When She Walks Away (Teresa) novel Chapter 174

Chapter 174

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He sold it too well–his face creased, breath hitching–and Teresa froze, unsure how to react.

Seeing him look so agonized, she hurried to steady him, slipping her hand under his shirt without a second thought.

She was a doctor, after all–gender didn’t matter when someone might be hurt.

Pressing gently at his chest, she frowned. “Does it hurt here?”

Troy kept up the pained act. “Like hell,” he replied.

She tried another spot, asking, “How about here?”

Troy looked down at her and answered seriously, “Yeah, that hurts too.”

Teresa’s frown deepened as she murmured under her breath, “That doesn’t make sense.”

She patiently pressed his stomach, asking, “And here? Does it hurt?”

As she pressed, Troy kept an eye on Charles and Naomi.

They’d seen Teresa and Troy as soon as they walked in.

But neither of them said a word.

Soon, the stall owner came over to greet them.

Naomi’s attention seemed to be caught by the shop’s sign. She stared at it, but in fact, her mind was occupied with Troy.

She knew he’d noticed her and Charles walked in, then acted like he wasn’t feeling well. Was he trying to make her worry about him?

Despite those thoughts, Naomi didn’t go over to talk to Troy. Instead, she wandered off to check out the boats.

Charles tagged along, but he was distracted, sneaking glances at Teresa and Troy every so often.

Teresa was examining Troy, but every spot she pressed, he complained of pain.

When Teresa pressed a hand to his chest, Troy let out a yell so theatrical it bordered on absurd–no restraint, not even them all.

with

eyes

on

Heat crept up Teresa’s neck at the scene he was making. She shoved him back, voice sharp. “Troy, seriously? What are you doing?”

Troy just grinned at her, tilting his head back. “Nothing. I just think my chest feels a lot better after your magic touch.”

Teresa didn’t want to get into it with him. She turned her face away, about to head outside.

But just as she glanced back, she spotted Charles and Naomi.

Naomi was admiring the boats, while Charles was watching her with quiet attention.

The two of them were inseparable, sticking together like they were joined at the hip.

Whenever Charles looked at Naomi, his eyes were soft and full of gentle warmth.

Teresa saw the scene and scoffed under her breath.

Just as she was about to head out, Naomi suddenly turned to Charles and asked, “Charles, why don’t we go set boats afloat?”

Charles smiled, nodding. “Sure-

Naomi’s eyes sparkled like crescent moons as she exclaimed, “You’re so sweet, darling!”

Charles gave her a quick, easy smile, then turned to the stall owner. “Two of your largest boats, please?”

The vendor lit up. “You got it! I’ll grab the biggest ones straightaway,” he said.

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10:37 AM

Chapter 174

Teresa heard him, but it didn’t land–her chest felt hollow, her heart like a stone.

But the second Yolanda crossed her mind, a dull ache flared.

It was past midnight, and Charles had still dragged Yolanda to that pointless gathering with a stranger like Naomi. Now here he was, wandering with Naomi like nothing was amiss.

She hung back until their conversation faded, then started to leave.

Behind her, their laughter tangled–Naomi’s bright, Charles’s low–and their teasing drifted over.

“Charles, no peeking at my wish!” It was Naomi’s voice.

“Come on, just a quick look,” he pressed.

Naomi quickly covered the slip of parchment with her hand, shooting him a playful glare. “Charles, if you keep this up, I’m really going to get mad!” she said.

He relented with a laugh. “Alright, alright–your call.”

“Good,” she coped, “don’t pout.”

Naomi caught him leaving and smiled wider–she’d seen him dragging his feet, confident he’d wanted to watch her a little longer.

As Troy hurried after Teresa, he heard Naomi say, “I’m done with mine, Charles. What about you? Not gonna write one?”

Charles’s tone was flat. “Nah. No wishes worth writing down.”

It wasn’t that he didn’t have wishes–he just never believed that writing them down would actually make them come true.

After that, Troy couldn’t hear the rest of their conversation.

When he caught up to Teresa, he found her strangely calm.

Wasn’t she supposed to break down or make a scene after seeing Charles and Naomi together?

Now, it was like she genuinely didn’t care at all.

Troy’s gaze was as sharp as a blade, searching her face for any crack in her armor.

But Teresa remained steady from start to finish–not a single flicker of emotion crossed her face.

Troy wanted to ask if she was feeling down, but he worried that mentioning Charles would only hurt her more.

So he didn’t say anything, just offered, “There’s a night market up ahead. Want to go check it out together?”

Teresa nodded. “Sure.”

The ancient town was even more lively at night than it was during the day. Even though it was already past midnight, people were still coming and going.

Up ahead, there was even a street performer showing off some acrobatics.

The picture was of Naomi’s boat. He’d like to see what kind of wish she’d written on it.

Soon, Troy got a reply from his assistant. The message included two photos–one of Teresa’s wish and one of Naomi’s.

He opened Naomi’s first. The words made him snort. [I wish every guy in the world would fall head over heels, die for me, and shower me with cash.]

“Even more of a narcissist than me,” he muttered.

Teresa caught Troy mumbling under his breath and turned to him. “Everything okay?”

Troy didn’t want Teresa to find out he’d snagged her wish boat, so he just played it cool and said nothing.

Teresa didn’t ask any further and simply turned her attention back to the performance.

Troy’s thumb hovered over the other photo, stuck–he just couldn’t bring himself to tap it.

What if it laid bare the truth he was scared to face?

What if Charles still lingered in her heart, and her wish was all about mending things with him?

He took a shaky breath, squared his shoulders, then finally gritted his teeth and opened it.

He didn’t want Teresa catching on, so he gave her shoulder a light nudge. “Gonna duck into the restroom real quick. Will you stay put?

Call me if you need me.”

Teresa was still glued to the acrobat–some guy was mid–backflip through a hoop of fire–and she barely glanced over, nodding. “Okay.”

Under the shade of a tree, Troy zoomed in on the photo and finally saw Teresa’s wishes.

[I want to see my family thrive, to find satisfaction and success in my work, and to eventually build a life with the right person.]

A grin spread across Troy’s face as he read Teresa’s wishes.

The first was simple enough; he figured a few reminders about doctors‘ appointments would easily cover ‘family health.

The second wish-

—career success–was practically an invitation for him to pull some strings.

But the third… Finding Mr. Right?

Seriously, who else but him fit the bill?

The real puzzle wasn’t his qualification, but how to get Teresa to see it

Troy was stuck in that thought when his eye caught an old palm reader a few paces away.

A spark of a plan flickered to life.

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