When She Walks Away (Teresa) novel Chapter 142

Chapter 142

Richard was over the moon when Charles agreed.

Teresa held back her doubts and managed to keep it together until Richard finally went to rest.

Once they were upstairs, Teresa stood by the door, not even bothering to go in before asking, “Charles, what’s this supposed to mean?”

She’d only come to Logan Manor because Charles said he’d found their marriage certificate. She wasn’t here to play pretend for Richard.

All this pretending is just fake anyway, so what’s the point?‘ Teresa thought to herself.

Seeing the anger on Teresa’s face, Charles gave a crooked smile and grabbed her by the arm. “Let’s talk inside.”

Teresa shook off his grip, resisting. “I can walk,”

She stormed in and plopped down on the couch.

Charles sat down beside her, turned to look at her, and said, “Grandpa’s got our

marriage certificate.”

Teresa was stunned for a moment, but quickly understood.

Of everyone in the Logan Family, Richard was the only one who truly wanted her and Charles to make it work.

Richard hid their marriage certificate because he was afraid they’d split up out of the blue.

After a few seconds of silence, Teresa turned to Charles and said, “If Richard took it, let’s just pretend the marriage certificate is lost. We can get a replacement and still go through with the divorce if we want.”

Upon hearing her mention divorce again and again, Charles’s face fell.

But he quickly added, his voice steady, “There’s one more thing.”

Teresa frowned and asked, “What else?”

Charles leaned back against the couch, looking unfazed. “Let’s have sex one more time.”

Teresa shot up from the couch, snapping at him, “Charles, you’re out of your mind.”

Teresa started to storm out, but Charles grabbed her arm–firmly but not roughly–and pulled her right back in front of him.

Charles leaned in, his breath like fire, scorching her skin. “Since you keep saying I only last three minutes, shouldn’t I get a chance to prove you wrong?”

Teresa instinctively pulled back, trying to put as much distance between them as possible.

She refused to meet his eyes, turning her face away. “Charles, it’s too late now. I won’t let you do whatever you want with me anymore.”

But Charles was unfazed by her resistance. He slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her right into his embrace. He leaned in, moving in for a kiss.

Teresa struggled desperately, her voice ringing with fury. “Charles, you can’t just do this. You know it’s against the law, right?”

But Charles was unfazed. He fished a condom out of his pocket. He tossed it onto the couch, then started undoing the buttons on his shirt.

All the while, his hand stayed locked around Teresa’s waist, refusing to let go.

No matter how much she struggled, Charles effortlessly kept her under control, his grip never wavering.

Seeing that he was serious, Teresa shouted desperately, “Charles, snap out of it. Do you even know what you’re doing?”

She was trying to snap him out of it, to bring him back to his senses. But the harder she struggled, the tighter Charles’s grip on her waist became

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It wasn’t until his shirt was completely open, revealing his broad, muscular chest, that he finally pinned Teresa beneath him. He slid his hand under her shirt, his fingers grazing her warm, taut skin.

Unlike before, when he’d always gone straight to sex, this time he was clearly taking his time, drawing things out with deliberate foreplay.

Jelibe

Teresa shielded herself with both hands, tears of humiliation welling up in her eyes. But Charles acted as if he didn’t even notice, leaning down, moving in to claim her lips.

At the same time, his hand found the condom, fingers brushing over it. Just as he was about to kiss Teresa, his phone blared to life. The ringtone cut through the silence of the night like a knife.

Charles paused, annoyance flickering in his eyes, but he still let go of Teresa and sat up. His mood was totally killed; he was just plain annoyed.

But when he looked down and saw Naomi’s name on the screen, his scowl eased a little.

He picked up, and Naomi sounded confused on the other end. “Charles, aren’t you at Joyacre Villa?”

Charles just said flatly, “No, I’m back at Logan Manor.”

Realizing Naomi was in tears, Charles jumped to his feet, not even caring that his shirt was hanging open. He responded immediately, “I’ll be right there.”

Teresa was huddled in the corner of the couch, arms wrapped tightly around herself. She was crying, her body trembling with every

Seeing her like that, Charles felt a stab of guilt in his chest. But that guilt faded just as quickly.

Hurting her was never his intention; he just needed to prove himself.

After straightening himself out, Charles slipped the condom back into his suit pocket.

He glanced down at Teresa and said, “Naomi called. She needs me for something, so I’m heading out.”

Teresa looked up at him, her eyes red and shot through with veins. She glared at Charles, demanding angrily, “Why did you even bring me back here? What for?

Charles replied quietly, “Yeah, the marriage certificate really is with Grandpa.”

Teresa snorted, her tone dripping with sarcasm, “So what? Is that what you want? You want me to go tell Mr. Logan that I’m the one asking for a divorce?”

Charles frowned, retorting, “Aren’t you the one who keeps bringing up divorce?”

Teresa let out a bitter laugh, tears glistening in her eyes. Yeah, she was the one who kept bringing up divorce. But she knew why she said it in the first place. And Charles also knew exactly why.

Seeing Charles act like it was all so obvious, Teresa’s anger flared. “Charles, I could just stop talking about divorce. If I keep my mouth shut, then she will never get to make things official.”

Right then, Charles’s phone rang again; it was Naomi, her voice thick with tears. “Charles, are you almost here?”

Hearing her crying, Charles hurried to comfort her, “I’m almost there. Don’t cry. I’m here for you.”

He said this as he walked out of the bedroom.

Teresa watched the way Charles walked out without even looking back, and couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh.

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From what Charles said, he knew the marriage certificate was with Richard, but he wasn’t about to ask Richard for it. If he wouldn’t do it, then Teresa would just have to handle it herself.

Since Richard was already asleep, she’d just have to wait for another chance to tell his

the truth.

‘What’s the point in hiding it? We’re getting divorced anyway. No way I can keep this from Mr. Logan forever, Teresa thought to herself.

Now that she’d figured things out, Teresa decided to head back to Sullivan Mansion; there were people waiting for her at home.

When Charles walked into Joyacre Villa, Naomi was sitting all alone in the living room. There were a few crumpled tissues on the coffee table–clearly from all the crying she’d been doing.

Hearing footsteps at the door, Naomi turned and saw Charles. She sprang to her feet and rushed over, hugging him tight. “Charles, you’re finally back.”

The force of her hug made Charles take a step back, but he quickly steadied himself.

He put a gentle arm around Naomi’s shoulders and asked softly, “What’s wrong?”

Naomi choked back a sob, her voice shaky. “My mom’s stomach hurts again. She’s scared something bad might happen to her.”

Before she could finish, Charles jumped in to comfort her. “Hey, it’s okay. With how good medicine is these days–and the doctors already did a biopsy and said her tumor’s benign–she’s going to be fine, don’t worry.”

But Naomi kept crying. “She keeps saying she still has wishes left unfulfilled, and she keeps arguing with me about it.”

Charles could feel his shirt getting damp from her tears, but he didn’t get upset. Instead, he asked softly, “What wishes?”

Naomi looked up at him. “I’m already twenty–six, and she keeps worrying I’m still not married.”

Charles paused for a moment, falling silent.

Naomi quickly added, “Charles, I know I’m putting you in a tough spot.”

Charles’s face went stiff, but he forced a smile. “It’s okay. I’ll think of something.”

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