Chapter 209

Jonathan had longed to have a proper conversation with Teresa, but circumstances had prevented it. That night, after drinking too much, he had been with her, but there was no opportunity to talk. The next morning, she bolted, barefoot. Then her mother was hospitalized, and Teresa spent days at her side, looking pale and exhausted. Jonathan decided not to press the issue.

Today, the opportunity finally arose. Jonathan cleared his throat, a nervous gesture betraying his apprehension.

“What’s there to talk about?” Teresa asked.

“I know you don’t love me,” Jonathan said calmly.

Teresa’s eyes briefly flashed, but she didn't argue.

Jonathan continued, “I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately. It’s fine if you don’t love me anymore. After all, we were husband and wife once. If you’re pregnant this time, I want the child. I’ll give you whatever you want, as long as you’re willing to remarry me.”

“I don’t want that, Jonathan,” Teresa replied bluntly.

Jonathan sighed. “I’ll give you time to think about it. You don’t have to answer right away.”

Teresa pressed her lips together, as if something had just occurred to her. She reached into her bag and pulled out a brand-new watch, handing it to him.

Jonathan glanced at the watch, noticing the strap hadn’t even been adjusted. He raised an eyebrow. “When did you buy this?”

“A while ago,” Teresa said. “Back in January, when I was moving out of Rosary Estates. I found it while packing and realized I never gave it to you.”

Jonathan frowned as he stared at the watch. Teresa noticed his lack of enthusiasm and felt a pang of disappointment. She thought, Does he not like it? I spent so much time choosing this black watch, hoping it’d be perfect for him. Maybe it’s just not as good as the Rolex watch on his wrist.

“It’s not that I don’t like it,” Jonathan said, his voice softening. “I just don’t want you spending money on me. Maybe I’ve gotten used to being the one giving you gifts.”

As he spoke, Jonathan took off the watch he was wearing and handed it to Teresa. “Help me put this one on. From now on, I’ll wear the one you bought.”

“You’re always like this,” Teresa murmured, her voice carrying a mix of frustration and resignation. “That’s why I felt so insecure when we got married.”

Jonathan’s words caught her off guard. His insecurity, despite his good looks, was surprising. It was the first time she’d ever heard him admit something like that.

Jonathan tapped the steering wheel lightly, the sound breaking the silence between them. “When we got married, I couldn’t help feeling out of place. You were driving a Porsche, carrying bags worth tens of thousands, more than I could ever afford.”

Teresa froze for a moment, hearing him speak again.

“But Teresa,” he continued, “back then, my desire to marry you outweighed all my insecurities.”

Teresa remained silent. At that moment, it felt as though a gentle current had flowed into the deepest part of her heart, leaving her speechless. She was moved, yet filled with regret that he hadn’t said this earlier. But it was too late now. Everything had already been decided.

Jonathan slowly took her hand, his deep eyes flickering with emotion as he gazed at her earnestly. He said, “Do you remember that interview? I told you there was someone who made me realize I had to work hard, to earn enough to stand tall in front of her. That someone was you.”

“Jonathan, I’ve never cared about whether you had money,” Teresa said. “If I cared about money, I could’ve married one of those rich heirs my dad wanted, or found someone even better on my own.”

“You may not care, but I do,” Jonathan replied, his gaze darkening.

He continued, “I’m a man. Back when we got married, aside from a few close friends, how many people said I wasn’t good enough for you? I could ignore what others thought of me, but I cared about how you felt and how your family felt. When you married me, your family looked down on me. Your father made it obvious, as if he couldn’t wait for us to divorce. Your mother may not have said it outright, but I knew she didn’t approve of me, either. I worked hard to earn money, not to gain society’s approval. What others think doesn’t matter to me. What matters is earning your approval.”

“I’ve waited so long,” Jonathan said, a trace of disappointment flashing in his eyes. “But all this time, you’ve never said the words I’ve been longing to hear.”

Teresa stared at him intently. “But Jonathan, do you even know what I truly want?”

Jonathan fell silent, his eyes locked on hers. A flicker of disillusionment crossed Teresa’s eyes. Seeing the confusion and faint sadness in his expression, she knew that divorce was the only path forward, no matter how much it hurt.

She said, “You and I just aren’t a good match. You need someone like Yvonne—gentle, caring, and perfect for building a home. I’m not that kind of woman, and I can’t give you the kind of care you’re looking for.”

Jonathan let out a slow breath, his frustration evident. “When did I ever say I needed you to be like that? And why do you always have to bring her up? She committed suicide. Why can’t you let go of someone who’s no longer here?”

“She’s dead, so I’m just supposed to believe there was nothing between you two? Wasn’t she your childhood sweetheart and your dream girl? If she were still alive, would you even be here chasing after me?” Teresa demanded. Dream girl? What kind of nonsense is that? Jonathan thought.