When She Turns Her Back (Teresa and Charles) novel Chapter 139

Chapter 139

Monica’s words hit a nerve in Troy’s heart.

He glanced down and saw Teresa and Zane sitting together on a bench beneath the shade of a tree. They were talking, and Teresa had a hint of a smile on her face.

Even though it was just a small smile, Troy noticed it right away; she was smiling.

Looking toward Teresa, Troy said to Monica with conviction, “Monica, I’ll be the one who can truly make your aunt happy.”

Under the shade of the tree, Teresa handed a bottle of water to Zane. After taking a sip, Zane looked up at her and said, “Miss Sullivan, Yolanda, Monica, and I are classmates. We go to the same kindergarten.”

Teresa had already guessed as much. She smiled gently and asked, “So, why did you and Mr. Hamilton want to come to this amusement park today?”

She couldn’t help but wonder if this was really just a coincidence.

As Zane handed the water bottle back to Teresa, he replied, “My dad’s on a business trip today, so he asked Mr. Hamilton to bring me here to have some fun.”

Teresa nodded, finally understanding. “So that’s how it is.”)

‘Guess I was just overthinking, Teresa thought to herself. Maybe this encounter really was just a coincidence.

Before long, the ride came to a stop, and Troy helped Monica off.

When Zane saw them coming down, he got to his feet, and Teresa stood up as well.

As Troy walked over with Monica in his arms, Zane spun around and stretched out his arms. “Miss Sullivan, I want a hug, too.”

Teresa hesitated for a moment, about to mention her injured arm, but Troy jumped in first. “Zane, let me carry you.”

With that, he balanced Monica in one arm and scooped Zane up with the other.

With one kid in each arm and still looking totally relaxed, Teresa couldn’t help but let out a smile.

Troy caught her smile and was momentarily stunned, but he didn’t say a word. He just walked on ahead.

Teresa followed along behind, catching Monica as she pointed excitedly at a cotton candy stand. “Mr. Hamilton, can I have some cotton candy?”

Troy grinned. “Of course, you can.”

Carrying both kids over, Troy set them down and let them choose whatever they wanted.

Monica picked out a bunny cotton candy, while Zane grabbed a tiger one.

Once both kids had picked out what they wanted, Teresa was about to pay, but Troy beat her to it. He pointed at a rainbow–colored cotton candy. “Let’s get this one, too.”

The vendor grinned and said, “Got it.”

Teresa didn’t bother fighting Troy over it; after all, it was just pocket change to him, nothing worth fussing about.

Once the cotton candy was ready, Troy picked up the rainbow–colored one.

Teresa thought he wanted it for himself from the moment he ordered. But as soon as he got it, he turned and offered it to her. “Here, I picked this one for you.”

Teresa looked surprised, pointing at herself. “For me?”

Troy nodded and put the cotton candy in her hand. “Yeah.”

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Chapter 139

With that, he turned, took each kid by the hand, and walked ahead with them between him.

Watching this, Teresa couldn’t help but think of all the bittersweet years she’d spent raising Yolanda alone.

Teresa was always on her own; even with the maids around, when it came to her daughter, she did everything herself.

So many times, Teresa had wished Charles would help out, even just once.

Even if he’d just held Yolanda for a moment or changed her diaper, it would’ve meant the world. But in all these years, Charles hadn’t helped her, not even once.

Yet here was Troy, juggling two kids like it was nothing, and Teresa felt her nose sting with emotion.

If only Charles could’ve been like Troy, Teresa thought, maybe she wouldn’t get that bittersweet ache every time she looked back on those years.

On this side, Charles was accompanying Yolanda for another round of the shooting game. Just as they finished, his phone started ringing.

Holding Yolanda in one arm, Charles answered the call with the other.

It was Barbara, the maid from Brocade Villa.

After he picked up, Barbara said, “Mr. Logan, I think I remember now; the marriage certificate was probably taken by Mr. Richard Logan.

Charles was momentarily stunned. But after a brief pause, he answered in a calm voice, “Got it.”

Back when he and Teresa tied the knot, things were pretty shaky between them. Richard was always dropping hints, trying to nudge them to stick together.

But Charles never really paid much attention to any of that.

When the marriage certificate went missing a while ago, Charles didn’t even think to suspect Richard.

Now that Barbara mentioned it, it all clicked.

After hanging up, Charles had just put his phone away when he spotted Troy not too far off, holding hands with two kids, while Teresa strolled behind, taking lazy bites of her cotton candy.

The scene looked just like parents taking their kids out for the day. Charles watched and couldn’t help but feel a pang in his chest.

Almost without thinking, he called her name, “Teresa?”

Charles called out loud enough for both Teresa and Troy to hear.

Troy was about to take the kids to the next ride, but when he spotted Charles, he decided against it.

Charles walked over to Teresa with Yolanda in his arms. When he stopped in front of her, he said softly, “Grandpa wants us to come back to Logan Manor for dinner.”

Teresa paused for a moment, her face blank as she replied, “Not today. I’m out with Monica, and I need to take her home.”

Charles said, “Then I’ll go with you to drop Monica off, and after that, we can go to Grandpa’s together.”

Yolanda clung to Charles, looking completely deflated, like all the energy had been sucked out of her.

When Yolanda heard Teresa’s voice, she lifted her head a little, wanting to greet her. But when she saw her mom wasn’t even looking her way, she bit back the words and stayed quiet.

Teresa listened to Charles, her expression unchanged and completely indifferent. She replied flatly, “That won’t be necessary.”

Charles was about to say something, but Troy stepped right in front of Teresa, sounding impatient. “Give it a rest, Mr. Logan. What kind of man tries to push a woman around?”

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