Chapter 1001

Before she left, she looked at Jonathan and added, "If she doesn't want to come back, then don't push her. Maybe it's time for both of you to walk your own paths."

Once everyone was gone, the warmth faded, leaving Jonathan alone at the table with only his drink for company.

He had ordered a whole table of dishes and reserved the entire restaurant, but Teresa never showed up, and he barely touched his fork.

Jonathan opened a bottle of Louis XIII and started pouring himself one drink after another. The fiery liquid burned down his throat and into his stomach, but it also seemed to sear his heart.

Teresa had no clue that Evelyn had gone to meet with Fiona and Jonathan. She only found out when Evelyn came back and told her about it.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Teresa demanded.

Evelyn replied, "I didn't tell you because I was afraid you'd lose your temper. Fiona is Jonathan's grandmother, after all. She didn't say much—just that, for the kids' sake, she wanted you and Jonathan to get back together."

Teresa asked anxiously, "And then? What did you say?"

Evelyn huffed and said, "Of course I told her no way. After everything that's happened, how could I possibly let you two get back together?

"What, do they think I'm stupid? Or that our family is just a pushover? But since Fiona is Jennifer's adoptive mother, I gave her that much respect, that's all."

If it had been anyone else, Evelyn would've just dropped everything and walked out. She wouldn't have stuck around to say another word.

Teresa pressed on, "What else did they say?"

Evelyn sighed and said, "That was it. They just wanted Irene to apologize to you, and basically, they were hoping the two families could patch things up. What do you think? Is that even possible?"

Teresa shook her head and said, "Of course not." She thought, "There's no way I'm getting back with Jonathan again. And Irene, apologize to me? Fat chance—that'll happen when pigs fly.

"Back when Irene stormed in and took Michael away from my home, I begged her. Later, she did say ‘sorry,’ but it was so reluctant, like she was just forcing the words out.

"Expecting a real, heartfelt apology from her? That’s about as likely as hell freezing over."

Evelyn nodded and said, "Exactly, that's the right way to look at it. It's just not going to happen. Their family's rich and powerful now, they've got their empire. There's no reason for us to get mixed up in their business anymore.

"What's done is done. Let the past stay in the past. Stop dwelling on the past with Jonathan—look forward."

Teresa asked again, "So, what did Jonathan say?"

Evelyn answered, "Jonathan said that if you two can't get back together for the kids' sake, then you should just meet up, talk about child support for the kids, and after that, you don't have to see each other again."

"He really said that?" Teresa pressed.

Evelyn said, "Would I ever lie to you? He's a CEO now, in his thirties, and he wants a fresh start. No one's going to stay hung up on the same person forever. You're still young, and so is Jennifer.

"When she gets out, there will be plenty of good men waiting for both of you. Let's just not get mixed up with the Lynns anymore."

Evelyn felt the same about Donald and Jennifer’s marriage: since they were divorced, they should each go their own way.

But Jennifer wasn’t her biological child, so she felt it wasn’t her place to interfere. She could only try to talk Teresa around.

Teresa stood there, a bit lost, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears that lingered in the corners.

When Evelyn asked her when she wanted to meet, Teresa finally replied, "If Jonathan thinks there's no need to see each other and just wants to talk about the kids, then let's do it his way."