Chapter 485

Benny was pretty generous .
Just then , the phone rang . Cathy was calling again . “ Didn’t you say you’d be back today ? Why haven’t we heard anything from you ? ”
Cheryl almost forgot her brother and sister – in – law were getting married tomorrow . She needed to hurry back .
She could only call Benny , who had just left not long ago . She told him she had to get back to Nareigh , Donald and Jennifer’s wedding was tomorrow , and she’d promised to be home today .
She also needed to bring Serena with her .
Benny didn’t hesitate and agreed to drive Cheryl .
“ Thanks so much , Benny , for giving us a ride ,” Cheryl said , holding the baby as she climbed into his Lamborghini Urus .
Looking in the rearview mirror , Benny saw Cheryl holding her baby girl in a swaddle . She looked worn out .
He shook his head a little . He really didn’t get what went on in the heads of these girls .
“ Benny , just drop me off at Teresa’s . I need to see her first , ” said Cheryl .
“ Alright , I’ll give her a call ,” Benny said , dialing as he drove . “ Hey , you home ? ”
“ What’s up ? ” Teresa just got out of bed and sounded half – asleep . She didn’t go to work .
Benny looked at Cheryl through the mirror and gave a helpless smile . “ Cheryl’s in my car with a baby . She said she was heading back to Nareigh to see you . Mind if I drop her off at your place ? ”
There was a short pause . Teresa perked up a bit . “ What baby ? ”
Benny let out a chuckle . “ Don’t play dumb . I know the whole story . Cheryl has a baby out of town and keeps it a secret from her family . You’re the only one she told . ”
Teresa didn’t expect Benny to know .
“ Oh , ” she replied flatly , trying to figure out how much he actually Knew , especially about Michael .
But Benny only mentioned Cheryl , nothing about her .
“ I just got on the highway . Should be in Nareigh in about thirty minutes . I’m gonna hang up now , ” said Benny .
The baby in the back seat started crying . Cheryl quickly said , “ She’s wet . Can I change her diaper in your car ?
“ I brought plastic bags . I’ll wrap up the dirty diaper so it won’t mess up your car . ”
“ No problem . Go ahead, ” Benny said casually .
There weren’t many cars on the road , and they got to Nareigh’s downtown area pretty fast . When they hit a speed bump , Benny saw Cheryl was still changing the diaper , so he slowed the car way down . He’d never driven that slowly before .
With all the stops to help Cheryl and the baby , it took Benny a full fifty minutes to reach the Rosary Estates .
“ Thanks for driving us , Benny . And for buying that blanket for my daughter . It was really expensive , ” Cheryl said .
“ No worries . Don’t mention it . You’re still young . Just think about what I said ,” Benny told her .
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“ Yeah … ” Cheryl nodded . She knew he was telling her to come clean about everything .
She got out holding Serena . Benny told her to go ahead , and he’d carry her stuff in for her .
Cheryl didn’t have much , just a few bags of baby stuff – diapers , formula , that kind of thing
Benny grabbed the bags and was heading upstairs when Teresa stopped him by the elevator . “ I’ll take those . I’ve got it , ” she said .
“ What , not letting me in your place ? Don’t tell me you’ve got a hidden kid too , ” Benny joked ,
Teresa stayed cool , arms crossed . “ Cheryl’s breastfeeding . You wanna watch ? ”
Benny cleared his throat and handed her the bags . “ I totally forgot . What’s the baby’s name ? ”
“ Why are you so nosy ? She’s not your kid ,” Teresa replied with a grin , taking the bags and walking inside .
From the balcony , she watched Benny’s car drive away . Then she sat down across from Cheryl .
“ Alright , spill it . What’s going on ? How did Benny find out you have a daughter ? ” Teresa asked .
Cheryl pouted , clearly upset , and told Teresa everything that had happened .
Benny had promised to keep it a secret .
“ Teresa , do you think Benny can be trusted ? Will he really keep this to himself ? ” Cheryl asked .
“ I don’t know . I can’t promise you that , ” Teresa said .
“ Oh no … ” Cheryl’s heart sank . “ He said he wouldn’t say anything . If he tells my parents or my brother , what am I gonna do ? ”
“ Well , you’re the one who told his cousin , ” Teresa said .
“ I had heatstroke and fainted . When I woke up , his cousin was the first person I saw . He seemed nice – took care of me , bought me flowers , took me shopping . I really thought … ” Cheryl trailed off , frustrated with herself .
The phone rang again . It was Cathy . She asked where Cheryl was .
Cheryl quickly answered , “ Mom , I can’t go shopping with you . I’m already out shopping with Teresa . ”
“ What ? Teresa ? ” asked Cathy.
“ Yeah , ” Cheryl said , then immediately passed the phone to Teresa .
Teresa took the phone , shot Cheryl a look for dragging her into it , and then told Cathy she was at the mall with Cheryl .
Cathy sighed and said , “ Cheryl has always been close to you . Even though you and Jonathan already … anyway , I’ll leave her to you , Teresa . ” Then she
hung up .
Teresa told Cheryl they were going to shop for clothes .
Cheryl , acting all chill , said they could just leave Serena at home . Teresa was speechless . She asked , “ What if she wakes up ? ” Serena was still tiny and needed nursing .
Cheryl waved it off . “ She won’t wake up . Let Michael watch her . I trust him . ” Before Teresa could say anything , Cheryl dragged her out the door ,
They planned to be back in an hour .
When they passed Horizonlead Plaza , they saw the construction was still going on . Cheryl looked surprised . Teresa said , “ That’s your brother’s project !
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Cheryl blinked . “ Wait , why is my brother working right outside your place ? ”
“ Ask him ,” Teresa replied .
Thankfully , Teresa didn’t see Jonathan on – site very often .
Cheryl started ranting about how fake Lyndon was , and how he bailed the second he found out she had a kid .
Teresa , trying on some flats , said , “ That’s pretty typical .
“ No guy wants to suddenly be a stepdad . ”
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Cheryl huffed , “ Still , he could’ve at least said something . He told me he was going to the bathroom and just ghosted . Blocked me without a word . So rude . No one’s ever treated me like that before . ”
Teresa just shook her head . “ You’re inexperienced . It’s not that big of a deal . ”
Cheryl had been venting for over two hours and wasn’t done . “ Teresa , you’re not even that much older than me . ”
They bought shoes , then headed to look at clothes . Teresa found a pink tulle dress for 2,000 dollars and just bought it . Cheryl picked a strappy dress for 2,300 dollars . Teresa paid for that , too .
Cheryl leaned her chin on her hand and stared at Teresa’s chest . “ We both had babies , so why are yours so plump and mine so flat ? Didn’t you say yours went up a cup size from nursing ? Why didn’t mine grow ? So unfair . ”
The cashier tried not to laugh . Teresa pointed at her . “ Say one more thing and I’m not paying for you . ”
Cheryl shut her mouth instantly .