Chapter 712

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Jonathan frowned , still thinking about Teresa’s strange behavior last night when his phone rang . It was Gary .
Gary asked . “ Where should I drop Mike off tonight ? Why is Rosary Estates locked ? ”
“ Teresa is at my place , ” Jonathan replied . “ Just bring Mike to Forlisle Rose Estates later . She’s still sleeping ”
Gary let out a knowing sigh and said , “ Alright , I won’t bother you then . ”
After hanging up , Jonathan checked the time , prepared for a meeting , and saw the overcast sky . He told his staff , “ Let’s finish up half an hour early today . ”
The employees exchanged glances , whispering among themselves , “ What’s up with him ? That’s two days in a row he’s let us off early ”
It was nearly 5 PM when Teresa woke up .
Sitting up in bed , she felt a dull ache in her stomach and was utterly exhausted , with no strength at all . It took her several minutes to realize she was in Jonathan’s house .
She got dressed , got out of bed , and prepared to leave quietly .
The nanny heard the noise and immediately came out of the dining room .
“ Ms. Johnston , you’re awake . You must be hungry . Mr. Lynn had me prepare your favorite dishes . Shall I warm them up for you ? ” the nanny asked with
concern .
“ No need ,” Teresa replied as she steadied herself against the wall , her voice weak . “ When he comes back , just tell him I went home . ”
“ Ms. Johnston , aren’t you going to eat ? ” The nanny watched Teresa limp out the door , looking puzzled .
After Teresa left , the nanny couldn’t wait for Jonathan to return and called him right away to report , “ Mr. Lynn , Ms. Johnston didn’t eat anything after she woke up . She just left , and she looked pale . ”
“ I know , ” Jonathan replied , frowning as he hung up . He tapped his long fingers on the table and ordered , “ We’ll finish in ten minutes . Just the key points , then adjourn . ”
The weather was growing increasingly ominous . Already distracted , Jonathan kept stealing glances out the window .
Teresa had only taken a few steps away from Forlisle Rose Estates . Without a car , she planned to walk to a road where she could catch a taxi . Just then , a red Volvo pulled up .
Her face was ghostly pale , with cold sweat dotting her forehead . She was about to hail a cab to the hospital , but when she saw Irene get out of the car in front of her , Teresa , pale and weak , stubbornly straightened herself .
Irene glared at Teresa , then glanced in the direction she’d come from , fuming with rage . “ What are you doing here ? Are you coming out of Jonathan’s villa ? ” Irene pressed .
“ I don’t know , ” Teresa shot back coldly . “ I’m done with your son . ”
That same line again . Irene blocked Teresa’s way .
“ Do you think I’m a child , that easy to fool ? ” frene snapped . “ If you’re over him , why leave his house ? Are you jealous , bitter , or just can’t stand seeing him happy with someone better ? ”
Teresa didn’t want to argue , but seeing Irene’s attitude , she said firmly , “ Irene , it’s your son who won’t let me go or leave my family alone . If you’re so
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capable , control your drunk son and stop him from bothering me . ”
Irene laughed and continued , “ Ridiculous . Why would my son refuse to let you or your family go ? He’s helped you many times . If you hadn’t begged him g repeatedly , I doubt he would have kept softening toward you . ”
A stabbing pain shot through Teresa’s abdomen . She couldn’t tell if it was a cramp or something worse .
Still , she kept her composure . “ Fine . Are you done ? Can I go now ? ” she asked .
Irene blocked her way and pulled out her phone . “ I’m calling Jonathan now to come back . You can’t keep pestering him . Today , you two will settle this once and for all and go your separate ways . ”
Teresa felt weak and couldn’t wait for Jonathan’s return . Her body had felt off all day . Summoning her last strength , she violently shook off Irene’s restraining hand .
“ You tell him yourself . I’m going home . I don’t have time to wait here for your son with you , ” Teresa snapped .
“ If you leave now , it means you have a guilty conscience . You’re afraid I’ll say bad things about you to Jonathan , ” Irene declared confidently .
But Teresa didn’t care anymore . She never cared about her image in Jonathan’s eyes .
Teresa said as her gaze grew colder . “ Say whatever you want to him . I’m worthless trash , yes , not rich like the Lynns . I was blind to marry him . Do what you want . My life means nothing . I’m not afraid of you . ”
Irene stood frozen , utterly shocked by Teresa’s sudden self – degradation . In her eyes , Teresa had always been proud and unyielding . She had never heard her speak so harshly about herself before .
Suddenly ,
thunder rumbled as heavy raindrops began pelting down in a dense curtain .
Seeing the downpour , Irene shielded her head with one hand and quickly scurried away .
Teresa remained unmoved . Gathering her last strength , she walked forward expressionlessly , refusing to collapse before Irene and holding on to her final shred of dignity .
Irene had already reached the entrance of Jonathan’s villa , watching as Teresa’s figure grew smaller in the distance .
She shook her head and muttered to herself , “ She’s lost it . She’s totally insane . ”
Turning away , Irene refused to look at Teresa any longer .
Teresa walked endlessly without looking back . Her vision dimmed until , completely exhausted , she collapsed unconscious onto the rain – soaked ground .
With a screech of tires , a Maybach slammed to an emergency stop beside her .
Jonathan , his composure shattered in a rare state of panic , jumped out and scooped Teresa into his arms . He frantically patted her cheeks , calling her name , but she was unresponsive .
As he cradled her , it was only then that he realized just how frail her body had become .
Without a second thought , he carried Teresa into the car and barked at the driver , “ To the hospital , now ! ”
The driver had never seen Jonathan so distraught .
“ Teresa , Teresa ! ” Jonathan pleaded , holding her tightly and gently patting her face . “ Wake up . Please , don’t scare me like this . ”
Even though she’d hidden Michael from him and made everyone lie about it , Jonathan had never once wanted to hurt her .
The rain outside intensified , hammering against the car windows .
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When Jonathan rushed into the hospital with Teresa in his arms , he was soaked . His coat had kept her mostly dry from the rain until she wa into the emergency room ,
At Forlisle Rose Estates , Irene’s phone rang . She grabbed it and quickly asked a trusted company lawyer , “ Is it true ? Does Jonathan have a son ? e
“ Yes , Mr. Lynn has a three – year – old son , ” the lawyer confirmed . “ He took a DNA test , acknowledged paternity , and legally transferred properties in Jarisburg and Cranur to the child’s name . ”
The news hit Irene like a sledgehammer . She pressed , “ What does the child look like ?! What’s his name ? And who’s his mother ? ”