When She Walks Away (Teresa) novel Chapter 166

Chapter 166

Everyone at the table had their own thoughts, but Finn and Peyton seemed detached, as if they were only spectators.

Jason found it pretty amusing how Leo kept sticking up for Teresa.

He leaned forward and said bluntly, “Leo, are you blind or something? Pay court to her?”

Leo kept his cool. Instead of getting mad, he shot a knowing look at Naomi across the table, then turned to Jason and said, “Maybe the real blind one here is you. Why don’t you ask yourself that?”

Jason couldn’t hold it in anymore. He slammed his hand on the table, shot to his feet, and barked, “Leo!”

Unfazed, Leo remained seated, glancing up coolly. “What do you want?”

The air thickened with tension, like a fight was about to break out.

Troy instinctively positioned himself between Teresa and danger, shooting Charles a frosty look.

Sensing Jason was about to explode, Charles quickly intervened. “Jason, don’t make a scene.”

Grinding his teeth, Jason sank back into his seat, seething.

It was the second time tonight Leo had called Jason out, and to make things worse, they were at the Harris family’s place. He couldn’t afford to lose control.

Leo, noticing Jason’s suppressed rage, couldn’t resist twisting the knife. He muttered just loud enough for Jason to hear, “Coward.”

With the Harris family watching, Leo knew Jason wouldn’t dare start anything.

Seeing Jason all riled up always made Leo’s day.

Under the table, Peyton nudged Leo and whispered, “Causing trouble is illegal, you know. Don’t fall into their trap.”

Hearing that, Leo let it go and didn’t say anything else.

Ignoring whatever Charles and the others were feeling, Leo turned back to Teresa and said, “Teresa, you and Troy just sit tight. I’ll go get you some cake.”

Teresa flashed him a grateful smile. “Thanks, Leo.

Naomi watched Leo trying so hard to impress and, out of sheer annoyance, stomped her foot under the table.

She thought, ‘He doesn’t even realize who Troy actually likes, and here he is, acting all attentive for nothing.‘

Charles noticed Naomi was acting a bit off, so he turned to her with concern. “What’s wrong?”

Naomi quickly shook her head. “Oh, it’s nothing.”

As the banquet wound down, Xavier returned from his rounds of toasts.

Standing behind Charles, he tapped Naomi on the shoulder and whispered, “Richard asked me to give this to you.”

With that, he handed her a small box.

Naomi reached out and took the box, looking a bit taken aback. “Oh?”

Xavier explained, “Richard wanted you to have this.”

Naomi froze for a second, thinking, Does Richard already know about me? Is this his way of showing approval of me and Charles?‘

Seeing her dazed, Xavier smiled. “Take care of Charles, all right? He’s a good guy.”

After hearing Xavier say that, Naomi felt even more certain–Richard definitely knew about her and was giving his blessing.

She nodded obediently and said, “Don’t worry, Xavier. I’ll look after Charles for sure.”

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10:36 AM

Chapter 166

Xavier smiled and nodded, then glanced around at everyone at the table. “There’s a dance later. Stay and enjoy yourselves.”

“Sure thing,” Leo chimed in quickly, eager to lighten the mood.

After Xavier left, Peyton glanced at his watch. It was getting late, so he stood up.

He bid farewell to Troy, Teresa, and Leo, explaining he needed to get back to his daughter. Then he left.

Before long, the banquet wrapped up, and Xavier’s staff guided everyone to the dance hall.

The moment they stepped inside, jaws dropped. The place gleamed with extravagance: cocktails, fruit, cakes, and every imaginable appetizer filled the tables.

As if that wasn’t enough, there was a full–on light show, a stage, and even a grand piano.

Leo took in the extravagant setup, then spun around and offered his hand to Teresa with a playful grin. “Teresa, may I have this dance?”

Before she could answer, Troy swatted his hand away.

Leo shot Troy a disgruntled look. “Man, you’re so stingy.”

Meanwhile, Naomi stopped in her tracks, eyes fixed on the piano.

Charles was just about to ask her to dance, but before he could say a word, Naomi pointed at the piano and said, “Charles, can I go play something for everyone?”

Before sitting down, she deliberately turned to catch Charles’s eye and gave him a sweet smile.

That smile wasn’t just for Charles; she made sure Troy saw it too.

Naomi was confident the piano was her thing, and she was pretty sure putting her talent on display would make Troy pay even more attention to her.

So when she volunteered to play, it was partly to hype up the party and partly to flirt with Troy.

With Naomi gone, Charles lost all interest in hitting the dance floor. But when he glanced back, he spotted Teresa across the room.

He hesitated for a moment, then walked over to her.

Troy was standing right beside Teresa, and when he saw Charles coming, he shot him a guarded look.

Charles stopped in front of her, extended his hand, and asked in a deep, husky voice, “Care to dance?”

Teresa stared at his hand, those fingers were long, slender, and almost too perfect.

Troy stood by, silent. Just like Charles, he was waiting for her answer.

Her hesitation was like a knife twisting in Troy’s chest. His fists clenched until his nails bit into his palms.

‘She’ll never turn Charles down, he thought bitterly. ‘She’s still in love with him.

As for Charles, he too felt that Teresa wouldn’t refuse him.

She was his wife, and he was her husband.

No matter what happened, they had not divorced yet.

Leo, Jason, and the others turned to watch. All eyes were on Teresa, waiting to see what choice she’d make.

After a long, heavy pause, she finally reached out her hand.

Leo frowned, annoyed and worried.

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Chapter 166

Jason, meanwhile, was already planning how to mock Leo later.

As for Troy, when he saw Teresa reach out to Charles, he shut his eyes, unable to watch.

But then, in a move that caught everyone off guard, Teresa gently brushed Mr. Logan’s hand aside. “Mr. Logan, I’m sorry. I already have a dance partner.”

With that, she turned and slipped her arm through Troy’s.

Troy, who had his eyes closed, felt her touch and snapped them open.

When he looked down, he saw Teresa’s hand resting on his arm.

This time, she had chosen him first.

Emotion surged through him like a tidal wave.

In that moment, it was surreal, like he was caught in a dream.

Leo, never one to miss a beat, called out with a big grin, “Way to go, Teresa!”

Jason, disappointed, turned back to watch Naomi play.

Charles’s expression darkened, but he stayed silent and stepped aside.

When he left, Teresa tried to pull her hand back. But Troy clasped it tightly, refusing to let go.

She turned to face him, only to find Troy looking at her, eyes red and brimming with emotion.

People were passing by on all sides, but in that instant, Teresa was the only one Troy could see.

Troy lowered his head, his voice hoarse. “I’ve taken so many steps toward you, always telling myself to give up. But just now, you reached for me first.”

He paused, then flashed a cocky, almost wicked grin. With a possessive edge in his voice, he said, “Teresa, there’s no escaping me now.”