Chapter 889

Eason changed the subject and asked, “What happened next? Did you marry someone else after divorcing Philip?”

Evelyn replied with a sigh, “Yeah, I was still hoping to meet a good guy back then. I didn’t want to be alone.”

Eason looked confused. “Then why did you end up divorcing Charlie?”

Evelyn sighed and said, “I thought I married a decent guy, but he was just like Philip. He manipulated my money and company, tried all kinds of tricks to move assets after we got married, and finally threw me out.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Eason said. He looked again at Isabel, who was sucking her thumb. He thought, ‘No wonder she doesn’t look anything like Philip.’

“Guess this is what life is,” Evelyn said. “I’m raising my daughter alone now. The other two kids have grown up and don’t need me to worry about them anymore.”

Eason sighed with a mix of frustration and sympathy. “I had no idea you’ve been through so much.”

Evelyn also sighed. “I was too naive at that time. Philip is your brother, but you two are completely different people.”

Eason gripped his cup hard, thinking back, and scoffed. “Brother? We don’t even share the same parents, and I haven’t seen him in decades.”

“I think he went abroad. I have no idea what he’s up to now, but honestly, I don’t want to talk about him anymore.” Evelyn said as she pulled out something, “Here’s 30 thousand. I’ll pay back the other 130 thousand dollars soon.”

“No need. I don’t need the money,” Eason replied.

Evelyn shook her head. “No, I gotta pay you back. We haven’t met in ages, and I’m thankful you lent me money.”

Eason felt a mix of bitterness and regret. His childhood sweetheart had married twice and had children, yet now, she didn’t even have 150 thousand to her name.

He thought, ‘If she hadn’t chosen Philip back then and chosen me instead, things would have been different.’

Heidi came to the airport to pick up Irene the next day. After finding a quiet restaurant, Heidi sat down and asked, “Is it true that Jonathan got back together with his ex-wife?”

“I don’t know. I came back for the same reason, but he won’t even answer my calls,” Irene complained.

Heidi asked, “Why did you go abroad anyway?”

“It was your stupid plan.” Irene glared daggers at Heidi. “You told me to take advantage of Jonathan being away and fight Teresa for Michael’s custody. Who knew Jonathan would suddenly come back? Teresa must have called him.

“When he saw me scolding Teresa, he completely lost it and told me not to get anywhere near her.”

Heidi gasped. “Oh gosh. How could he do that?”

Suddenly, a woman in a cap lunged from behind. While Irene wasn’t paying attention, she yanked her hair and slapped her hard.

“Holy crap.” Heidi was completely stunned and stumbled backward.

Irene was just as shocked, assuming the woman was crazy. She covered her face and looked at the woman in the cap with fear.

The woman took off her cap, revealing her cold eyes and a gaunt face, which stunned Irene. “Wait, you’re Teresa’s sister, Donald’s ex-wife, Jennifer,”

Just as Irene finished speaking, Jennifer slapped Irene hard across the face again.

Irene yelled, “Are you crazy? Looks like the Johnston family is full of lunatics. Why the hell are you slapping me?”

Jennifer grabbed Irene by the shoulders, saying furiously, “What did you just say? You scolded my pregnant sister, right? Why did you do this? You tea monster.”

Afraid, Heidi blurted out instinctively, “Irene, I’ve got something to do. I’m leaving!”

Heidi bolted, leaving Irene alone with Jennifer. Irene tried to escape, but Jennifer, wild with rage, took out her anger on Irene, dragging her close and slapping her again.

Irene yelled, “Jennifer, how dare you?”

Jennifer didn’t flinch. “You picked on my sister while she was pregnant, thinking she wouldn’t fight back. I knew she was wronged, and you won’t get away with this.”

Irene was so furious that she could barely breathe. She wanted to fight back, but Jennifer wouldn’t give her the chance.

Jennifer grabbed Irene’s arm tightly. “Do you know why Teresa doesn’t curse you out like I do? It wasn’t fear; she just couldn’t do it.

“She loved your son and chose to stay silent. She wouldn’t fight her mother-in-law, but how have you treated her?”

Teresa had pride. Just thinking about Irene actually battling her for the kid and making her give in made Jennifer want to slap Irene a couple more times so she would understand what pain felt like.

Irene jabbed her finger at Jennifer, but Jennifer swatted her hand away and slapped her hard again.

She said, “You know what, bitch? You’ll pay for it. One day, Teresa will curse you just like I do. She won’t hold back anymore.”

Irene sneered. “I get it. Teresa sent you, right? She couldn’t confront me herself, so she sent you to do it. Just wait. You won’t get away with this.”

“Whatever.” Jennifer pointed at Irene. “I’m done putting up with your crap.

“Back when Donald and I were still married, you kept being sarcastic. Your crazy father ruined my wedding and embarrassed me. And I remember every nasty thing you said and did.”

At the end, she said something that scared Irene. “I have nothing left. I’m not afraid of anything now, and I’m capable of anything.”

Irene was floored by Jennifer’s insults, thinking she was acting crazy.

She muttered under her breath, but when she saw Jennifer’s determined eyes, she quietly said, “Donald was right to divorce you. You’re not good enough for any man from our family.”

“You’re not even Donald’s mom. You have no say in what happens between me and him.” Jennifer, done hitting, put on her cap and turned away.

Irene stood up, catching her swollen, bruised face reflected in her phone screen.