Chapter 214

The moment Michael saw his stern aunt, he stopped crying, wiped his nose on his sleeve, and clung tightly to Teresa’s arm, clearly frightened. Jennifer fixed her gaze on him. “Mike, so you’ve been staying at Mr. Lynn’s house all this time? Come here, I want to ask you something.”

Teresa said, instinctively pulling Michael closer, her voice firm as she tried to shield him, “Jennifer, the child is tired. Don’t do this. If you’ve got something to ask, talk to me.” She comforted Michael, urging him to rest and reassuring him that there was nothing to fear. Teresa hadn’t expected Jennifer to return today; she hadn’t even been given a heads-up.

Seeing Teresa’s protective stance, Jennifer pressed her lips together but eventually left Michael’s room. Teresa spent a long time calming her son down as he sniffled, his little shoulders trembling.

“But Mommy, I didn’t even get to show Mr. Lynn my new panda undies. They’re so cute!” Michael said, his voice still trembling.

“I’m so sorry, honey. Maybe next time, okay? Mommy’s really, really sorry,” Teresa said, lowering her head in guilt.

Seeing his mom so sad, Michael softened. He began to feel bad about throwing a tantrum, his small mind already reflecting on his behavior. “Mommy, I don’t want to live in a big house anymore. I just want to be with you,” he said, his voice filled with determination. Teresa hugged him tightly and kissed his forehead. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I’m so, so sorry.”

The first time she became a mother, Teresa had to figure everything out on her own. Every step felt like a mistake. Michael quickly fell asleep again in Teresa’s arms, his breathing soft and steady. The weight of everything pressed down on Teresa, leaving her feeling overwhelmed and exhausted.

Suddenly, a name popped into her mind—Truman, the psychologist she had once consulted. Maybe he could help her sort through her thoughts again.

Teresa left Michael’s room, only to find Jennifer standing there, her face pale with anger. She was gripping a pregnancy test so tightly it looked like it might snap. Jennifer’s voice was sharp and trembling. “What is this, Teresa?”

“Jennifer, keep your voice down, will you? Mike just fell asleep, and I don’t want him waking up,” Teresa said, her tone tired and pleading. Jennifer glanced toward Michael’s room, and for a moment, her anger faltered. She took a deep breath, grabbed Teresa by the arm, and dragged her into her room. After shutting the door, she let out a heavy sigh. “Teresa, let’s talk calmly. Just tell me—are you pregnant again? And is the baby Jonathan’s?”

Teresa frowned, trying to deflect. “Why are you back so suddenly? You didn’t even let me know beforehand.” But Teresa wasn’t naive. If she had known Jennifer was coming, she would have hidden the pregnancy test better.

“I rushed back from the hospital dorm. If I hadn’t gone to the bathroom and seen the test, were you planning to keep this from me?” Jennifer’s frustration was evident.

“Jennifer, just listen to me first,” Teresa said, her voice weary. “This happened because Jonathan and I had been drinking. I wanted to tell him about Mike, but he misunderstood, and… that night, I got pregnant. I didn’t want this to happen either.”

“If you didn’t want it, then why didn’t you take the morning-after pill? Even taking ten pills would have been better than going through an abortion,” Jennifer snapped, her tone exasperated.

Teresa stared at Jennifer, her patience wearing thin. Does she seriously think she can control my life? she thought. “I did want to stop it,” Teresa said, her voice steady but tinged with frustration. “I was on my way to buy the pills when Mom was rushed to the hospital, so I dropped everything to get to her. I missed the window to take the pills.”

“And for the record, I’m not getting an abortion. I’ve decided to keep the baby.”

Teresa’s resolute words hit Jennifer like a slap. Her expression shifted—she understood everything.

“So that’s it,” Jennifer said, her voice low but cutting. “That’s why you only agreed to leave Naraigh. It’s because you want to have this baby abroad, isn’t it? You’re planning to raise Mike and this second child on your own, am I right?”

Teresa didn’t bother denying it. Jennifer was her sister; after all, she knew her too well to be fooled.

With one child, Teresa had managed to outmaneuver Jonathan and keep her secrets. There was no way she could hide both from him, especially since Jonathan already suspected she might be pregnant. Now that the pregnancy test had confirmed it, and with her period also overdue, Teresa was certain she was expecting. Her plan was clear: leave before Jonathan could confirm her pregnancy and make him believe there was nothing to suspect.

“Teresa, have you completely lost it? There’s no way I’m letting you do this.”

“It’s my body, my choice. Whether I keep this baby or not is entirely up to me,” Teresa retorted.

“One kid is already enough. And now you want a second? Are you out of your mind?” Jennifer’s voice was sharp with disbelief.

Jennifer grabbed Teresa’s wrist firmly, her tone leaving no room for argument. “Come with me. I can’t let you keep making such reckless decisions. We’re going to the hospital right now.”

Teresa yanked her arm free, her patience clearly wearing thin. “I’m not getting an abortion. I have the Teresouth Group, I have savings, and I can take care of two kids just fine. Even if you’re my sister, you don’t have the right to dictate my life.” Jennifer’s expression turned icy. “I’ve been in gynecology for years, Teresa. I’ve seen it all—women who regret not getting an abortion when they had the chance, breaking down when it’s too late, crying and desperate. Do you want to end up like that?”

“You can’t keep this baby, Teresa. You have to let it go.”