When She Walks Away (Teresa) novel Chapter 52

Chapter 52

After returning to Riverdale, Hector drove Teresa back to the Sullivan Mansion.

Howard and Linda wanted to invite Hector to stay for a late–night snack, but Teresa declined on his behalf. “Dad, Mom, Hector needs to get some rest. It’s already late, so let’s not keep him any longer.”

Hector understood that Teresa had returned partly because of Charles’s threats, and he knew she wanted to speak privately with her family.

So, he didn’t press the issue. “Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan, I’ll come by another time.”

Howard and Linda didn’t insist, smiling as they watched Hector drive away.

The next morning, Teresa had breakfast in the dining room. She had hoped to ask her family how things were going over breakfast, but to her surprise, neither Yvonne nor Theodore was home.

With no one around, Teresa had no choice but to head to the hospital and check in for her shift.

After work that evening, Teresa was the first to return to the Sullivan Mansion.

By around eight o’clock, the rest of the family had trickled in one after another.

Once Betty had set the table, the family sat down to dinner just like they always did.

Monica was absolutely thrilled; she peeled shrimp for Teresa, poured her water, and kept saying how great it was that Teresa was finally home, so the whole family could be together from now on.

Yvonne smiled, too, but the smile never reached her eyes. Theodore was the same; his calmness looked so forced, and it just felt off.

Howard and Linda didn’t say much either. The more they tried to act like nothing was wrong, the more it felt like something was off.

They didn’t say anything out loud, but Teresa could see right through them.

She figured that Theodore and Yvonne’s jobs had probably been affected by Charles in some way. They were just pretending everything was okay so she wouldn’t worry.

Teresa ate her dinner with her feelings all over the place.

After everyone had finished eating and put down their fork, she was the last one to get up and head upstairs.

Teresa knew Charles was giving her a warning.

Now that her family was finally back together, she didn’t want anything to mess up these warm, cozy days.

So, she decided to call Charles and see what he was really after.

He’d only told her to come home that day, but never said what he expected her to do once she got there.

But when Teresa dialed Charles, he just wouldn’t pick up, no matter how long she waited,

Teresa patiently tried two more times, but got the same result–no answer.

In the end, Teresa stopped calling and made up her mind to drop by Joyacre Villa first thing in the morning.

Teresa remembered Charles mentioning that Yolanda was craving some of her soup.

Whether Charles had made such a big fuss just for that or not, it was the only excuse she could use to go see him.

Before dawn the next day, Teresa made her way to Joyacre Villa.

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When Sharon got up and saw the kitchen light on, she thought someone had forgotten to turn it off. But when she walked in, she found Teresa, apron tied around her waist, busy at the stove.

“Mrs Logan?” Sharon’s voice was full of confusion

Teresa replied softly. “Morninu.

1:07 PM P P ·

Chapter 52

Sharon asked nervously, “W–Why are you up so early?”

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Teresa gave a faint smile but didn’t offer any explanation. She hadn’t even spent the night at Joyacre Villa, so it didn’t really make sense to say she was up early.

Soon, Teresa set the soup on the table and prepared a couple of light side dishes.

It was already seven o’clock, and Yolanda should be up by now. Teresa didn’t go upstairs. She just sat quietly at the table, waiting.

Just a few minutes later, laughter drifted down from upstairs.

“Miss Naomi, you look so pretty today,” Yolanda said.

“Yolanda, you’re pretty too,” Naomi smiled.

Yolanda giggled, “I wish I could be as pretty as you, Miss Naomi.”

The sound of laughter floated down from the stairs. Teresa glanced toward the noise and saw Naomi and Charles, each holding one of Yolanda’s hands, slowly coming into view.

Yolanda almost instinctively let go of Charles and Naomi’s hands. Spotting Teresa sitting quietly in the dining room, she called out, “Mom?”

Yolanda was over the moon. She dashed down the stairs and hurried to the table. She fanned the steam rising from the pot with her hands, took a big whiff, and exclaimed, “Wow, it’s Mom’s soup. I haven’t had this in ages. Thank you, Mom.”

Kids really did have short memories. Yolanda had already forgotten all about Teresa hitting Naomi and the time she made her mom mad back at the Sullivan Mansion.

Yolanda was her little girl, and Teresa didn’t want to hold a grudge against her. She just smiled softly and said, “Glad you like it, Yolanda.”

After sitting down, Teresa served Yolanda a bowl of soup. Yolanda took a bite, her little feet tapping with happiness. She turned to Naomi and said, “Miss Naomi, do you want to try some of Mom’s soup? It’s really delicious.”

Naomi smiled and said, “That’s okay, sweetie. If you like it, you should eat as much as you want.”

Yolanda stuffed another spoonful of soup into her mouth, her cheeks puffed out as she nodded. “Okay.”

Seeing that even while eating, Yolanda was still thinking about Naomi, Teresa couldn’t help but feel a pang of sourness in her heart. But Yolanda didn’t notice Teresa’s feelings at all.

All that time, Charles never spared Teresa a single look. Her being at Joyacre Villa didn’t faze him at all.

Neither of them looked like they planned to stick around for breakfast; they just headed straight for the front hall.

That was when Teresa suddenly got to her feet and called out, “Charles, can we talk?”

Charles angled his body away, while Teresa stood facing him head–on.

When he heard Teresa’s voice, Charles stopped in his tracks, but he didn’t look at her. Still half–turned away, he said, “I’m busy I don’t have time today”

1:07 PM P P .

Chapter 52

Charles replied, “I don’t know.”

At that, Teresa’s hands tightened unconsciously at her sides. Of course, she could tell Charles was just brushing her off. So, she didn’t press him any further.

But just then, Naomi turned and walked over to Yolanda, her voice gentle as she said, “Yolanda, your dad and I have to step out for a bit. How about your mom takes you to school later, okay?”

Yolanda was eating her soup, some soup clinging to the corner of her mouth. Her eyes sparkled as she blinked and replied, “Okay.”

Naomi patted her head softly, then turned to Charles and said, “Charles, let’s head out.”

Charles’s brooding face broke into a smile as he looked at Naomi. “Okay.”

Under Teresa’s gaze, the two of them walked out side by side from the hall.

When Teresa finally looked away, she realized her eyes were already brimming with tears.

After Yolanda finished eating, she suddenly remembered it was getting late. She hurried upstairs, calling out, “Mom, I’m going to grab my backpack.”

Teresa watched her go, her eyes reddening even more.

After sitting back down at the table, Teresa turned to Sharon, who was standing nearby, and asked, “Did Naomi stay here last night?”

Sharon lowered her head, not daring to answer.

Seeing Sharon’s reaction, Teresa gave a bitter little laugh. “So that’s how it is.”

Sharon looked apologetic. “Mrs. Logan, you know I’m just the help.”

Teresa answered quietly, “Yeah, I’m not blaming you.”

Just then, Yolanda came skipping down the stairs with her little backpack, grabbed Teresa’s hand, and said, “Mom, let’s go.”

Seeing those familiar eyes on her daughter, Teresa felt a sharp stab in her heart.

‘Maybe Yolanda still needed me, but in her heart, I would always come after Naomi, Teresa thought bitterly.

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