Chapter 40
Naomi hung up the phone and turned around, only to see Teresa, her face full of worry, hurrying over while calling out for Yolanda.
At that moment, Naomi’s hand was still bleeding from her broken nail. Even though it hurt, she couldn’t spare a thought for her injury.
Yolanda was missing, and Naomi had no way to explain that to Charles.
As Teresa approached, Naomi called out, “Hi, Ms. Sullivan.”
Teresa shot her a frosty look and demanded, “Where’s Yolanda?”
Naomi lifted her hand and pointed. “She probably went that way.”
Without saying another word, Teresa walked around Naomi and hurried after her.
The school event was still going on, but Monica, worried about Teresa, had Yvonne go with her to look for Yolanda.
Teresa searched every classroom but couldn’t find Yolanda anywhere.
Finally, she headed to the restroom. Just as she was about to go in, she ran into Charles coming out with Yolanda in his arms.
Yolanda had clearly been crying. She was leaning on Charles’s shoulder, her body still shaking with sobs.
Charles’s large hand soothingly stroked her back, both to comfort her and to keep her from slipping.
Teresa’s heart went out to her daughter, and she gently called, “Yolanda?”
Charles wore a cold expression, his eyes icy as he looked at Teresa. The chill coming off him was so suffocating, it felt like it could drown
her.
“So this is what you call something important?” he said, his voice rumbling from deep in his throat, the accusation clear in every syllable.
Just a little while ago in the restroom, Yolanda had been sobbing so hard it felt like her whole world was falling apart.
It wasn’t until Charles showed up and asked her a couple of questions that he finally pieced together what had happened.
He realized that Teresa’s important matter was just her accompanying Monica for a performance.
He understood why people were gossiping about his daughter, and he found out that Naomi had injured her nail while trying to stand up for Yolanda.
Teresa figured Yolanda must’ve said something to Charles, but she didn’t get intimidated at all by his overwhelming aura. She answered, “Yeah, I promised Monica first.”
Seeing how unapologetic she was, acting like she had every right, Charles got even angrier. He let out a cold laugh, “You really think it’s just normal, huh?”
In Charles’s eyes, Teresa was in the wrong for not putting Yolanda first. But he had no clue that Teresa had already given up everything about them.
Teresa really didn’t feel like explaining herself to Charles. She just said, “Suit yourself.”
Ciparies looked disappointed Without another word, he turned to leave with Yolanda in his arms, throwing over his shoulder, “Since you clearly don’t want to be involved with Yolanda, then just stay out of her life from now on.”
With that, Charles walked right past Teresa, carrying Yolanda away.
Teresa called after his back, her voice cold. “Works for me.”
Charles stopped in his tracks and turned back, glaring at Teresa “You
He was eliciously pissed that Teresa didn’t care about Yolanda at all, which was why he blurted out something so harsh.
But he never thougin Tere qually agree to candy.
1:06 PM PP
Chapter 40
The Teresa who used to see her daughter as her whole world seemed to have completely disappeared. The woman standing in front of him now felt like a stranger.
Teresa stepped forward and looked Charles straight in the eye. “Since that’s how you want it, let me be clear with you. Starting today, I’m done getting involved in Yolanda’s business.”
Teresa wasn’t just saying it out of spite; she’d made up her mind about this long ago.
Charles fixed his gaze on Teresa, his brow furrowed and his expression stormy.
Hearing Teresa’s words, Yolanda hesitantly lifted her head from Charles’s shoulder.
‘Are they going to start fighting again? Or is Mom really going to stop caring about me?‘ Yolanda thought anxiously, then called out in a timid voice, “Mom?”
Teresa looked at her daughter, her heart aching for her. But remembering what Monica had said, she still stepped forward.
Charles didn’t move Yolanda away as Teresa came closer, but he didn’t look at her either.
Teresa gently reached out and stroked Yolanda’s face. “Yolanda, I told you before. You can’t go around bullying others, or looking down on people, or calling them names.
“And if you do something wrong, you have to make it right. Understand?”
Yolanda’s eyes were red, and tears streamed down her face as she kept nodding. “I know, Mom.”
Teresa wiped away the tears at the corner of her eyes and gave her a gentle smile. “You did really well up there on stage. Even though things didn’t go perfectly, just having the courage to stand up there already makes you braver than most people.
“People will always have something to say, good or bad, but you have to believe in yourself. If your dance didn’t go as well as you hoped, we’ll work harder next time. You really don’t need to pay attention to what those people say.”
The more Teresa comforted her, the more wronged Yolanda felt, and she started crying even harder.
Teresa gently rubbed the top of her head. “But always remember what Mom said–if you make a mistake, you have to fix it.”
Yolanda kept nodding, her tears just wouldn’t stop.
“From now on, make sure you listen to your dad, okay? And if anything at school upsets you, be sure to tell him, got it?” Teresa continued.
Charles couldn’t stand to listen any longer. He adjusted Yolanda in his arms and gave Teresa a cold, hard look. “Spare me the reminders. I’ll look after my daughter myself.”
Teresa’s words sounded like she was saying her final goodbye to Yolanda, as if this was the last time they’d ever see each other.
For some reason, Charles couldn’t shake off a heavy feeling in his chest. He couldn’t stand to listen to Teresa ramble on anymore, so he scooped Yolanda up and strode straight out of the school.
Yolanda was hanging onto Charles’s shoulder, crying her heart out and wailing, “Mommy, I want Mommy, Daddy, put me down, I want Mommy.”
Charles didn’t pay her any mind and just walked right out of the kindergarten with her in his arms.
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