Chapter 23
Chapter 23
Teresa parked the car outside the Logan Group building. She waited for a long time, watching streams of employees leave, yet Charles never appeared.
Growing impatient, she reached for her phone to call him.
As she unlocked it, she noticed the morning message Charles had sent–asking her to take Yolanda to school.
She had been too busy to see it. Now, thinking back, she felt quite uneasy.
Her daughter was strong–willed, always wanting to be the best. If she were late for school, she would definitely cry in frustration.
The thought twisted Teresa’s chest. She had not taken Miss Yolanda to school. She must resent her even more, perhaps seeing Naomi the one more suited to be her mother.
But why should she feel troubled? It was never she who rejected them. It was they who had left her.
At that moment, the door of Logan Group finally opened, Charles walked out with his assistant Liam.
In a tailored suit, his tall, lean frame drew every passing gaze without effort.
A black Rolls Royce idled by the curb. Instead of getting in, Charles opened the driver’s door, shielding the roof with one hand and offering the other to someone inside.
Teresa didn’t pay the car much attention, until she saw who stepped out. Naomi.
She descended like an untouched angel, dressed in a pure white dress. Her understated elegance only seemed to enhance Charles’s
presence.
From across the street, Teresa watched her husband and his first love.
Even the sunset seemed enchanted by them, stretching their shadows together on the ground.
Naomi slipped her arm through Charles’s naturally. He lowered his head to her with a gentle smile.
Seeing this, Liam quietly stepped back.
Charles seemed to be saying something to Naomi, but the distance was too great for Teresa to
hear.
She sat in the car, feeling like she couldn’t move at all.
But thinking of her parents‘ expectations for their granddaughter, she forced herself to get out of the car.
As she slowly approached Charles, she heard him saying to Naomi, “If you’re tired, just skip the concert rehearsals for now. Focus on your studies. Didn’t you always want to be a doctor?”
Naomi tilted her head. “I do love being a doctor, but I also love the piano. I can’t give it up.”
“As long as you enjoy it,” Charles replied gently.
“If I feel like I can’t handle it, I’ll let you know. Don’t worry.”
Charles nodded, about to get into the car, but then he glanced at Teresa standing aside.
She was dressed simply in jeans, sneakers, and a short–sleeve top, with a small crossbody bag. Her long hair cascaded down her back.
She stood in the sunset, her face expressionless, neither smiling nor sad.
Charles was a little surprised, and Naomi also turned to look at her.
Teresa met Charles‘ gaze directly. I need to discuss something with you” She said bluntly.
Charles frowned slightly, a clear sign of displeasure. “What is it?”
“My parents want to see Yolanda I’ll take her to stay overnight, send her to preschool in the morning, and you can pick her up in the afternoon”
1/3
1:05 PMP
Chapter 23
In five years of marriage, Charles had never met her parents or older brother. But he could understand the bond between elders and children.
“I don’t object,” he said coolly, “but Yolanda… ”
Teresa knew what he meant–Yolanda still resented her and would definitely not want to stay at her parents‘ house.
“That’s why I came to you,” Teresa said bluntly. “She listens to you.”
Naomi stood quietly, not interrupting.
“My words may not work either,” Charles replied honestly.
Yolanda already had her own mind. She feared him more than she obeyed him.
But then, Charles continued, “Let Naomi talk to her instead,” he added. “We’re going to pick her up from preschool anyway.”
His words were casual, but they cut deep.
Teresa glanced at Naomi, who looked poised, confident, radiating a natural authority that made her feel small.
In that moment, Teresa felt a pang of injustice, her nose sour as tears threatened to fall. But she held them back.
“No need.” She turned away, clinging to the last shreds of dignity.
It was almost laughable. Her own daughter needed another woman to persuade her to visit her mother’s parents.
She didn’t want such a child.
But remembering her parents‘ repeated requests, she stopped herself, her fists clenched so tight her nails dug into her palms.
A few seconds later, she turned back to Charles and said, “I’ll follow in my own car.”
Charles noticed her reddened eyes but said nothing. “Fine.”
Naomi also looked at Teresa and finally spoke, “Ms. Sullivan, don’t worry. I’ll do my best to persuade Yolanda. She’s a very obedient child.”
Teresa knew Naomi was implying something, but she couldn’t bring herself to confront her at that moment.
She just swallowed her feelings hard.
She got into her car and watched as Charles buckled Naomi’s seatbelt, closing the door for her with a care he had never shown Teresa.
“That level of devotion, she thought bitterly, ‘was reserved only for Naomi‘.
Teresa didn’t start the car right away. She leaned back in her seat, gazing through the car window. Everything in her vision seemed blurry.
Her heart ached so much it felt like it was being torn apart.
She hurt for the way Charles treated Naomi, and she hurt for Yolanda, who listened to Naomi instead of her.
She had never wronged them, yet this was how they treated her.
She remained numb for a long time, until the phone rang, pulling her from her daze.
She looked down and saw that it was Charles calling.
“What is it?” she asked hoarsely.
Charles asked. “You haven’t followed yet?”
Rarely, he seemed to care about her.
But un second thought, it wasit really concern for her.
Teresa replied, Tm coming now”
1:05 PM PP.
Chapter 23
At the preschool, the teachers were already bringing children out. Yolanda stood at the front of her class.
When she saw Naomi, her eyes lit up, but soon dimmed with a trace of gloom.
Teresa immediately noticed something was wrong and felt a pang of heartache. She couldn’t hold back and called out, “Yolanda.”
She feared her daughter might have been bullied at school.
Yolanda looked up at her and was about to wave with joy, but the resentment in her heart surged again.
After all, it was her mother’s absence that had made her late and not receive her reward.
ara