Chapter 110

Teresa barely knew Peter, having met him only a few times through Jonathan. Peter was around Evelyn's age—a single man in his forties who enjoyed smoking and drinking. He was reportedly among the first to achieve significant success in Strico, and had since relocated to Archulea. Teresa hadn't seen him since her divorce from Jonathan. She locked Luviston Estates' gate before heading to the airport to pick him up.

He was bald, wearing dark sunglasses and simple, casual sportswear. Seeing Teresa, he removed his sunglasses and approached. "Haha! Teresa, have you been waiting long?"

"Not at all, Peter. I just arrived," Teresa smiled. "Jonathan asked me to pick you up since he's on a business trip."

"He called me. I haven't been back to Nareigh in years, so I don't know my way around anymore. Haha!" Peter replied.

He was witty and humorous. As they walked, Teresa asked where they should go, suggesting they find a place to eat—a proper welcome, she thought.

Peter suggested, "I heard from Jonathan that you started a company. How about we grab a bite to eat there?"

"Is that okay? You're finally back. We should at least go to a restaurant!" she responded.

"Haha! Why so formal? I'm back to explore investment opportunities, so let's check out your company first," he said.

Teresa was surprised. 'Peter wants to invest? Perfect timing—I've been concerned about the company's cash flow. I'll gladly accept,' she thought.

She showed Peter around the company. He occasionally nodded, looking at Teresa with admiration. "You're managing the company well. Did Jonathan mentor you?"

"He didn't. He's been too busy. We've been divorced for over two years now," Teresa answered.

"Oh damn!" Peter slapped his forehead in surprise. "You two are divorced? He never told me!"

Teresa offered a slight smile. "I figured you'd know by now. We're both busy with our own lives."

Changing the subject, Teresa invited Peter to a meal to discuss the company's future prospects.

Peter said decisively, "Teresa, I'm planning to invest thirty million dollars in Teresouth Group."

Teresa patted her chest. "Peter, maybe you should reconsider. You're Jonathan's former employer, and I worry he'll think I'm taking advantage of you."

Peter laughed. "I trust you and Jonathan's character. If I lose money, I won't hold you responsible. I'll look to him for compensation."

Teresa laughed, knowing he was joking. "No worries, we certainly won't let you suffer any losses."

Teresa felt relieved. She'd been stressed about the company's cash flow, but Peter's investment was a godsend, solving her immediate crisis. At least for the next few months, she wouldn't have to worry about paying the employees.

It was getting late. Peter said he had to leave. Teresa got up and asked, "Where are you staying? Should I arrange a nice hotel for you?"

"Your husband—I mean, your ex-husband—already arranged a hotel for me," Peter corrected himself with a laugh. Teresa said nothing more.

He insisted on taking a taxi himself. Teresa accompanied him downstairs, watching the elevator numbers change.

"Teresa," Peter suddenly gave her a meaningful look. "Jonathan is a very capable man. When he worked for me, I knew he wouldn't settle for just being a manager. I just didn't expect his growth to be this fast."

Teresa seemed a little distracted. "Yeah, after I divorced him, his career really took off."

"Three years ago, he borrowed three million dollars from me to start a business. At first, I was hesitant to lend that amount. However, he promised to pay me back ten million dollars in six months. Can you guess what happened then?" Peter said.

Teresa snapped out of her trance. "What happened? Did he pay you back early?"

Peter chuckled. "He paid me fifteen million dollars."

Teresa was stunned.

Peter continued, "If he keeps going for another couple of years, I bet he'll surpass my success. Jonathan is ambitious, capable, and appreciative. He's really reliable."

There was more to Peter's words than met the eye. Teresa just smiled, absorbing his comments and feeling a mix of emotions. Jonathan's progress hadn't been easy; marriage, it turned out, had been holding him back.

Back at the office, Teresa considered calling Miriam. She planned a barbecue with Miriam and Michael that day. Teresa was in a good mood, but Miriam's phone was unreachable, indicating she was on another call.

The receptionist was engrossed in a funny video on her phone, unable to stop laughing.

Teresa arrived after work. The receptionist didn't notice her, but Teresa was drawn in by the laughter and leaned over. "What are you watching? Let me see."

"Oh, Ms. Johnston! It's nothing, really! Just randomly scrolling through videos," said the receptionist.

Curious, Teresa took the phone, and what she saw was astonishing. On the screen, a young man was dancing at a university entrance with a child. The young man was Edward, and the child was Michael.