When She Walks Away (Teresa) novel Chapter 209

Chapter 209

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Ava saw the serious look on Naomi’s face and thought her daughter was about to scold her, but instead, Naomi brought up something unexpected.

Ava’s laughter grew louder. She leaned in and whispered, “I actually pinched her a few times when she wasn’t looking.”

Naomi chuckled and playfully nudged Ava. “Mom, you’re always full of tricks.”

Ava patted Naomi’s hand, her voice soft with concern. “It’s tough on you, having to put on a smile when you can’t stand her.”

Naomi grinned. “Just some fake smiles for status and power? Sounds like a pretty good deal to me.”

Ava nodded and echoed, “But when you put it that way, you’re right.”

The two of them let their guard down and talked openly, dropping all pretenses.

But just then, a figure suddenly appeared at the kitchen doorway.

Naomi was just about to tell Ava to pinch Yolanda a little more when Charles’s voice broke in first. “What are you two whispering abou You look like you’re plotting something.”

Charles lounged against the kitchen doorframe, arms folded, looking completely laid–back, with a faint, lazy smile glimmering in his

eyes.

Naomi’s cheeks turned red, caught off guard like a kid with her hand in the cookie jar. But she forced herself to calm down and said. “Charles, perfect timing. We were just talking about Yolanda’s weekend event–trying to figure out who should go with her.”

The school had scheduled a fall field trip, but it was already practically winter.

Still, since it was just something organized by the kindergarten, Charles didn’t give it much thought.

After thinking for a second, Charles said to Naomi, “If you’re free this weekend, you should go. If you’re busy, I’ll ask her mom to go instead.”

After a brief silence, Naomi spoke up, “It’s fine, Charles–I’ll go.”

Charles said, “If you’re not too tired, go ahead. But if you’re feeling worn out, just skip it.”

Naomi walked over to Charles, standing in front of him. “Alright, I’ll

go

instead. This way.

landa will be happier

Charles shrugged. “Fair point”

Naomi smiled. “I’ll head upstairs and change”

Charles replied, “Sure, I’ll wait for you downstairs. Then we’ll go see Professor Judd together

Naomi nodded and headed upstairs.

Before long she got ready and came deneristaus

Charles divne, and the two of them made their way to the school togeth

As soon as Cedric finished his last class of the trading, Charles aged Ad

When Cedric sa Naumi standing post to Chattes by juurd

Naomi’s search project was hulfway dois bus ber die

Word had spread around the scend

Ceden, of course was well were sai ta siwaths

Med figured in ages ago the Nacers just a

Realising ins when pay in

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Chapter 209

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With people milling around everywhere, Charles wasn’t about to stir up drama. He gave Cedric a look and said, “Let’s find somewhere quiet to talk.”

Cedric could tell right away that Charles meant business, so he nodded and went along with it.

They ended up at a restaurant, where Charles booked a private room.

Once they’d ordered, Cedric couldn’t hold back any longer. “Mr. Logan, can we just cut to the chase? What’s this all about?”

Charles reached for his cigarettes out of habit, meaning to light one up, but when he noticed Naomi still there, he quietly put the pack

away.

He looked over at Cedric and got right to the point. “Professor Judd, let’s be frank. If you don’t help Naomi get her PhD, the Logan Group’s annual funding for the medical school might come to an abrupt end.”

Charles didn’t bother to hide his threat–it was laid bare for all to see.

דה

Cedric snapped, his voice sharp with anger. “Charles, this is a school–not a place for you to abuse your power!”

Since Charles still didn’t answer, Cedric continued, “Naomi’s just not cut out for this. You can try and use your connections to prop her up, but the higher she climbs, the harder she’s going to crash.

He realized Charles had completely played him.

But that wasn’t the real issue–what really mattered was that Naomi might be moving too fast for her own good, and maybe she’d be better off just taking things slow and steady.

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Chapter 209

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Later that afternoon, just as Teresa was wrapping up work, Hector showed up.

“Want to grab dinner?” he asked.

Teresa paused for a second, then said, “Alright.”

The last time Charles asked her to leave the Sullivan Mansion and head back to the villa, Teresa had told Hector she’d treat him to a meal another day.

She happened to be free today, so she agreed.

At the restaurant, Hector handed Teresa the menu, but she slid it right back to him with a grin. “Hector, I’m treating tonight, so it’s only right you pick the dishes.”

Hector just smiled without saying a word and took the menu back.

After they’d finished ordering, Teresa looked up to call for the waiter–only to notice the entrance curtain sweep aside as a man and a woman stepped into the restaurant.

The man was Troy–tall, handsome, and with an unmistakably tender look in his eyes.

At his side was a woman in a flowing white dress, a caramel–colored coat draped gracefully over her shoulders.

Her makeup was impeccably done, and Troy held her close, his arm wrapped around her shoulders.

The two of them walking in together immediately turned plenty of heads.

Teresa knew exactly who that woman was–she’d seen her on TV plenty of times.

If she guessed right, the woman was a popular actress, a real A–lister everyone was raving about lately.

Figures, Troy swapped girlfriends like he swapped out his wardrobe.

There was never a shortage of gorgeous women around him.

‘And me? What am I compared to any of them?‘ Teresa thought with a bitter laugh.