When She Walks Away (Teresa) novel Chapter 148

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After getting bitten, Charles let it go. He unlocked the car door and watched as Teresa practically bolted out.

Leaning back in his seat, he turned his head to watch Teresa’s retreating figure, a disdainful smirk tugging at his lips.

At the same time, his gaze shifted toward the direction Troy had left.

He’d already noticed Troy earlier.

When Teresa returned to the lawn, Peyton was already packing up the easel for Zane.

Monica had finished her homework and was playing with Zane.

Yolanda, with Sharon’s help, managed to finish her painting of “Autumn,” though it was a bit of a struggle.

Everyone was there except Troy.

Teresa scanned the area for any sign of Troy, but he was nowhere to be found. She guessed he probably had something to take care of and left.

Once Peyton finished packing up, he told Zane to say goodbye to everyone.

After Teresa said her goodbyes, she went to help Monica gather her things.

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After Peyton and Zane left, Monica leaned in close to Teresa and whispered, “Aunt Teresa, can we go out for dinner tonight? I really want pizza.

Teresa glanced at Monica with a smile. “But your mom said we should all have dinner at home tonight.”

Monica held up her smartwatch. “Mom just called. The family dinner’s canceled because Dad has to work late, and she’s going to stay with him.”

Teresa thought for a moment and said, “Let me call your mom and double–check.”

Monica nodded eagerly. “Okay.”

Teresa called Yvonne to ask if she could take Monica out for dinner. Yvonne said yes, but added a few reminders before hanging up.

Teresa made a mental note of everything Yvonne said, then ended the call.

Just as she put her phone away, she noticed Charles and Naomi nearby.

They were walking side by side toward the lawn, chatting about who knows what, both of them grinning.

Charles had a bandage stuck to his face, most likely covering up a bite mark.

Yolanda spotted Naomi and darted over, her face lighting up. “Miss Naomi, you’re here!”

She called out extra loud, almost as if she wanted Teresa to hear every word.

Naomi crouched down to catch Yolanda and lifted her into her arms.

As she stood up, maybe on purpose, Naomi wobbled a little and leaned back. Charles was quick to steady her by the waist.

“You okay?” he asked, his voice soft enough to melt anyone’s heart.

Naomi shook her head, a gentle smile blooming on her face. “I’m fine, Charles.”

Charles reached out and softly brushed her hair back, his voice low, “Let’s head home. We shouldn’t keep your aunt waiting alone.”

Naomi smiled shyly and nodded. “Alright.”

Charles held out his arms to Yolanda. “Yolanda, let Daddy carry you. It’s a long walk, and Miss Naomi can’t carry you all the way.”

Yolanda looked a little disappointed. ‘Okay

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10:33 AM PP

Chapter 148

Naomi smiled. “Charles, it’s fine. I can carry her, really.”

But Charles insisted and picked Yolanda up himself.

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Now that Naomi was here, Yolanda acted like she didn’t need Teresa anymore.

Charles didn’t bother looking at Teresa at all.

Like father, like daughter. Those two were definitely cut from the same cloth.

Sharon, on the other hand, shot Teresa an apologetic look.

But she was just a maid, and it wasn’t her place to meddle in their family matters.

Monica glanced over at Charles and Naomi. Worried that Teresa might be upset, Monica gently tugged Teresa’s hand and said, “Aunt Teresa, let’s head out too.”

Teresa tore her eyes away from the scene, grabbed their things with one hand, and held Monica’s hand with the other.

After leaving the park, Teresa headed straight for a pizzeria.

Once they sat down, she let Monica order for herself.

Monica ordered a pizza and some fresh juice, while Teresa got a burger.

Just as they finished ordering, Zane’s voice rang out, surprised. “Aunt Teresa?”

Teresa turned at the sound, spotting Zane and Troy, who’d vanished earlier that afternoon.

She first responded to Zane. Then she greeted Troy, “Mr. Hamilton.”

Troy saw Teresa too, but he hadn’t come for her.

But then, Zane made a point to sit right next to Teresa.

Zane had no clue about what went down that afternoon. He was still trying to help Troy get some one–on–one time with Teresa.

So, even though he knew Monica might get mad at him, he went ahead and sat down anyway.

Troy was about to tell Zane to leave, but it was already too late, so he just let it go.

Zane turned to Troy. “Come on, Uncle Troy, sit with us!”

Troy let out a resigned sigh and sat down.

Troy took the menu but didn’t bother replying to Teresa.

He flipped through it without even looking, just pointed at two random items. “These will do.”

Teresa kept it in mind and waved over a waiter.

While they waited for their food, things got weirdly quiet. Nobody said a word.

When the pizza and burgers finally showed up. Teresa realized Troy hadn’t even bothered to order anything for himself

She glanced over at him and felt he just didn’t seem like himself at all.

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Teresa frowned, seeing he was clearly in a mood, so she let it go.

Seeing Teresa drop the subject, Troy just got even more annoyed.

The two little ones could feel the awkward tension in the air.

Once they finished eating, Zane patted Monica’s hand and said, “Monica, let’s go play with the blocks!”

Monica’s eyes lit up. She nodded eagerly, excited to join in.

Monica’s

With the kids gone, only Teresa and Troy were left at the table, and suddenly the air between them felt even heavier.

After finishing her burger, Teresa drank half her juice.

Troy kept quiet, slouched back in his chair, lost in his own world. The awkward silence was starting to get to Teresa.

She didn’t bother trying to make small talk. She just looked down and started scrolling on her phone.

Nothing interesting popped up, so she just mindlessly scrolled through her social media timeline.

As she scrolled, Teresa suddenly remembered Troy’s injured finger.

She looked up, and just then, Troy was staring right at her, his eyes full of quiet resentment.

Teresa did her best to ignore it and said, “Show me your finger.”

Troy stared at Teresa, trying to make it obvious just how annoyed he was.

But to his surprise, the first thing she brought up was his injured finger. He got flustered, quickly looking away.

There was no way he could show her his injured finger, so he got up, mumbling, “I need to use the restroom.”

Teresa watched Troy’s back as he walked away. She felt that there was something odd about him, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on what it was.

It didn’t take long before Troy came back.

He dropped back into his seat and held out his finger in front of Teresa. “Go ahead and take a look,” Troy said.

Teresa looked down and saw Troy’s finger wrapped in a tissue, completely soaked with blood.

She had brought some antiseptic and gauze in her bag, just in case Monica got hurt outside.

After digging out the supplies, she unwrapped the tissue from Troy’s finger.

What she saw was a deep, nasty gash staring back at her.

Teresa paused for a moment, keeping her expression neutral as she took in the wound.

As a doctor, she could tell at a glance that the wound on Troy’s finger was freshly caused. And it looked nothing like the one she’d seen in his feed earlier that morning.

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