Chapter 181
Teresa hadn’t slept a wink all night, and she was utterly exhausted.
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Hearing Charles say that made the knot in her heart tighten even more.
She clenched her jaw, let out a long breath, and finally spoke, her tone icy as she looked at Charles, “If you want it, do it yourself. I’m only making this for Yolanda.”
Charles noticed how red Teresa’s eyes were and the deep shadows beneath them, clear signs she hadn’t slept at all. But when she spoke, his frown only deepened, troubled by her tone.
After a long, tense silence, Charles finally said, “You’ve never acted like this before. What’s changed? All I wanted was a little extra porridge–it’s not like it’s a big deal.”
Teresa couldn’t hold it in anymore. She whirled around and glared at Charles, her words laced with anger. “Charles, you said so yourself -that was before. People change. No one stays the same forever, and I’m no different.”
Charles hardly ever saw Teresa blow up like this, but lately, her temper had been flaring more than ever.
He couldn’t help thinking. ‘Is she starting to see me and Yolanda as a burden?‘
Charles couldn’t hold himself back anymore, his tone sharp and irritated, “If you’re that messed up, go see a doctor. Shouting at me isn’t gonna solve anything.”
Teresa stiffened, stunned by his words. She stared at him for ages before finally letting out a cold, mocking laugh. “You know what, Charles? You’re absolutely right. Must be something wrong with me—I must’ve been out of my mind to ever fall for you, and plain stupid to believe having a kid could ever tie you down. Teresa, the prize idiot. No one’s dumber than me.”
Charles saw how worked up she was and suddenly realized he might’ve gone too far.
lives
He stepped forward, reaching for her arm, but Teresa shoved his hand away. “Don’t touch me, Charles. I don’t want you touching She was so worked up, she could barely stop herself from shaking.
She still had a spoon clutched in her hand. The rice had just been tossed into the pot, and she hadn’t even had a chance to stir it before Charles came into the kitchen.
Seeing Teresa trembling all over made Charles uneasy; panic bubbled up in his chest. He reached toward her, wanting to offer some kind of comfort.
But before his hand could get close, she suddenly swung the spoon at him with a burst of anger. Charles couldn’t react in time, and the spoon smacked him hard right on the forehead. Sharp pain shot through him. He raised his fingers to his brow and saw a smear of blood.
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Teresa watched the blood dripping down his forehead, her face unmoved. Her voice was calm, almost eerily controlled. “Charles, the only thing left between us now is Yolanda. From here on out, I won’t–and don’t ever want to–have anything more to do with you. Sure, maybe I loved you once, but that’s in the past. From now on, all you are to me is my ex–husband- life.”
-a permanent stain on the story of my
She didn’t give him a chance to say another word before she turned and walked right out of the kitchen.
When Teresa stepped into the living room, she saw Ava lounging on the couch, munching on popcorn while watching TV. She shot Ava a quick look, then immediately turned away and walked straight out of the living room.
After Teresa left, Ava chucked her popcorn and strolled into the kitchen.
She’d heard the two fighting while she was out in the living room.
She didn’t catch the reason, but just knowing they were at each other’s throats made Ava secretly pleased–now her daughter might finally get her chance to shine.
When she got to the kitchen and saw blood seeping down Charles’s forehead, Ava rushed over, worry all over her face. “Charles, are you alright? Why’d she have to be so rough with you?”
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Chapter 181
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Charles didn’t say anything: he just shrugged off Ava’s hand when she reached out to steady him.
Blood trickled from his brow down his cheek into his eye. He blinked, face ice cold, then strode out of the kitchen without a word. Ava was taken aback when Charles ignored her, but then a sly smile spread across her face.
By the time Teresa walked out of Joyacre Villa, morning had fully broken.
The weather outside was dreary and gray, with a damp chill hanging in the air.
It was nearly time to head in for work, but with Yolanda still in the hospital, Teresa planned to request three days off from her boss.
After making the call and securing her leave, Teresa remembered she still needed to bring breakfast over to Yolanda.
She went to several different porridge shops before finally finding one that she was satisfied with.
By the time Teresa rushed to the hospital, Yolanda was still fast asleep.
Teresa sat quietly at her daughter’s bedside, staring at Yolanda’s pale little face–her heart twisting in pain with every breath
For nearly half an hour, Yolanda lay motionless before finally fluttering her eyes open.
She was genuinely happy to see Teresa there, but somehow, no matter how hard she tried, her lips just wouldn’t form the word “Mom.” Teresa didn’t show even a hint of annoyance. Instead, she crouched beside her, her voice soft with patience as she asked, “Are you feeling any better?”
She reached out and touched Yolanda’s forehead–it wasn’t nearly as hot as before.
Yolanda swallowed, every gulp sending a sharp pain through her throat like it had been cut with razor blades. Her eyes turned red, and tears streamed down her cheeks.
Yolanda tried a little porridge, but almost right away, she spit it back out,
Teresa quickly caught it with some tissues, her voice filled with worry. “What’s wrong? Is the porridge upsetting your stomach?” Yolanda pouted, her voice scratchy and weak. “This isn’t your porridge, Mom. I want the one you always make for me.” Teresa’s heart squeezed with pain remembering the porridge Ava had knocked over. She had no choice but to soothe Yolanda softly, “Be good, Yolanda, just have a few bites for now, alright? At lunchtime, Mom will make you something super tasty, just the way you like it.”
‘I’m sick, and she doesn’t even care–not even enough to make porridge for me herself, Yolanda fumed, her thoughts stinging with
The longer she thought about it, the more she felt completely wronged.
So she turned her back, lay down on the bed, and said, “Just go do your own thing. Dad and Miss Naomi are here anyway,”
off so I can stay by your side.”
Her tone was almost pleading, but Yolanda remained unmoved. “It’s fine, I dpecially important, I’ve already taken three days
need you here.”
“Then just one day. Okay?” Teresa tried to compromise.
But Yolanda stuck to her guns. “Really, you don’t have to. Just go take care of your own things.”
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Teresa felt wave after wave of coldness sweep through her, the kind that stabbed straight to the heart—but for Yolanda’s sake, she stayed put. No matter how distant her daughter acted, Teresa couldn’t bring herself to leave.
Even if Yolanda disliked her, even if she was completely ignored, she was determined to stay by her daughter’s side.
She would grit her teeth and get through the first couple of days–after that, maybe she’d finally consider stepping back and letting go, if that’s what Yolanda really wanted.
But if she let her guard down even a little during these first two days, Yolanda’s life could be at risk at any moment.
Teresa had seen it with her own eyes–children whose lives were suddenly snatched away because a high fever triggered a seizure that no one could stop.
Even though she was about to divorce Charles, Yolanda was her only daughter–the very child she had brought into this world at the cost of her own life. There was simply no way she could ever stop loving her.
There was no way she could walk away. There
Yolanda didn’t touch her breakfast. Seeing Teresa was determined to stay, she simply fell silent and didn’t say another word.
But as noon approached, Teresa was planning to call Charles and ask him to come over and stay with Yolanda so she could go home and make lunch for her.
But before she could make the call, the hospital room door was pushed open from the outside.
At the sound, Teresa turned her head and saw Charles come in first, with Naomi right behind him.
Naomi carried a small lunchbox in her hand.
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When Yolanda spotted Charles and Miss Naomi, tired as she was, her whole face lit up. She called out with a burst of excitement, “Dad! Miss Naorni! You guys are here!”
Charles and Naomi carne right up to the bedside together, while Teresa silently slipped into the background.
As she stepped quietly into the corner, her hand at her side curled subconsciously into a tight fist, tension hidden in the subtle
movement.
As soon as Miss Naomi sat down by the bed, Yolanda sat up and threw herself into her arms. “Miss Naomi, I missed you so much! I’m so happy you’re finally here to see me.”

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