Chapter 29

Jonathan bore the brunt, letting out a weary sigh. “What more can I do? As soon as I heard she was in trouble, I left everything and came back. I sacrificed a significant contract for this.”

Hayden made his stance clear with a dismissive snort. “Money comes and goes, but a good marriage? That’s something you can’t replace,” he stated, his voice unwavering.

Jonathan, catching Teresa’s eye, gave a solemn nod. “You’re right, Grandpa,” he agreed.

Cheryl’s curiosity got the better of her, and she blurted out, “So, what happened with the divorce? What went wrong?”

The room fell silent, anticipation hanging in the air, but Jonathan and Teresa kept their counsel.

Teresa glanced at her watch and prepared to take her leave. “Hayden, if there’s nothing more, I should be going. You need to take it easy and get some rest,” she suggested gently.

Suddenly, Hayden clutched at his chest, his features contorted with pain. “Oh, it’s my chest! Is it my heart again?” he groaned, his voice strained.

Teresa’s face paled as she reached out to him. “Hayden, are you okay?” she asked urgently.

Dropping the act, Hayden gripped Teresa’s wrist with surprising strength. “Don’t go. Stay and have dinner with me, and I’ll be okay. Sir, next to Jonathan; he can crack the crabs for you.”

Teresa remained silent, her mind elsewhere.

Jonathan slipped off his jacket, nodding at Hayden’s advice. “Let’s eat, and then I’ll take you home,” he told Teresa.

Irene had left and didn’t return, probably because she knew she wasn’t wanted.

After they finished dinner, Hayden gestured for Jonathan to join him in the study.

Curious about the exchange between Hayden and Jonathan, Teresa was drawn out of her thoughts by Cheryl, who leaned in and murmured, “Hey, what’s the real deal with you and Jonathan? Why did you guys break up? I promise it’ll stay between us.”

Teresa chose not to badmouth Jonathan. She replied vaguely, “We just weren’t suited for each other, I think.”

Cheryl, not one to give up easily, probed further. “How so? Was it a matter of not being on the same page in terms of intimacy?”

Teresa blushed and playfully tapped Cheryl on the forehead. “You’re too young to be thinking about this stuff.”

Cheryl gave Teresa a playful nudge, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “I’m getting up there, but you, Teresa, you’ve got that mature allure,” she teased.

Teresa caught on to Cheryl’s meaning and rolled her eyes at Cheryl’s playful gesture. “You never change,” she said, her tone filled with affectionate amusement.

Cheryl hooked her arm through Teresa’s, complimenting her. “Your figure is to die for, Teresa. Being around such stunning beauty is a real treat,” she beamed, her eyes full of admiration.

Jonathan, from the doorway of the study, watched the interaction, noticing Cheryl’s touch on Teresa’s form. He’d always been drawn to Teresa’s figure, and it still captured his attention.

He cleared his throat noisily, descending the stairs and interrupting the moment, prompting Cheryl to unlink her arm from Teresa’s.

Teresa glanced at her watch and her eyes widened at the time. “I have to get going,” she said, her voice tinged with urgency as she thought about her son waiting at home.

Hayden looked at Jonathan and let out a sigh. “Make sure Teresa gets home safely. It’s a shame she can’t stay over like she used to.”

Teresa and Jonathan shared a wordless, strained look, their mouths set in tight lines.

As they departed, Teresa tossed a remark over her shoulder to Hayden, “Thanks for the Thanksgiving gifts, Hayden. That was really something.”

Hayden’s brow furrowed in confusion. “What are you talking about? I didn’t send any gift.”

Teresa’s eyes widened in shock. “You didn’t have Edward bring the holiday package to my place?”

Hayden shook his head. “No, I didn’t. Edward’s not my errand boy. I wouldn’t have done that.”

Jonathan quickly steered the conversation away, taking Teresa’s hand. “Let’s hit the road,” he said, guiding her out the door.

Teresa started to put the pieces together, her expression thoughtful, as she followed Jonathan.

Settled in the car, Teresa inquired, “You’re the one who sent Edward with those gifts, right?”

Jonathan’s hands clenched the steering wheel, and he responded with a brief, “Yeah.”

His voice grew nostalgic as he continued, “When we first tied the knot, I didn’t have much to give. I’m just trying to make up for those early times.”

Tears welled up in Teresa’s eyes as she looked at Jonathan’s silhouette. “By the way, there isn’t really a fiancée, is there? You were lying, right?”