Chapter 64
Philip had gotten wind of Jason’s nasty rumors about Teresa. He couldn’t help but bring up Jonathan every chance he got, as if he were some kind of hero. Jonathan’s really something now, practically running the show in Nareigh. He handled public opinion so quickly. “Why don’t you just remarry him!” Philip said, trying to justify his point. “You wouldn’t have to be afraid of anything.”
Teresa didn’t want to engage, but with Philip mentioning Jonathan about a hundred times a day, she couldn’t help but wonder if he had a crush on Jonathan or something.
After a long day at Roc Group and getting ready to head to the bank, Teresa spotted Philip making a phone call, not to someone she recognized. Teresa didn’t think much of it and was about to call out to Philip when she overheard him ingratiatingly say, “Jonathan, I didn’t realize before how promising and excellent you are. Could you lend me 15 million? I promise.”
That was as far as Philip got before Teresa snatched the phone from him. She heard Jonathan’s voice on the other end and said, “You don’t need to entertain my dad or lend him money.”
There was a short pause on Jonathan’s side, and then he slowly replied, “I wasn’t planning on getting him out of debt.”
“Good, that’s settled then. You carry on, and I’ll handle my family matters,” Teresa said before hanging up.
Teresa hurled the phone at Philip, her face red with anger. “What’s wrong with you? You used to treat him like dirt and mock him for being broke, and now you’re on your knees asking for a handout?”
She added, “But Jonathan’s no pushover, and he’s not my husband anymore. 1.5 million! He doesn’t owe you a damn thing!”
“What am I supposed to do? Besides Jonathan in Nareigh, who else can lend me 1.5 million?” Philip retorted.
“I told you to give me three to five years, and I’ll work hard to revive the group, but it takes time. Why can’t you believe in me?” Teresa pleaded, her voice on the verge of breaking.
But Philip just pressed his lips together and said, “It’s not that I don’t believe in you. It’s just too slow. I can’t wait that long, not with the interest piling up every day. I can’t wait three to five years.”
“You have to wait! How can you call your daughter’s ex-husband for money, harassing him over and over? Have some decency, please,” Teresa said, her anger rising.
Without warning, Philip slapped Teresa across the face. His eyes bulged with anger as he said, “No one talks back to me like that. I give you leeway, but it doesn’t mean you can get on my nerves.”
Teresa hung her head low; Philip had already stormed off. She wiped her nose, brushed away her tears, and went to wash her face.
The next day, she messaged Philip, telling him not to contact her anymore. She had offered him a plan, asking him to trust her, but he wasn’t willing to wait or believe in his own daughter. Teresa figured if Philip wanted to seek help from someone else, he could do as he pleased. She washed her hands of it.
Not sure if Philip had a change of heart or something else, Teresa found him kept calling her. When Teresa arrived at Roc Group, Philip was there, slapping himself in front of her.
“I was wrong. I shouldn’t have slapped you yesterday. You were right to talk sense into me. I’ve been acting like a jerk. It’s just that I’ve been stressed out and worried about money. I’m sorry. I’m sorry,” Philip said, his voice filled with regret.
Seeing Teresa unmoved, Philip went to kneel before her, but she stopped him, thinking, “No need to turn this around on me later for being unfilial.”
Grabbing Teresa’s hand, Philip suddenly smiled and said, “Today, Schneider Group is ready to invest in us. Join me for dinner tonight.”
“Teresa, I’ve secured a major client now. Don’t worry. I’ll be able to pay off the 1.5 million very soon,” Philip said, trying to reassure her.
Teresa was skeptical, but she agreed to the meeting. She couldn’t help but wonder if this was another one of Philip’s empty promises, but she decided to give him one more chance.