In the end, the message he sent to Teresa remained unanswered. Instead, Miriam contacted him.

"You two are seriously something else," Miriam said, exasperation evident in her tone. "Teresa saw your message. She asked me to tell you she's not homeless. She's staying with her mother. And her leaving isn't because of you, so stop overthinking it, okay?

Her sister and mother have been pushing her to leave Nareigh for a while now. Shelly stayed longer to finalize the company handover. She's planning to focus on her career overseas, so she doesn't want you worrying about her. She also hopes you'll take care of yourself and find someone right for you.

But she's not cutting ties completely. Her name is still tied to Teresouth Group, so she'll come back for the holidays or special occasions, maybe once or twice a year. She mentioned that when she's back, she'll treat a few friends to dinner. And, Jonathan, she really hopes you can let go of the past and start fresh. She wants both of you to live your own happy lives."

Miriam's words were barely out when Jonathan retorted, "Did you ask her how I'm supposed to live my happy life? She never considers my feelings. One minute she calls, saying she wants to stay over, and then she's gone before I can even get used to it. She doesn't want to see me or tangle with me.

I was away for just a week on a business trip, and the moment I got back, she had already packed up and left in a hurry. She tells me not to think about her, but how am I supposed to just stop caring?"

He felt utterly alone, without anyone to turn to for answers. Even on his trip, she was constantly on his mind. He wondered if she was pregnant and if they could work things out. He wanted to talk to her, hoping she'd keep the baby and let him provide them with a comfortable, secure life.

But instead, the moment he returned, she handed him a medical report confirming she wasn't pregnant, and then she left completely and without looking back.

Miriam, unaware of Teresa's pregnancy, tried to reason with Jonathan. "Teresa has been through so much, Jonathan. Raising Michael on her own hasn't been easy. Can't you try to see things from her perspective?"

"What more does she want from me?" Jonathan's brows furrowed. "I know she's had a hard time. When her mother was in the hospital, I found doctors. I even got her sister transferred to a better hospital. What else can I do to help?"

Miriam froze, her mind racing. She remembered Teresa mentioning wanting to transfer Jennifer to Nareigh General Hospital, where she'd be promoted to associate senior status. Miriam had been puzzled. Jennifer wasn't even thirty. It seemed impossible. But Jonathan had made it happen.

Miriam couldn't help but marvel at how much Jonathan had done for Teresa, even going out of his way to help her family. "You've done so much for Teresa. Does she even know? She doesn't, does she?"

Jonathan said, "Of course, she doesn't."

Miriam sighed. "You always just take it and stay quiet. If that's how you want to live, fine. Benny and I have tried so many times to bring you two together, but it never works. One of you won't speak, and the other won't ask.

Now that Teresa's gone, maybe it's time for both of you to move on. Her sister said leaving Nareigh was the life Teresa wanted. As her best friend, I stand by her. I respect her choice."

With that, Miriam hung up the phone.

Jonathan's mind drifted back to Truman's words: "Marrying you didn't bring her happiness. She was miserable and exhausted. Divorcing you was her liberation. Stop chasing her. You're only adding to her burden."

He recalled the look in Teresa's eyes back then, calm and resolute, yet tinged with a fleeting urge to say something. In the end, she'd said, "That's just how it is."

Something was off. Jonathan wasn't going to let it end like this. His fists clenched as determination surged through him. Without hesitation, he booked the next flight to Fernlandia.