Chapter 273
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Charles held Yolanda close, nuzzling the top of her head. Lowering his voice, he asked, “But when you got sick before, didn’t you always want Mom to look after you?”
When she heard him, Yolanda started to sob quietly, her cries barely audible.
Because of her fever, she was too exhausted to make a fuss or put up a fight; all she could do was let her tears speak for her, refusing Charles in silence.
Seeing his daughter like this, Charles let out a helpless sigh.
Teresa hung back, arms crossed, making no move to help out or even offer Yolanda a single word of comfort–she wasn’t interested. plain and simple.
In her mind, kids catch fevers all the time. It’s just part of growing up, and as soon as this flu was over, Yolanda would bounce right back No need to fuss about it.
The only reason Teresa could remain so detached was because she knew Yolanda wasn’t in any real danger–so why worry?
Charles glanced over at Teresa, who stood off to the side like she was just an outsider, as if none of this had anything to do with her.
After a moment’s hesitation, he carried Yolanda over to her.
Then he spoke up, “Why don’t you hold Yolanda for a bit?”
Yolanda seemed to realize what was about to happen, and somehow managed to find a burst of energy. She yelled defiantly, “No! I don’t want the mean mommy holding me! I want Miss Naomi! I want Miss Naomi!”
As she shouted, she started flailing and kicking at Charles as hard as she could.
Charles frowned, glaring down at Yolanda, his anger almost ready to boil over.
But when his eyes fell on Yplanda’s pale little face, all the harsh words he was about to spit out got stuck in his throat.
Seeing how upset Yolanda was, Naomi stepped forward, reaching out her arms to Charles. “Charles, let me hold her instead,” she offered softly.
As soon as Yolanda heard Naomi‘ voice, she immediately lunged toward her without hesitation.
Charles saw this and had
po
choice but to let go.
Naomi hugged Yolanda tightly, gently patting her back. With each touch, Yolanda’s crying faded away, replaced by an unusual calmness.
Once Yolanda stopped crying, Naomi looked up at Charles and said, “Charles, that’s just how kids are. What they like today might change as they get older. Don’t force her too much, okay? Besides, she’s still running a fever.”
Charles heard Naomi’s words and simply stayed quiet–he didn’t argue or go along.
Teresa remained off to the side, not saying a single word.
Seeing neither of them spoke up, Naomi gave Yolanda a gentle smile and softly asked, “Yolanda, want me to tuck you in?”
Yolanda, her head nestled on Naomi’s shoulder, replied with a sleepy little “Mp3–imm”
Naomi carried Yolanda back to her bed and kept soothing her to sleep.
Meanwhile, Charles broke eye contact with Naomi and glanced over at Teresa, catching her gaze as she watched him too.
Teresa wasn’t bothered. She quirked a faint smile, almost teasing, and said, “Looks like I’m just extra around here–guess I’ll head off then.”
Charles regarded her, a flash of worry flickering in his eyes as he asked, “Where will you go
Teresa paused to think, then answered. “Back to the Sullivan Mansion.”
Hearing this, Charles quickly said. “Let me give you a ride.”
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10:42 AM P PR
Chapter 273
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Teresa turned him down right away, saying, “That’s not necessary. I’ll just catch a cab. Yolanda needs you way more than I do right now.”
Charles didn’t press her. He simply said softly, “At least let me walk you out.”
Teresa didn’t argue anymore–Might as well let him have his way, she thought, shrugging it off.
Leaving the hospital room in silence, Teresa and Charles walked all the way to the main entrance without exchanging a single word.
The air between them remained heavy and oddly intense, the quiet stretching on, almost eerie.
Stepping outside, the early winter wind whipped against their faces, so cold it stung their cheeks to the bone.
Teresa stood at the street corner, turned to Charles, and said, “I’m getting a cab. You go on back.”
The wind whipped at Charles‘ coat and tossed his hair everywhere, but even standing out there in the cold, he still looked ridiculously
handsome.
Worry creased his face as he looked at Teresa. “Let me drive you back to Joyacre Villa.”
Teresa shook her head. “No,
fine. I’ll just go back to Sullivan Mansion.”
Charles replied without hesitation, “You don’t care about her the way used to.”
Teresa gave a short laugh, not bothering to explain. “Yeah, if you say so.”
acting like this?”
It wasn’t until the freezing wind had whipped at him for over ten minutes that Charles finally turned back toward the hospital.
Naomi offered him a gentle smile. “Yolanda’s already asleep. Why don’t I keep you company for a walk?”
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