“Fine, go pack your things! Let’s see where you think you can go,” Evelyn snapped, her voice sharp with anger. She stormed off, slamming the door behind her with a loud bang that echoed through the hallway.
Michael tugged on Teresa’s sleeve, his small face filled with worry. Teresa knelt down, her voice soft and soothing. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. Mommy’s here, and everything will be fine.”
“Mom, Grandma didn’t scold me. She just told me to speak nicely and not to lead Isabel astray. I promise I’ll be good. Please don’t be upset with Grandma, okay?” Michael said, his voice small and earnest.
“Silly boy,” Teresa said with a gentle smile, planting a kiss on his cheek. “I’m not upset with her. You’re the most important person in my life. You don’t need to worry about Isabel anymore. It’s not something you should have to deal with.”
She had always longed for Evelyn’s love. She remembered struggling to start her business and instinctively thinking of asking Evelyn for help. But when she saw Evelyn cradling Isabel, all the words she wanted to say got stuck in her throat.
After all, she was still her mother. Teresa had told herself that over and over again. That was why, every time Evelyn was rushed to the hospital for emergency care, Teresa would drop everything and race to her side. She loved Evelyn deeply, despite everything.
Jennifer was Evelyn’s daughter too, but she never stepped up when Evelyn was hospitalized. It was Teresa who stayed by Evelyn’s side, looking after her and also caring for her baby sister, Isabel, who was barely over a year old at the time.
In the family, the more responsible you were, the more you were overlooked. The more you gave, the less you were valued.
Teresa knew Jonathan had been truly good to her. A man as exceptional as he deserved someone better. She had let go of the idea of a future with him, the hope that Evelyn might love her, and the pain of being left behind. She no longer needed an answer to the question, “Do you regret leaving your child behind when you divorced? If you had another chance, would you take your child with you?”
“You’re really leaving?” Evelyn stared at Teresa in disbelief, her eyes fixed on the two suitcases Teresa was pushing.
To Evelyn, it seemed absurd for Teresa to leave over something so trivial. What she failed to grasp was that disappointment built up day by day. Every departure had its breaking point. “Are you going back to Nareigh?”
“I’m not going back to Nareigh. I’ve got somewhere else to be.”
“Where?”
Teresa didn’t answer. She wasn’t planning to tell anyone—not Evelyn, not Jennifer. This time, she had learned her lesson.
“Then what am I supposed to tell Hannah? If you leave, she’s bound to ask.” Evelyn’s voice wavered with worry. Hannah had started treating her a little better. She was terrified Hannah would start resenting her again.
Teresa scoffed, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “She’s too busy with her new boyfriend to care about me.”
“What? She’s dating? Who is she dating—”
“Ask her yourself. If she asks about me, just tell her I’m fine. And tell her to stay out of my business. That’s all.” With that, Teresa left, taking Michael with her.
This time, she cut ties with Evelyn and Jennifer completely. She didn’t tell anyone where she was going—not even Miriam.
Before boarding the plane, she idly scrolled through her social media feed. To her surprise, Jennifer, who rarely posted anything, had shared a photo. Teresa stared at the post for a moment, her finger hovering over the like button, before she scoffed and scrolled past.
In the past, if Jennifer had posted something like this, Teresa would have liked it and sincerely wished her well. Jennifer had promised they’d leave Nareigh together, yet she had stayed behind while Teresa was forced to leave. Teresa couldn’t help but feel bitter.
Jennifer, unaware of Teresa’s departure, called her. She said she would save up to buy a house, and once she had one, she would bring Teresa and Michael to live with her. No matter what, she wouldn’t forget Teresa.
“There’s no need. I don’t want to live with you, and neither does my son.”
“Teresa, I know you’re upset,” Jennifer said after a pause. “I stayed in Nareigh because I don’t have anything they can use against me. But you’re not safe here. I only pushed you to leave because I was thinking of your safety.”