When She Walks Away (Teresa) novel Chapter 241

Chapter 241

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Charles knew exactly what Hector was about to say, but when Teresa cut him off like that, he actually felt a weird sense of delight bubbling up inside. ‘Why am I even a little happy about this?‘ he wondered to himself.

For some reason, deep down, he couldn’t help but think that maybe Teresa only had eyes for him.

After everyone had chatted for a bit, Cedric finally spoke up. “Alright everyone, let’s dig in.”

And just like that, the room fell silent.

Hector saw that Teresa was really enjoying the lamb chops, so he gently spun the lazy Susan and slid another piece onto her plate.

As he placed it in her bowl, he leaned closer and whispered, “Don’t worry too much about what people say. Just be yourself, and try to be a little braver, okay?”

Teresa nodded with a soft smile. “Sure.”

Hector smiled in return, but just as he was about to sit up, Teresa called out softly, “Hector, thank you.”

Hector knew exactly what she meant, but a wave of disappointment still washed over him. “Honestly, I’d rather you just said it out loud.”

Teresa paused, her expression complicated as she looked at him, unsure what to say.

Seeing her hesitation, Hector just gave a gentle smile and said, “Let’s eat.”

Meanwhile, Naomi kept her head down, absently picking at her food, but her attention was locked on Hector.

She’d always thought he was handsome, talented, and destined for something big.

But the way he looked out for Teresa just now made Naomi feel a sudden twinge of jealousy.

‘If only he were looking out for me like that,’ she thought longingly.

Back when Teresa wasn’t always around Hector, he treated Naomi like she really mattered.

But ever since Teresa started hanging around, Hector wasn’t the same with her anymore.

‘I can’t help but hate Teresa even more,’ Naomi thought to herself, her jealousy gnawing away inside.

Charles noticed Naomi’s absent–mindedness and, picking up the chopsticks, gently placed a lamb chop onto her plate.

Naomi saw the lamb chop, but suddenly just didn’t feel like eating anymore

Still, she forced a small smile and said to Charles, “Thanks.”

Nibbling on her lamb chop, Naomi couldn’t stop watching Hector. The whole time, he only had eyes for Teresa–nobody else even seemed to exist to him, not even Cedric, who he didn’t bother looking at twice.

The people nearby couldn’t help but notice how attentive Hector was to Teresa.

A couple of the guys sitting close–friends of Hector’s–started ribbing him. “Hey, Hector, you really dote on Teresa, don’t you?”

Hector smiled faintly, almost a little proud, and said, “Yeah, because she deseryes it. She’s honestly a truly wonderful person.”

You could tell from his serious tone that he meant every word.

Just then, one of Hector’s buddies teased. “I gotta say, other than Naomi, we’ve never seen you go out of your way for anyone else like

this.”

Hector replied openly. “That’s different. I only see Ms. Yates as a classinate.”

“And what about this junior of yours?” the friend pressed.

Hector glanced at Teresa, caught her almost pleading gaze, and with a gentle smile replied. “That’s a secret.”

Even as he smiled, something in Hector’s chest tightened.

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Naomi took in every detail, her chest burning with a tangled mix of jealousy and bitterness.

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In her mind, she told herself, ‘Hector must feel something for me too. If it weren’t for how close I am with Charles, he would’ve chosen me instead of Teresa.

As the meal was wrapping up, Cedric looked over at Teresa and Hector. “You two, stay behind with me for a bit. Let’s have some tea together–I’ve got something to talk to you about.”

At that, Teresa and Hector replied in perfect sync, “Okay.”

Seeing that, Naomi just felt her heart twist with even more jealousy.

She even started thinking. ‘If only I hadn’t cozied up to Charles before… If Hector was backing me in the medical world, I’d be shining bright too.‘

The dinner kept going, but for Naomi, it all just tasted bland now.

*****

Outside the private room, Troy was sitting in the restaurant’s lounge area, buried in his phone, trying to catch up on work.

He’d been so focused on spending time with Teresa these past few days that he’d let a ton of work pile up. Now that he had a moment, he figured he’d knock out as much as he could.

Just as he was typing out a reply, Troy heard a man’s voice coming from the front desk area of the restaurant. “Do you have any private rooms available?”

He couldn’t shake the feeling that he’d heard that voice somewhere before.

Glancing up, Troy’s brows shot up–it was Andrew.

In a split second, Troy’s face darkened completely.

But with other people around, he swallowed his anger and managed to keep a straight face.

Andrew got himself a private room and followed the waiter inside.

About half an hour later, Andrew stepped out of the private room.

Troy kept tabs on him, watching as Andrew made his way into the public restroom in the restaurant’s main hall.

Once Andrew was inside, Troy strolled in after him, taking his time.

འ ཇ 。 ཧ ལྷ ད

Standing in front of the mirror, Troy quietly lit a cigarette.

By the time the first cigarette burned down to the filter, Andrew still hadn’t come out.

It wasn’t until Troy was halfway through his second cigarette that Andrew finally stepped out of the bathroom.

As soon as Andrew stepped out and caught a whiff of the thick smoke, he snapped, “Seriously, can you cut it out? Are you trying to choke me to death?”

Troy knew Andrew hadn’t recognized him–he was standing with his back facing him.

Seeing Troy blocking the way, Andrew shot back, “I’m talking to you! Are you deaf or what? Didn’t you hear me? Got a death wish or something?”

As he spoke, Andrew reached out to grab Troy’s shoulder.

Troy didn’t dodge. He let Andrew’s hand grab his shoulder. At the same time, he turned his head, letting Andrew’s grip guide the

motion.

Andrew was about to snap at him again, but the moment he saw Troy’s face, he went rigid, eyes wide in shock as if he’d seen a ghost. He stumbled backward several steps in pure fright.

He only stopped when his back slammed into the wall, barely steadying himself

Andrew stared at Troy, looking as if he’d just seen a ghost. His voice came out shaky and nervous. “Why

why are you here?”

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Troy didn’t say a word. He dropped his cigarette to the floor and ground it out, then started closing in on Andrew, step by step, his every move radiating silent menace.

Andrew backed up until there was nowhere left to go. He yelled, “Troy, stay back! Don’t come any closer!”

Troy let out a cold, sarcastic snort, then leaned in and lowered his voice. “So, I heard Stella Sandhurst is your woman, huh?”

At Stella’s name, Andrew blurted out instinctively. “Where is she? What did you do to her?”

Troy let out a cold laugh, still not giving an answer. Instead, his voice turned mocking as he pressed, “I hear you can’t stand my baby. That right?”

Andrew shrank back into the corner, his whole body shaking with fear. His voice trembled as he asked, “Who?”

Troy raised an eyebrow, his tone razor–sharp. “Who do you think I mean?”

Andrew kept his gaze firmly averted, just shaking his head again and again. “I don’t know who you mean.”

Raising his voice, Troy glared at him. “You let Stella walk all over her–you stood by while she bullied her, hit her, and humiliated her. Andrew, you know exactly who I’m talking about, don’t you?”

His voice was low and shaky, as if he might break down at any moment. “After everything she’s done to me, I can’t even get mad at her, not for a second. Andrew, how could you ever let somebody lay a finger on her?”

But Troy’s eyes looked as if they were drenched in blood–he glared fiercely at Andrew and pressed on, “Is it just because Charles is your brother that you think I wouldn’t dare lay a finger on you?”

Andrew grasped desperately at the hand Troy had clamped around his throat, trying to pry his fingers loose, but it was completely useless.

When he saw it was pointless, Andrew finally gave up struggling. He managed to choke out in a rough, muffled voice, “If you so much as touch me today, my brother, Jason, and Finn–they’ll never let you get away with it.”

Andrew didn’t show a shred of regret–in fact, he only got cockier.

Part of Troy wanted to see for himself if he really laid hands on Andrew, what could Charles, Jason, or Finn actually do about it?

He was so dazed he completely forgot to fight back.

It was only after Troy had vented all his rage that he finally stopped.

He watched as crimson spread through the basin, swirling before being washed clear–until nor a trace of blood remained.

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Naomi nodded. “Okay.”

She used to tell herself that Charles only kept his distance because of his status, that it was just who he was.

But now, watching him, she finally got it–it was never about any of that. He simply never loved her, that was all.

As Charles stepped out of the private room, Troy had just come back to the lounge and was only sitting there for a moment.

Their eyes met, but neither of them spoke.

Troy sprawled on the sofa, picked up his coffee, and took a leisurely sip.

Standing not far away, Charles pulled out his phone and glanced at the missed call. Seeing it was from Andrew, he immediately hit redial.

The moment the call went through, Andrew picked up.

On the other end, Andrew’s voice was rough and shaky. “Charles… I got hit.”

Charles’s brows knitted together in shock, “Where are you? Who did this?”

Before Andrew could get a word out, Troy casually set his coffee cup down on the table, not even bothering to hide his smugness.

Then, he glanced sideways at Charles and said in a breezy, almost indifferent voice, “Oh, he’s in the bathroom. I’m the one who hit him.”

Troy said it so offhandedly, like he was just mentioning what he had for lunch or complaining about the weather.

Charles’s brows furrowed even deeper. He didn’t say a word, just spun around and strode off toward the bathroom.

Troy stood up too, unhurriedly trailing after Charles.

As soon as they got to the bathroom, Troy heard Andrew half sobbing, half yelling, “Charles, it was Troy! That son of a bitch beat me up! Please you’ve got to help me ruin him!”

Andrew’s face was smeared with blood, looking downright gruesome. But he hadn’t bothered to wash any of it off, just letting it stay, not Caring at all.

Seeing Andrew like that left Charles a bit dumbfounded, not knowing how to react for a moment.

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Chapter 241

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Before Charles could even say a word, Troy, who was leaning against the bathroom door, let out a cold, mocking laugh. “Charles, I’m the one who hit your brother. I’m right here–so why don’t you show me what you’re gonna do about it?”

Charles whipped around, furiously glaring at Troy. “Why would you do something like that?”

Troy’s face went ice cold, his voice raised. “Andrew just stood there and let Stella attack my girl. So tell me–didn’t he have it coming?”

Charles narrowed his eyes and shot back, “All this–just for Teresa? You’re really willing to risk everything for her?”

Troy picked up on Charles’s tone–like he thought Teresa wasn’t even worth it.

In that instant, Troy’s anger boiled over, surging straight to his head.

He couldn’t hold it in any longer. Dropping his arms, he yelled at Charles, voice trembling with rage, “Do you even know why we’ve been rivals all these years? You think I never wanted us to work together, to both come out on top? But Charles, you stole the happiness that should’ve been mine–and you didn’t even care for her! Every second, I hate you. I wish you were dead! She was everything to me, my most precious treasure, but in your hands, you just tossed her aside like garbage…”

Troy stopped, locking eyes with Charles, his gaze bloodshot, his jaw clenched so tight it looked painful, and his voice actually shook. “Charles, how could you do that to her?”

eyes.

Charles was taken aback by just how intense Troy’s reaction was, a flicker of confusion flashing through his

‘Everyone always pegged him as a playboy… but is he actually the kind to love so deeply?‘ Charles couldn’t help but wonder to himself.

But Charles didn’t linger on the thought–he just looked at Troy and said, “Nothing’s sadder than being unloved.”

Troy let out a cold laugh, his expression twisted with self–mockery. “So what? If that’s what it takes, I’ll be Teresa’s damn lapdog. I don’t give a shit.”

Charles was caught off guard by Troy’s words–then he snorted, pure contempt in his voice. “What a joke.”

Troy barely batted an eye. He shot back quietly, “And you think Naomi’s some prize? You really believe the woman you’re obsessed with is any better?”

Charles stayed silent, so Troy pressed on, voice biting. “One day, you’re gonna regret tossing aside the one who would’ve done anything for you–just to settle for someone who only puts on a show.”

Charles didn’t care about Troy’s words at all.

He just shrugged and said, “Love isn’t the whole story for me.”

Troy smirked. “Charles, I’ll be here waiting to watch you regret it.”

Lost in their heated exchange, Charles and Troy were so caught up trading barbs, they didn’t spare a single glance at the other person in

the room.

Andrew, desperate and frantic, couldn’t hold back any longer. He yelled at Charles’s retreating figure, “Charles! Stop wasting time! Just do it–get someone to finish him off already!”

Troy heard Andrew’s outburst and sneered, the look on his face pure mockery. “Come on, if he really wanted to do something, he wouldn’t have waited till now.”

Then Troy gave another scornful laugh. “You actually believe he’d ever dare do anything to me?”

After that, Troy burst out laughing and swaggered right out of the bathroom, acting like he owned the place.