Chapter 37

Teresa swiftly responded, “Why not spend some time with Miriam, Edward? I’ll be out of your way. We’re leaving.” With that, she steered Jonathan away, determined to keep him from crossing paths with Michael. An encounter would be disastrous, and she couldn’t risk Jonathan seeing his son just yet.

Once they were a safe distance from Edward, Teresa let go of Jonathan’s hand and coughed lightly to ease the tension. “I’m playing matchmaker for your cousin and Miriam. Miriam’s quite taken with Edward.”

Jonathan’s brow lifted in confusion. “How did you guys meet up?”

Teresa blurted out, “Outside the men’s restroom.”

Confused, Jonathan repeated, “The men’s room?”

With a straight face, Teresa confirmed, “Yeah, he was on his way out when we ran into each other.”

Jonathan’s face showed both amusement and skepticism. “You make it sound like you’re a regular in the men’s room or something.”

Teresa chose not to respond to the tease.

Glancing at his watch, Jonathan smoothly changed the subject. “What about lunch? Anywhere in mind?”

“I’m good with anything. You decide,” Teresa replied, leaving the choice to him.

“Let’s go to Crown Plaza,” Jonathan suggested.

Upon reaching the mall, Jonathan, reflecting on the help Miriam had provided, offered generously, “We don’t frequent this place often. Let’s grab something before we go. Call Miriam to join in, and I’ll take care of the expenses.”

Teresa shook her head, her tone casual. “No need to interrupt her. She’s probably shopping with Edward. I can grab her a few gifts instead,” she said, keeping it simple.

Following their meal, Teresa anticipated returning to the hotel, but Jonathan had different ideas. He led her to his courtyard house. Once out of the car, Jonathan revealed, “This is my new home. Would you like to see it?”

Teresa’s “Oh” was more of a polite response than one of excitement; she’d seen the villa before with Edward and Miriam.

They walked through the spacious courtyards, the property’s grandeur evident.

Jonathan looked to Teresa, seeking some enthusiasm. Her lack of reaction made him feel a bit let down. “You don’t think the decor is impressive?” he asked, hoping for a positive reaction.

Teresa, pulling herself together, gave a diplomatic compliment. “This place is off the charts. It’s huge and totally impressive.”

With a flourish, Jonathan led her into a side room, his voice filled with anticipation. “You have to check this out,” he said, unveiling a bathroom with an impressive oval tub. The white, star-like fixture was a standout, spacious enough for many.

Having not afforded such luxury during their marriage, he introduced this extravagant element after their separation, expecting her to be wowed by his home’s new centerpiece.

But Teresa, having already taken in the opulence of his house, wasn’t as blown away as he’d hoped. “It’s quite the showpiece,” she said, her voice lacking the awe he’d anticipated.

Jonathan was visibly disappointed by her muted response.

Teresa warned, shaking her head, “You’re spending excessively. A house this costly? That’s half a billion dollars you’re casually tossing around.”

Jonathan looked at Teresa, a hint of skepticism in his voice. “What made you mention the 500 million?”

Teresa’s mouth thinned as she answered, “Edward slipped up and told me.”

With a mocking laugh, Jonathan questioned, “Still not impressed, are you? Would a few billion be more to your liking? How about a few trillion?”

Chapter 17

As Jonathan strode off, Teresa remained, her brow furrowed in bewilderment. She had merely intended to caution him about his excessive spending.

Jonathan allowed Teresa to leave without making an effort to hold her back. He had tailored the luxurious house to her tastes, keeping an eye on the progress during his travels.

However, her muted response to the reveal was far from what he had hoped for—not even an “Oh, wow.” I left him feeling completely dismissed.

To everyone else, he was a triumphant figure, but with her, it seemed like he didn’t matter at all.

His phone buzzed, interrupting his thoughts. Jonathan answered, “Hey, I’m in Harrisburg on a business trip. Let’s meet up for drinks when I return.”