- Chapter 196
“I… I never said I disagreed,” Jonathan’s deep voice came through the phone, steady and firm. “I’ll come pick you up.”
“No need, I’m at the office,” Teresa replied.
“Then I’ll come to you.”
After hanging up, Teresa stepped out of the restroom. Just then, Michael came bounding toward her like an energetic little monkey, throwing his arms around her and looking up with big, expectant eyes. Teresa gave him an “OK” gesture, signaling that everything was settled.
“Mommy, being your son is the best thing ever!” Michael exclaimed, his voice full of joy.
“You are so sweet,” Teresa said with a mix of exasperation and affection, ruffling his hair. “After work, I’ll take you shopping for some new clothes.”
“Yay!” Mike cheered, his face lighting up with excitement.
After work, Teresa held Michael’s hand as he obediently followed her. By the time Jonathan came looking for her, she had already taken the child to the mall. Jonathan decided not to head to the mall. Instead, he returned to Forlisle Rose Estates. When Teresa’s car approached, the “no trespassing” sign at the entrance was moved aside just for her.
On the way, Michael had been full of energy, chattering excitedly about the villa he couldn’t wait to see. But halfway through the drive, he started nodding off, and by the time they arrived at the grand villa, he was fast asleep in the car. Teresa figured he must have woken up too early that morning and had been too excited all day to rest.
Jonathan came out to greet them. He had already prepared a room for their arrival. Seeing Michael asleep, he gently carried him out of the car. With his free hand, he reached out to Teresa. “Hand me your phone for a second.”
“What do you need my phone for?” Teresa asked.
“I need to call his mom and figure out what’s going on. It’s already March. Did she just leave him behind?” Jonathan’s voice carried a mix of frustration and concern.
“No, she’ll be back by the end of the month,” Teresa quickly replied. “I’ll take him back to her then. Or do you not like having him around?”
“It’s not that I don’t like Mike,” Jonathan said with a sigh. “But I can’t get in touch with Christian, and I have no idea what’s going on with his family. Leaving the kid with you all the time isn’t a long-term solution.”
Teresa lowered her head, avoiding his gaze, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’ll take him back at the end of the month. You won’t have to deal with him anymore.”
Jonathan noticed her reaction and chose not to press further. Instead, he picked up her luggage with one hand and said softly, his voice tinged with concern, “Come on, let’s go inside.”
“Just take the ten thousand I sent you,” she said.
Jonathan’s gaze sharpened, a flicker of irritation crossing his face. Teresa, however, was resolute. She couldn’t stay here for free. She considered it a short-term rental, nothing more.
Seeing her stubbornness, Jonathan reluctantly accepted the money, already planning to return it to her during the next holiday, disguised as a gift.
“Come on in, and don’t forget to shut the door,” he said.
“Sorry for the trouble, and thank you,” Teresa said, her eyes roaming over the villa. The place was massive. The living room alone seemed endless. Her room was upstairs, accessible via a grand spiral staircase. The chandelier gave the space the feel of a princess’s castle. Jonathan had cleared out the master bedroom for her; if she didn’t want to share a room with him, he’d sleep in the guest room next door. Before her arrival, he’d even replaced the bedsheets with fresh ones. As Teresa walked past a room with its door slightly ajar, she paused—the nursery caught her eye. Pink wallpaper and delicate decorations filled the space.
Teresa stopped in her tracks. Jonathan cleared his throat awkwardly. “…thinking it could be for a daughter,” Teresa rolled her eyes.