Chapter 148

Jennifer disagreed. “Is cooking stressing you out that much? Enough to make you think about telling him the truth?”

Teresa shook her head. “It’s not just about cooking. I just feel like I can’t do this alone. Mike really likes him, and Jonathan… well, has been great to Mike, even without knowing he’s his son. Whenever we talk about Mike, the guilt eats me up inside. So I’ve been thinking, maybe I should tell him. Keeping it a secret might have been a mistake.”

Jennifer frowned. “It’s not a mistake. You absolutely can’t tell him. Think about his mother. She would definitely fight you for custody, and that would hurt Mike.”

Teresa bit her lip, unable to refute. She wanted to tell the truth because of Michael, but also Jonathan. However, the fear of losing her child made her conflicted. She confided in Jennifer, trusting her as a wise, older sister figure who could offer guidance.

Jennifer saw through her thoughts and sighed, giving Teresa’s arm a gentle squeeze. “I don’t get it. You said you weren’t going back to him. Don’t let your feelings trip you up. You weren’t happy in that relationship, so why go back? You can’t live your life like your mom. Is that what you want? Having two kids in quick succession, then getting pregnant again at fifty? Don’t you think a woman can live a fulfilling life without a man?”

Teresa was puzzled. “How do you know my mother has three kids?”

Jennifer explained calmly, “You told me, remember? On New Year’s Eve.”

“Did I? I don’t remember saying that, but maybe I did,” Teresa thought.

Jennifer held Teresa’s hand. “Listen, don’t tell Jonathan or his family. It’s better to keep quiet and start fresh in a new city.” Jennifer’s desire to take Teresa and Michael away from Nareigh had never wavered. She longed for a fresh start, but even more so for Teresa. Hence, she didn’t want Teresa to let her emotions cloud her judgment. All the while, she was waiting for the right moment to tell Teresa about herself. She wondered how Teresa would react when she found out that Jennifer was actually her long-lost sister, Hannah. Part of her was eager to reunite with Teresa as sisters, but another part was fearful it might overwhelm Teresa. She also worried that Teresa might not believe her.

“I can’t leave Nareigh right now,” Teresa said. “I still have responsibilities at Teresouth Group, and I can’t just walk away. If I were to leave, it would have to be once the company is stable.”

She added, “I’ll need to hire a nanny. I’m not great at cooking, but I can’t let my child suffer because of it. Before, I couldn’t afford it, but that’s not the case anymore. My main concern now is finding someone trustworthy. What if the person I hire mistreats him?” The news was filled with heartbreaking stories of nannies mistreating children, which made Teresa even more wary. She didn’t have the right connections to find someone reliable, and the thought of hiring a complete stranger made her hesitant.

Jennifer paused before suggesting, “What if I moved in with you?”

Teresa blinked in surprise. She explained, “Actually, my lease at Golden Residence is up. If you don’t mind, I could move in and cook for both of you.”

“Sure!” Teresa happily agreed. Living with Jennifer would definitely put her at ease.

Teresa said, “I used to stay with a colleague. We got along well, but she’s got a boyfriend now. She’ll be back after the holidays, but she’ll probably move in with him. I’ve been thinking about finding a new roommate, someone who can help look after Mike when I’m not home.”

Jennifer smiled. “I see. You should’ve said so earlier! I was worried you wouldn’t agree. So, how much is the monthly rent? I’ll transfer it to you now.”

Teresa shook her head. “That won’t be necessary. I’m already grateful that you’re helping us with meals. Rent and utilities are on me.”

Jennifer shook her head. “I can’t let you cover everything. I should still pay rent.”

Teresa casually suggested, “How about 200 dollars?”

Jennifer wasn’t having it. She quickly transferred 3,000 dollars to Teresa. “I’m planning on staying long-term. If I leave earlier, we can settle the balance then.”

Teresa promptly returned the money. “Pay me on a monthly basis,” she insisted. “Your job isn’t easy, and you should have some extra to take care of yourself.”

Jennifer didn’t want to argue further, but she felt that 200 dollars was too little. So, she transferred 300 dollars instead.

The next day, Jennifer moved in with Teresa. Her belongings were minimal; just a few boxes. Teresa had already prepared the room, bought fresh sheets, and made sure everything was set up for her. The move was one of the few things that had brought Jennifer joy lately. In good spirits, she decided to grab a coffee at the café downstairs from the hospital, where she bumped into Donald.

Seeing the usually stoic woman smiling for once, Donald couldn’t help smiling, too. “Something good must’ve happened. It’s rare to see you this happy.”

“Nothing special.” Jennifer ordered another cup of coffee, offering it to him. “Here, this one’s for you.”

“You’re being so nice to me today. I’m flattered.” Donald was surprised.

“I’m just thanking you for always looking out for me,” Jennifer said. She had always had special feelings for Donald. It all started when she had swapped Jonathan’s hair in the DNA test, causing Donald to deliver inaccurate results to Jonathan. Every time they met, the guilt from that deception resurfaced. However, seeing his gentle and caring expression now stirred something more complicated within her. She quickly pushed those feelings aside, not wanting them to distract her from moving forward.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a light flick to her forehead. Jennifer blinked in surprise, looking up at Donald. “Oh, come on. You’re always thanking me or apologizing. You don’t need to act like we’re strangers.”

Jennifer cleared her throat. “Oh.”

Donald noticed the faint blush creeping up her ears and was surprised. Leaning toward her face, he teased, “You’re blushing? I didn’t expect that from you!”

No one had ever been this close to Jennifer before, especially not a man. Flustered, she pushed him away, stammering, “I… I need to get back to work.”

“Wait for me. I’m heading back too.” Donald followed her with a grin.

In the evening, Jennifer returned home and busied herself in the kitchen, preparing a variety of dishes for Teresa and Michael. She was glad to be staying with her sister and nephew.

Miriam stopped by to visit Teresa. Jennifer stepped out to greet her. Teresa introduced them with a smile. “Miriam, this is Jennifer. She’s a doctor at Nareigh Maternal and Child Health Hospital and also my new roommate. Jennifer, this is my best friend, Miriam.”

Jennifer smiled warmly. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miriam. Thank you for always looking out for Teresa.”

Miriam blinked, confused. “Huh? Oh, no, it’s nothing. She’s just as supportive of me.”

After Jennifer headed into the kitchen, Miriam leaned in, grabbing Teresa’s arm. “How do you know her? She’s a bit… strange. The way she thanked me, it’s as if she’s your family.”

“I met her a few times at the hospital. That’s just how she is, but she’s really kind.” Yet, despite her words, she couldn’t deny that Jennifer’s behavior struck her as peculiar at times.