Chapter 121

She looked up to see Donald, the young resident, offering her something shyly. “Dr. Nelson, you haven’t eaten yet, right? Would you like to join me in the cafeteria?” he asked.

Jennifer was about to decline, but something changed her mind, and she agreed.

Sitting across from each other, Donald moved some ribs from his plate to Jennifer’s. “Here, eat more. You’re so thin; it’s like food never sticks to you,” he teased.

Jennifer looked up. “I have a question for you.”

“Go ahead,” Donald said, holding his breath. He thought, Is she going to ask if I’m interested in someone?

“Your last name is Lynn—are you related to Jonathan Lynn, the CEO of Horizonlead Group?” she inquired.

“Huh?” Donald blinked in confusion, caught off guard by Jennifer’s sudden interest in his family.

Jennifer clarified, “A friend of mine has a colleague named Teresa, who mentioned her husband is Jonathan Lynn. Your last name stood out because there aren’t many Lynns in Nareigh. I figured you might be related.”

Donald chuckled. “Jonathan is indeed my cousin, and Teresa is technically my ex-cousin-in-law, since they haven’t remarried yet.”

Jennifer blinked, taken aback. The world was surprisingly small. The persistent admirer who’d transferred departments to be near her was Teresa’s ex-husband’s cousin.

Curious, Jennifer asked, “Why did they split? Doesn’t the guy care about his own kid?”

Donald blinked, visibly puzzled. “I don’t know why they got divorced, but I’ve never heard of a kid. Where did that come from?”

Jennifer froze. “No kid?”

Donald spoke frankly. “None. Who told you that?”

Jennifer quickly responded, “Oh, must’ve been a mistake, or something I misremembered. You know how gossip gets passed around.”

Donald studied her as he dabbed at his lips with a napkin. “I thought you weren’t into gossip. Isn’t work supposed to be your one and only passion?” His admiration for her enigmatic, distant charm was undeniable.

Jennifer replied, “You give me too much credit. I’m just an ordinary person.”

Lowering her gaze as she sipped her corn soup, her thoughts churned. Teresa definitely has a child. Could it be that Donald truly has no idea? Did Teresa deliberately keep Michael’s existence a secret from her ex-husband’s family, even from Jonathan?

Michael must be Horizonlead Group CEO’s son. I even went out of my way to buy their magazines just to learn about Teresa’s life. He’s the spitting image of Jonathan. I’m almost certain they’re father and son, Jennifer pondered.

“What’s on your mind? I’ve never seen you so distracted,” Donald asked.

His words brought her back to the present. She smiled lightly. “Just realizing it’s almost New Year’s Day, and, as usual, I’ll be spending it alone.”

“What about your family?” Donald inquired.

“I don’t have one,” Jennifer replied, shrugging. “They don’t really care about me.”

“Then,” he began, gathering his courage and reaching across the table to take her hand, “let me take you home. Spend New Year’s Day with my family.”

Jennifer froze, then pulled her hand away. “Thanks, but I’m not into younger guys. Besides, I’m not interested in dating right now.”

Jennifer’s heart was firmly set on her career, not romance. She had clawed her way up from nothing, overcoming life-threatening trials. There were still scores to settle, and she wasn’t about to lose focus.

She aimed for greater respect and higher accolades. Right now, the only thing that truly captivated her was the prospect of professional advancement.

Still, Teresa’s story gnawed at her mind. A single mom raising her child without the father’s involvement, and the father, a wealthy businessman, doesn’t even know. Why? Is she avoiding a custody battle? Afraid he’ll leave her with nothing?

Jennifer’s heart ached for Teresa. She understood too well how children without love became adults who guarded their treasures fiercely. For Teresa, Michael was everything.

Jennifer ended her shift with these lingering thoughts and made her usual stop at the bakery. She had always adored sweets, a small indulgence she’d clung to since childhood. Yet, after so many years of hardship, even the sweetest flavors left a bitter aftertaste.

Suddenly, a hand clasped her wrist firmly, making her turn. Evelyn’s eyes brimmed with disbelief; her voice was shaky as she tightened her grip. “Hannah… Hannah, is that really you?” she murmured.

Snapping out of her daze, Jennifer impatiently jerked her wrist away. “Who are you? I don’t know you. Seems like you’ve got the wrong person,” she snapped.

Evelyn looked at her with a mixture of emotions. “Sorry, you look so much like my daughter. If she had lived, she’d have looked just like you,” Evelyn explained.

Jennifer sneered, pointing behind her. “Your daughter’s crying in the car for you. You should probably check on her.”

Evelyn continued gazing at Jennifer and muttered, “I guess I must’ve been mistaken. I’m really sorry.”

Jennifer turned and walked away, her expression unreadable. As she walked, she could hear Evelyn’s soft voice behind her, comforting the child, “Isabel, it’s okay, sweetheart. Don’t cry.”

Upon returning to Nareigh, Jennifer immediately investigated Evelyn’s life. She learned that Evelyn had remarried and now had a daughter. Jennifer had witnessed firsthand the way Evelyn doted on this little girl.

She never cared to check on me all these years, so why reach out now with such warmth? Jennifer’s thoughts twisted with bitterness. Such pathetic maternal love, so laughable and deplorable.

The only family Jennifer had left was Teresa, someone who, like her, had been abandoned by their parents. But Jennifer had never realized how much struggle Teresa had faced on her own.

Why does life deal us such a cruel hand? Why are we condemned to this misfortune? Jennifer thought sorrowfully. At least, Teresa didn’t suffer as much as I did when I was a child.

That night, Jennifer returned home, pouring herself drink after drink. Nareigh, unchanged yet so different, mirrored the brokenness of her family. Her father’s coldness, her mother’s selfish pursuit of happiness—both led to Jennifer being abandoned, left with a sister who felt more like a burden.

Isn’t focusing on my career better? Jennifer thought bitterly. Had Teresa’s circumstances been different, she would have gone to a better, more reputable hospital. Nareigh was always just a temporary stop in her journey through this city and its inhabitants.

Jennifer’s phone lit up. Reading the caller ID, she wiped her tears and answered.

“Jennifer, I’ve got everything set up for you at the Shaville hospital. You can transfer anytime,” informed the person on the other end.

She took another sip from her drink and replied, “I’m fine here at Nareigh Maternal and Child Health Hospital for now. I’ll stay a bit longer.”

“Why? Don’t you hate Nareigh?” the person asked.

“I do, but I ran into my sister here. She’s in a tough spot, and I need to help her out first. Once I can, I’ll leave Nareigh with her,” Jennifer explained.