Chapter 115

Teresa was about to push Jonathan away, but she stopped when she touched his burning forehead. The driver spoke, “Mr. Lynn has been overexerting himself. He barely got any sleep, cramming ten days of work into just seven. Of course, his body can’t take it.”

Teresa pulled her hand back. “Well, nobody forced him to do that.”

The driver sighed. “Mr. Lynn pushed himself this hard because he was desperate to get back to you, Ms. Johnston.”

Jonathan, eyes still closed, muttered, “Shut up.”

The driver shut his mouth.

When they arrived at Luviston Estates, Teresa and the driver helped the feverish and intoxicated Jonathan out of the car. She couldn’t help but think, He was once so strong, but now he’s falling ill every other day.

The driver said, “I won’t be staying; Mr. Lynn’s in your care now. I’ll be on my way.”

“Hey!” Teresa called out, but the driver was already gone.

Teresa helped Jonathan into the master bedroom, tucked him under the blanket, and exited the room.

When Jonathan finally came to, the room was still and silent. He felt his forehead, which was still burning. “Are you there?” he called out toward the door, but there was no reply. “Have you left?” he muttered bitterly. It was always the same; whether sick or unconscious, he found himself alone. The one person he’d hoped would stay by his side forever had left.

Just as he was about to close his eyes, the door creaked open. Teresa entered with a bowl of gruel. She set it down on the table beside him. “It’s cooked to perfection this time.”

Jonathan stared at her for a few seconds before finally sitting up, coughing into his hand. “I thought you had left.”

“Because of you, Peter invested 30 million dollars in my business. So, making a simple meal for you is the least I can do to thank you,” said Teresa.

Jonathan took the bowl from her. He suddenly thought of something. “Was there a power outage earlier? You didn’t overcook it this time?”

“No way! I’m not that silly!” Teresa replied.

“You’re not exactly the brightest,” Jonathan joked.

Teresa chuckled. “Birds of a feather flock together. The fact that we were married before shows you’re not that bright either.”

Jonathan smiled and, for once, chose not to argue with her.

“The cold medicine is still in the same place. Could you grab some for me?” Jonathan placed the bowl down and folded his hands together.

Teresa went to the living room, opened the drawer beneath the TV, and found the cold medicine exactly where it had always been. She handed it to Jonathan with a glass of water. “If the medicine doesn’t help, have Donald come over.”

Jonathan asked, “What about you? Are you planning to leave again?”

Teresa paused for a moment. “I have work early tomorrow, and it’s a long commute from here to Norham.”

“I’ll cover your expenses, so just stay with me tonight,” Jonathan said, coughing. “When I came back, my mom arranged another blind date, but I turned her down.”

Teresa nodded. “Oh. You don’t have to tell me that.”

Jonathan reclined against the headboard. “I often think that if we had a child, I wouldn’t have to go on blind dates. At least with a kid, my mom would leave me alone.”

Teresa’s gaze briefly flickered. “Oh, I’m sorry for not giving you a child. But dealing with your mom is no longer my business now that I’m your ex-wife.”

As she reached for the empty bowl, Jonathan’s gaze remained fixed on her. Before she could react, he grabbed her wrist, pulling her into his embrace.

“How about we have one now?” he asked.

Teresa’s heart skipped a beat. She could hear the rapid heartbeat, unsure if it was his or hers. She pushed him away. “Are you crazy? Don’t get me sick too!”

Jonathan tightened his grip around her. “Just let me hold you. Let’s get some sleep.”

Teresa was left speechless. Her back was almost against his chest, and she was painfully aware of how close they were; one wrong move, and she’d touch him.

Later that night, she finally moved, realizing that one of his hands was on her waist. She looked over her shoulder, feeling his forehead. To her relief, his fever had subsided.

In the end, she stayed the night and fell asleep curled up in his arms. The next morning, she rose early to cook gruel while he was still asleep. Jonathan soon woke up, took a quick shower, and changed. Looking at the woman in the kitchen, he rolled up his sleeves. “I’ll make two more dishes. I can’t just eat plain gruel.”

“You need to eat lightly. You’re still not well, and greasy food isn’t good for you,” she said.

“I’m a man, and I need protein,” he insisted.

Teresa was rendered speechless, deciding to let him be. Jonathan made some roasted beef and tomato omelet, and the pair had a meal together. Teresa had to admit that his cooking skills were still impressive. Jonathan had once mentioned that after losing his father young, he learned to cook and would often make dinner for Irene before doing his homework.

The dining room was quiet. Teresa set her fork down. “Jonathan, we can’t keep going like this.”

Jonathan placed his fork down as well. “Like what?”

She sighed. “We’ve been divorced for so long, and ever since you returned to Nareigh, we’ve been seeing each other more than we should. I’ve given you my answer about the remarriage. I think it’s time we start afresh.”

As she lay in his embrace last night, she had spent hours reflecting on it. She couldn’t keep falling into this same pattern. Every time he fell ill or faced trouble, she ended up involved, but that was never what she had intended.

Jonathan lifted his gaze. “Are you seeing someone else?”

Teresa almost kicked him, cursing inwardly, Like hell I would! Oh, well. If that will stop him from coming to me, I’ll let him think so.

“Anyway, I want to start afresh,” she said noncommittally.

“You mean start afresh with another guy?” he asked.

“You could say so,” Teresa replied.

Jonathan didn’t say much else, eating slowly. “Let’s just finish eating, and I’ll drive you home.”

Teresa nodded, thinking, This might be our last meal together.

After the meal, as he reached for his coat, a photo slipped out of his wallet. It was a past picture of the two of them. Teresa saw it but pretended not to.

“You don’t need to drive me. I can get home on my own,” she said.

This is the last time. It’s my last time taking care of him, my last time sharing a meal with him, and my last time showing concern for him. I can’t get involved with him anymore. Otherwise, I’m afraid I’d end up repeating the same mistake, she mused. Teresa left Luviston Estates without looking back.

Chapter 116