When She Turns Her Back (Teresa and Charles) novel Chapter 87

Chapter 87

After Hector’s surgery, the disruptions in Teresa’s life finally ceased, allowing things to settle back into a comfortable routine.

Three days later, she got off work early and decided to head straight to the Sullivan Mansion to cook dinner for her family.

She had just finished her prep work in the kitchen after a good half hour when Monica got home.

“Aunt Teresa, I brought in a package for you!” Monica shouted from the living room.

Teresa came out of the kitchen and saw a beautifully wrapped box on the dining table. “Troy, she thought immediately.

With everything that had happened with Hector, she’d completely forgotten about him.

She’d told herself he was just amusing himself, that he’d forget his promises once enough time passed.

But it had been almost ten days, and he was still sending gifts.

Does he really spend hundreds of millions on these things?‘ she wondered. ‘Or is it all for show?‘

She knew who Troy Hamilton was, but only on a surface level.

Teresa never really believed a guy like Troy would actually be into her.

Even though Troy always joked about wanting to sleep with her, Teresa just brushed it off as him messing around.

After all, Troy was one of those high–flyers. Why would a guy like him ever look twice at someone like her–a divorced woman with a kid?

As she stood there lost in thought, Monica’s voice pulled her back. “What’s in the box, Aunt Teresa?”

“Let’s see,” Teresa said, smiling as she walked over.

Monica plopped down at the dining table, resting her chin in her hands, looking all cute and expectant. Inside was another bracelet, this one a flawless nephrite jade. Under the light, it seemed to glow.

Monica gasped. “Wow, who sent this to you? It’s so beautiful it looks unreal!”

Teresa flinched. It was of the highest quality, with no visible impurities and streaked with faint, moss–green inclusions.

Even to her untrained eye, it was clear this was no cheap imitation. This bracelet was priceless, likely even more expensive than the emerald one from the auction.

She instinctively reached to close the box, but just then, Theodore’s voice came from the doorway. “I could hear you shouting from outside. What’s all the excitement about? Maybe your aunt can take you to buy one just like it someday.”

“Daddy, you’re home!” Monica chirped, hopping off her chair and running to him.

Theodore scooped her up, tweaking her nose. “What were you looking at?”

“Someone sent Aunt Teresa a bracelet,” she said, clutching his shirt. “It’s so pretty, it looks like it’s from a fairy tale.”

Theodore carried Monica into the living room, saying, “Where is it? Let me see”

Theodore carried her toward the dining table, his gaze falling on the open box.

His expression immediately soured.

He set Monica down. “Monica, why don’t you go upstairs and draw for a bit? I need to talk to your aunt.”

Monica, ever the obedient child, nodded and headed upstairs.

Theodore’s serious mood made Teresa uneasy.

Once his daughter was gone, he turned to Teresa. “Who sent it?”

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11:20 AM P P ·

Chapter 87

“I think it was Troy Hamilton,” she answered honestly.

Theodore’s temper flared. “Do you have any idea how much this is worth?”

Teresa just shook her head.

“I went to a fashion show with Yvonne yesterday,” he said, his voice tight. “They held an auction afterward. Troy bought this bracelet. He threw down thirty million dollars for it right on the spot. No one dared to bid against him.” Theodore said.

Teresa’s head spun.

Once she collected herself, she packed the box back up. “Theodore, I’ll go find him. I’ll give it back to him.”

“Teresa, wait,” Theodore stopped her.

He stepped closer, the sharp anger in his eyes softening into heartache and worry. “Men like Charles Logan and Troy Hamilton… they’re not for us. Think about how desperately you wanted to marry Charles, and look how that ended. I’m not against you dating, and I know you’re drawn to powerful men, but the gap is just too wide. With someone like Troy, you never know what’s real and what’s a game. He’s a notorious scoundrel. Whatever his intentions are, don’t let him into your life.”

He paused for a moment. “Maybe I’m being selfish, Teresa. I just want you to marry into an ordinary family. Only then would I have any power to protect you. Against men like them… I can’t…

“I know, Theodore,” Teresa interrupted, her eyes welling with tears.

She forced a grateful smile.

Some things didn’t need to be said.

She understood perfectly.

After thinking it over, Teresa decided not to see Troy. Instead, she gathered all the gifts he had sent and drove to his residence.

A maid answered the door. Seeing a beautiful young woman, she immediately made an assumption.

Plenty of women showed up here, chasing after Troy.

Thinking Teresa was just another one, the maid started to close the door.

was thinking.

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