When She Walks Away (Teresa) novel Chapter 158

Chapter 158

Teresa didn’t expect to see Hector there.

After a brief moment of surprise, her smile softened as she greeted him, “Hector, fancy seeing you here! I never thought I’d bump into you.”

Hector grinned. “Yeah, funny enough, I was just about to call you myself.”

Teresa was still holding onto Richard’s arm, watching Hector, and didn’t catch the warning look Richard shot her.

Meanwhile, Charles used the chance while Hector and Teresa were chatting to fish his phone out of his pocket.

He was probably texting someone back, but Richard just assumed it was something to do with work, as usual.

Teresa only had eyes for Hector right now. She looked at him and asked, “Hector, did you want to talk to me about something?”

Hector kept his easy smile. “Professor Judd’s hosting a teaching event this weekend. Are you planning to join?”

Teresa didn’t hesitate at all. “Sure,” she replied with a bright smile.

But before Hector could say anything, Richard interjected with a sly grin, “You look pretty young, so–are you married yet?”

Charles was still replying to a message, but as soon as he heard Richard’s voice, he quickly put his phone away.

Teresa glanced at Richard and caught Charles hastily pocketing his phone.

She guessed he was probably chatting with Naomi.

Maybe they were talking about missing each other, or maybe he was asking about how Yolanda was doing.

Hector shifted his gaze from Teresa to Richard and answered in a mild tone, “Not yet.”

Richard’s expression turned warm as he joked, “Since you’re friends with Teresa, I gotta help out. How about I play matchmaker for you? What do you say?”

Hector shot back without missing a beat, “Thanks, but no, thanks. I’m in love with a girl.”

As he said this, his eyes flicked back to Teresa out of instinct.

Richard, having been around the block, could see right through Hector and caught on to his feelings in a heartbeat.

Charles had known from the start that Hector had a thing for Teresa, but he never really paid it any mind.

Now, though, it was Richard who seemed to care.

Even though Hector had already turned him down, Richard was relentless. He grinned, “How about I set you up with the Harris heiress? What do you say?”

In Riverdale, when it came to the top families, there were only a few big names that counted, including the Logans, Hamiltons, Goulds, Gilberts, Shaws, and Harrises.

The Harris heiress Richard mentioned was a big deal, no doubt about it.

Teresa couldn’t help but think, ‘If Hector really managed to marry the Harris heiress, with his abilities, his social standing would shoot through the roof.

But before Teresa could think any further, Hector cut in again. “Thanks for the thought, but I really have to pass.”

Richard figured that bringing up the Harris name would at least get a reaction out of the boy.

But to his surprise, all he saw in Hector’s eyes was pure determination.

However, Richard wasn’t ready to let it go. He threw in a pointed remark, “For young folks like you, finding the right path in life matters more than just picking a career.”

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Chapter 158

There was a hidden meaning behind his words.

Hector didn’t bat an eye. He replied calmly, “Some things just aren’t meant for me, so why bother chasing after them?”

Seeing Hector’s unwavering attitude, Richard couldn’t help but sigh again. “You’re still too young.”

Hector gave a faint smile. “The path you’re talking about isn’t necessarily as promising as it looks.”

Richard didn’t reply but just scoffed dismissively.

Seeing Richard suddenly look bored, Charles suggested, “Grandpa, let’s get going.”

Teresa let go of Richard’s arm. After watching Charles lead him away, she turned to Hector and said softly, “Hector, don’t take what Mr. Richard Logan said to heart. Just be yourself.”

Hector knew exactly what Richard was up to–trying to put him down while tempting him with a shortcut to success.

But to Hector, all that fame built on money was just hollow and meaningless, and he wasn’t someone who’d climb the ladder by using

So, he turned it down without a second thought.

After thinking it over, he couldn’t help but ask Teresa, “Hey, weren’t you already planning to get divorced?”

Hector let out a sigh of relief. “The Logans are all about business, and businessmen only care about profit. Don’t put too much faith in that old man.”

Teresa nodded. “I get it, Hector. I’m not that naive.”

Just from the way Richard tried to tempt Hector earlier, she could tell he was definitely not someone to mess with.

But maybe because she was his granddaughter–in–law, he didn’t show his worst side to her.

Richard had already walked some distance ahead when he realized Teresa wasn’t following. He turned around to check.

Seeing her still talking with Hector, his face turned bitter, and he shouted, “Teresa, are you coming or not?”

Teresa hurriedly called out, “Coming!”

She turned back to Hector. “Hector, once the divorce goes through, I’ll keep my distance from the Logans, including Mr. Richard Logan.”

Hector finally looked relieved. “Good. Things will get better. Go on, then.”

Teresa nodded and left.

Once she joined Charles and Richard, she didn’t say a word.

Richard didn’t ask her anything either. He just wandered around the backyard, and when he got tired, he sat down in the gazebo for a bit.

After about half an hour of walking around in the garden, Richard finally said it was time to head back and rest.

As they all rode the elevator upstairs, the cramped space felt even tighter. Teresa caught sight of Richard’s reflection on the elevator wall -his expression was frosty, and his voice carried a hint of annoyance. “Teresa, I want to know–what’s your relationship with that guy from earlier?”

Charles stood off to the side and glanced at Teresa, ready to step in and answer for her, but she didn’t give him the chance.

Teresa answered honestly, “Grandpa, Hector is my college senior, and we’re close friends.”

Richard’s expression shifted as he continued, “Your grandma was a real talent when it came to writing. Before she married me, she had

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Chapter 158

several books published. Lots of people read her work, and she had a ton of admirers. But after she married me, she stopped writing, and as for guy friends, she didn’t keep any around.”

When he mentioned Marie Logan, his wife, his eyes softened with warmth and pride.

Teresa caught on right away to what Richard was hinting at.

He was making it clear, in his own roundabout way, that now she was married to Charles, she wasn’t supposed to cozy up to any other

guys.

But Teresa could tell Richard was hinting at something else, though she didn’t call him out on it. Instead, she smiled and said, “Grandma was really something. She actually sacrificed herself for love.”

Richard waved it off right away. “Sacrifice? Not really. I made sure she never had to worry about anything. Besides, her writing didn’t exactly pay the bills.”

Teresa felt a pang of sadness as she heard Richard downplay Marie’s choices. She spoke gently, “Maybe money was never what Grandma truly wanted.”

Richard fell silent, lost in thought.

When the elevator doors slid open, Richard huffed, clearly fed up, “Forget it. There’s just no talking sense into you young people.”

As Teresa stepped out, she watched Richard walk away and muttered under her breath, “No talking sense into me? You’re just selfish, Grandpa.”

Richard was too far away to hear her, but Charles caught every word.

He didn’t say anything right then, but he made a mental note of what Teresa had said.