Chapter 143
When Teresa returned to the Sullivan Mansion, the house was still brightly lit. As she entered the hall, she saw Theodore and Yvonne still sitting at the dining table.
Both of them looked up as she walked in.
Teresa approached them and greeted, “Hi, Theodore, Yvonne.”
As Teresa came back, Theodore looked her up and down before finally saying, “Sit down.”
Teresa sat down next to Yvonne.
Yvonne looked at her, worried, and asked, “Did you have dinner?”
Teresa nodded. “Yeah, I already ate.”
Yvonne looked relieved, then added, “Monica cried for ages tonight. She just got tired out, so I asked Betty to take her to rest.”
Teresa felt guilty inside, but she just couldn’t find the words.
Yvonne reached under the table and gently grabbed her cold fingers. “Thanks for taking Monica out today. It must’ve been tiring for you.”
Teresa shook her head with a smile. “Not at all. Spending time with Monica makes me really happy.”
Yvonne patted the back of her hand. She didn’t say anything, but Teresa could feel Yvonne’s sympathy.
Only another mother could truly understand the pain of not being loved by her own child.
As they chatted, Theodore suddenly produced a bank card out of nowhere and slid it across the table to Teresa. “Take this, Teresa. If the divorce agreement keeps dragging on, don’t get hung up on the money.
“The Logan Family may be loaded, but that doesn’t mean they’ll give you much. Don’t wait around for their handouts—just let it go. Once it’s all over, Yvonne and I will always have your back. You’ll never have to worry about money.
Her eyes welled up with tears. Teresa shook her head, refusing, “Theodore, I can support myself, I really can’t accept this.”
She hadn’t told her family much about the divorce, so she couldn’t blame Theodore for thinking the agreement wasn’t settled yet.
Honestly, Charles was being pretty generous about it. He was willing to give her 30 million dollars as compensation.
Though Teresa refused, Yvonne still pressed the card into her hand. “It’s not much, but it’s from both Theodore and me.”
Teresa gripped the card tightly, her nose stinging as tears spilled over. She still kept most of the divorce details to herself when it came to her family.
The whole divorce had dragged on for so long; now all that was left was to take the papers to the local court. This just made her even more determined to come clean to Richard.
The next day at Joyacre Villa, Yolanda woke up to find herself all alone. Neither Charles nor Naomi was there.
The room was huge, and it felt empty and silent.
Yolanda burst into tears, crying out, “Daddy, Miss Naomi-
Hearing her cries, Sharon hurried up from downstairs. When she reached the bedroom, she scooped Yolanda up into her arms.
Yolanda buried her face in Sharon’s shoulder, sniffling. “Sharon, where’s Daddy and Miss Naomi?”
Sharon explained, “Ms. Yates had to go to the university lab, so she left early. Mr. Logan took Yvonne to the hospital for a follow–up
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Chapter 143
Yolanda just felt even more down. She leaned against Sharon, trying not to cry. Suddenly, sho
‘If Mom was here, she’d never leave me all alone like this, Yolanda wondered.
started missing Teresa.
Ever since she could remember, Teresa had always been by her side. But now, Teresa wasn’t here with Teresa anymore.
Noticing Yolanda seemed upset, Sharon bent down and asked softly, “Yolanda, what’s wrong?”
Yolanda shook her head and said, “Sharon, can I call Daddy?”
She’d just rolled out of bed, her hair a total mess, and she still looked half–asleep.
Sharon nodded and dialed Charles for her.
Charles answered right away, but there was a lot of noise in the background; It sounded like he was at the hospital.
“Hello, Yolanda,” Charles called out.
As soon as she heard her dad’s voice, Yolanda’s eyes welled up and tears started streaming down her cheeks. Her face crumpled as she sobbed, “Daddy, there’s no one here with me.”
Charles felt his heart twist at her words, but all he could do was soothe her softly. “Sweetheart, hang in there. I’ll come home as soon as I finish up here.”
Yolanda asked in a small, hopeful voice, “Daddy, will you be back by ten?”
It was barely past eight.
Charles paused, then answered truthfully, “Yolanda, I won’t be back until tonight.“/
Her hope faded in an instant. Yolanda said, defeated, “Okay then,”
After hanging up, Yolanda just started bawling her eyes out.
“Sharon, I want my mom. She’d always stay with me. She’d never leave me behind. I want my mom,” Yolanda wailed.
Yolanda kept sobbing, her body shaking. Sharon held her close, walking her around the room over and over.
After half an hour of comforting, Yolanda finally stopped crying, worn out.
At Sullivan Mansion, it was the first time in ages Teresa had slept until ten o’clock. Now that she’d finally gotten a good sleep, she felt totally refreshed.
Teresa was still groggy when a little hand slipped around her. “Aunt Teresa, you’re finally awake.”
It was Monica’s voice.
Monica had come over a little after eight, but when she saw Teresa still fast asleep, she just couldn’t bring herself to wake her.
Teresa turned over and hugged her round little Monica close. “Why did you come over, Monica?”
Monica snuggled up to Teresa’s neck. “Aunt Teresa, can you help me draw autumn? Ms. Taylor gave us homework, and it’s due tomorrow, but I haven’t finished mine yet.”
Teresa was just about to say “sure” when her phone suddenly rang. She looked down at the screen; it was a number she didn’t recognize. She hesitated for a second, but picked up anyway.
Before she could say anything, a cheerful voice came through the line. “Is that you, Miss Sullivan?”
Teresa recognized Zane’s voice and smiled, “Hi, Zane, it’s me.”
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