When She Turns Her Back (Teresa and Charles) novel Chapter 90

Chapter 90

Charles’s expression darkened at Teresa’s cold refusal.

After a moment, he countered, “Isn’t this something you should be doing?

He meant as his wife, she should be ironing his shirt for him.

Well

Teresa let out a dry laugh. “I’m about to eat. You can either do it yourself or have Sharon do it. I’m not ironing it for you,

She didn’t mention Naomi, knowing perfectly well that Charles would never ask his precious mistress to do such a thing. Charles stared down at her for a long moment, but he didn’t press the issue. He simply turned and went upstairs.

Teresa had some of the porridge Sharon had made and an egg. It was almost 7:40, but Yolanda still hadn’t come down.

Losing patience, she went upstairs to get her.

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Charles.”

Sure enough, Yolanda was still fast asleep. Teresa woke her, telling her she was going to be late and letting her get ready on her own. Yolanda was good with time. The mention of being late shocked her fully awake, and she scrambled to the bathroom.

Teresa didn’t dote on her like she used to. She just said, “I’ll be waiting for you downstairs.”

Without waiting to see if Yolanda heard her, Teresa left the room.

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As she passed Charles’s room, she glanced through the half–open door and saw him holding the iron. He held it over his shirt, looking completely lost.

He made a few hesitant gestures but never actually touched the iron to the fabric.

Seeing him like that, Teresa didn’t know whether to feel sorry for him or laugh.

She couldn’t just walk away. She pushed the door open and stepped inside.

Charles looked up at the sound. His face soured when he saw it was her, but he said nothing.

Teresa walked over, held put her hand, and said, “Give it to me.”

After a slight hesitation, Charles handed her the iron.

Teresa took it and began expertly pressing the shirt.

In just a few smooth motions, she finished one side. As she flipped the shirt over, she caught the faint scent of women’s perfume.

It was Naomi’s, she knew instantly.

For a moment, she was lost in thought. Her hand accidentally brushed against the part of the iron she had just used. The heat was intense, and she let out a sharp gasp.

“Are you alright? Charles asked, his brow furrowed.

He stood to the side, lus voice flat, making no move to come over and check on her.

Teresa knew that even if she were to die right in front of him, he probably wouldn’t feel a thing.

He probably thinks I did it on purpose, she thought.

After all, she had refused to iron the shirt but then came in to help anyway. Now she’d burned herself while failing to do the one thing she came to do.

In his mind, she was probably just trying to get his attention.

Teresa wasn’t expecting any sympathy from him

Tm fine, she replied coolly to his question.

And she was. It was just a quick burn, and once the initial sting passed, the pain faded.

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11:20 AM P P

Chapter 90

Since Teresa said she was fine, Charles didn’t ask again.

Teresa quickly finished the job and switched off the iron.

Setting the shirt down, she told Charles, “It’s done.”

With that, she turned and walked out of the room without a moment’s hesitation.

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Charles pulled off his robe, quickly put on the shirt, and called out just as she reached the door. “By the way, you should stay here for the next couple of days.”

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Teresa stopped but didn’t even have to think about it. “No, thanks. I have my own

in

=

place to go home to.”

She didn’t know that Naomi wasn’t at Joyacre Villa, so her words carried an extra layer of meaning.

Charles wasn’t deaf to it, but he chose to ignore her tone.

He looked at her back and said, “Joyacre Villa is your home too.”

Teresa just gave a hollow laugh. “Is it?”

Was Joyacre Villa her home?

Maybe it used to be, but it certainly wasn’t anymore.

Ever since Naomi moved in, the lady of the house was no longer Teresa Sullivan.

Charles didn’t answer her bitter question. He simply said, “Yolanda needs you to take care of her.”

Teresa’s immediate reaction was to refuse. “Charles, I have a job. I can’t just revolve my life around Yolanda.”

Charles watched her back. “Well, I have a job too. If you don’t take care of her, who will?”

His words sparked her anger. She spun around, glaring at him. “Then let Na-”

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She was about to say Naomi’s name, but Charles cut her off before she could finish. “Naomi is visiting family. She won’t be back for a while.”

At his words, Teresa fell silent.

Why had Charles called her to take Yolanda to school today? Why had he asked her to iron his shirt? Why did he want her to come back and stay at Joyacre Villa?

In that moment, all the pieces fell into place.

It was because Naomi was gone for a little while, so now they needed her, and she was expected to come back and stay.

Teresa found it laughable, and deeply tragic. She didn’t want to argue with Charles or say anything more. She simply went downstairs on her own.

That afternoon at five, Teresa was completely distracted at the hospital.

What Charles had said that morning kept replaying in her mind

If you don’t take care of her, who will?”

It was almost time for school to let out. If no one picked Yolanda up, wouldn’t she be heartbroken?

Thinking of this, Teresa couldn’t bring herself to just ignore it. She asked her supervisor for permission to leave early and drove to the preschool.

When she got there, most of the children had already left. Only a handful were still waiting for their parents, and Yolanda was one of

them.

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