for a second before she quickly composed herself and got back to business . “ I just knew that it was you who helped my sister get that deputy director job at Nareigh General Hospital . ”
“ Miriam told me . ”
“ Really ? Why didn’t you tell me ? I always thought the director just appreciated my sister . ”
“ It was nothing , ” Jonathan said .
“ Anyway , thank you , ” Teresa said , her voice sincere but complicated .
“ No need . ” He stood up , turning his back to Teresa . “ I never expected any reward from you . When are you heading back to Nareigh ? ”
“ Tomorrow , ” Teresa answered . “ You don’t have to leave because of me . I already talked to my sister – once I’m back in Nareigh , she won’t be living with me , and she won’t bother you . What happened between us won’t affect Donald and her , either . ”
“ Okay . ” Jonathan rested his hand on the windowsill . After a long silence , he turned and gazed deeply at Teresa .
Only then did Teresa notice the sachet in his hand – the one Benny had given him , after telling him Teresa had prayed for him at South Mountain .
“ You went to South Mountain . ” Jonathan’s voice was tight with a kind of desperate urgency . “ Did you see anything ? ”
“ See what ? ” Teresa shot back .
“ Forget it ,” he said , squeezing the sachet tighter before shoving it into his pocket .
“ Is that all you wanted to talk about ? And about the apartment — did you really have your subordinate buy it ? And even pay an extra 150 thousand ? ”
“ Your place might be in an old neighborhood , but the location is good . Getting a decent price is quite possible . ”
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“ But not that much more . You don’t have to do this . I can handle my own stuff , ” Teresa insisted .
Jonathan just looked at her , as if to say , ‘ Why are you so stubborn ? ‘ He pulled a document from inside his suit and handed it over before sitting down again .
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“ I found the buyer for you . Yeah , it’s my subordinate , but he really wants a place in that neighborhood – it’s a good school district , and he’s considering his kid’s education . Paying an extra 150 thousand isn’t a big deal , ” Jonathan explained .
He handed her a pen . “ Stop being stubborn . Sell the house , go back to Nareigh , and don’t worry about anything . I’ll get your license plate changed- otherwise , you can’t drive into Nareigh with an Everport plate . ”
“ I can handle it by myself ”
“ Don’t argue with me . I’ve been swamped lately , and I really don’t have the energy to argue with you , ” Jonathan cut her off .
Teresa didn’t say anything , noticing the exhaustion in his eyes . She told him to wait , then brought over a bank card , insisting he take it without saying
how much was on it . Only then did she agree to sign the contract .
Jonathan smirked and accepted the card . After Teresa sold the apartment and signed , the agent could handle the rest . She didn’t need to be there ; a copy of her documents would suffice . She could teave tomorrow .
Jonathan stood up , his long fingers resting lightly on Teresa’s head . He tooked like he wanted to say something , but changed his mind at the last second .
“ I’ll have to go back to Nareigh in a few days for some board matters . I’ll handle it myself . Even if I go back , I won’t see you , so you don’t have to worry .” He turned , ready to leave .
“ You said … ” Teresa’s fingers tightened , her voice a little shaky . “ When you sobered up , we’d do it one last time , remember ? ”
Jonathan’s tall figure froze for a moment . When he turned back , his eyes were all anger with no joy . “ What’s that supposed to mean ? Do what ? ”
“ Come on , you know exactly what I mean , ” Teresa said , forcing herself to get the words out .
“ Oh , so because I helped your sister , and helped you sell the apartment , you feel like you owe me and have to pay me back somehow ? ”
“ That’s not it . You were the one who said it , when you were drunk – ‘ one last time . “ ”
“ So you just followed what I said ? What do you take me and yourself , for , Teresa ? ” He slammed the door and left , not looking back – just like before their divorce , when she’d told him , “ Jonathan , I don’t love you . I’m just grateful to you . ”
Teresa stood stunned in the living room , alone . She had agonized over saying those words , driven by her strong pride . She hadn’t expected him to be so
angry .
But she didn’t dwell on it . It was the only way she could think of to repay him , but since he didn’t like it , she’d just drop it .
– Teresa glanced at the two copies of the sales contract and the pen on the table . She had a flight the next day to Nareigh .
Teresa had already talked to Miriam on the phone – Michael was back in Nareigh and staying at Miriam’s place for now . He was playing games with Edward , who got roped into downloading the game just to keep him company .
“ My flight’s today . I won’t get to Nareigh until a little after five in the afternoon , ” Teresa said .
“ I’ll drive over and pick you up when you land . Dinner’s on me tonight – I already booked a table at Grove Bistro ,” Miriam replied .
Teresa was confused . She’d never heard of that place .
“ It’s a new branch opened by the owner of Fores Restaurant . The place is even bigger than Fores Restaurant , ” Miriam explained .
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“ Really ? I still have about 6 thousand dollars left on my membership there . I totally forgot until you mentioned it , ” Teresa said .
Miriam just shook her head . “ Honestly , Teresa … Let’s talk when you get back .”
Teresa headed to the airport .