Chapter 26
Chapter 26
Chapter 26
Upstairs, Yolanda was sitting on the edge of the bed, with Teresa standing in front of her.
After venting her anger at her daughter, Teresa immediately regretted it.
Even though Yolanda had been wrong, after all, she was just a little girl.
Teresa wanted to hug Yolanda, but as she leaned in, Yolanda suddenly shoved her away.
At the same time, she yelled at Teresa, “I don’t want you to be my mom anymore! You’re a bad woman! Go away, get out!”
Teresa was pushed back by Yolanda with surprising strength, making her stumble two steps backward.
When she regained her balance, Teresa stood still, staring at Yolanda for a long time.
From a tiny infant to the young girl she was now, every moment of Yolanda’s growth was recorded in Teresa’s phone.
But now, she wanted her to leave.
It felt like a thousand arrows piercing through Teresa’s heart.
She didn’t say a word, only forced out a bitter smile before walking over to the sofa.
Staring at the empty space in front of her, Teresa silently let her tears flow.
Yolanda sat frozen, realizing that she may have gone too far. She wanted to call out “Mom,” but the words got stuck in her throat.
Teresa sat there for a long time, her tears dried.
Finally, Yolanda couldn’t sit still anymore. She tentatively called out, “Mom?”
Teresa wiped her tears and looked at Yolanda. “Hmm?”
Her voice was hoarse, but her emotions had calmed down.
Yolanda hesitated before saying, “I want to call Dad.”
She didn’t actually want to talk to Charles, but rather to test if her mom would still respond to her.
When Teresa responded, Yolanda felt a sigh of relief, and the apology she had been planning to say was forgotten.
Besides, she didn’t think she was in the wrong.
“Sure, go ahead.” Teresa’s tone was cold and distant.
Yolanda sensed her mother’s detachment, but she still thought to herself, “Mom loves me so much. She won’t be mad at me.”
So, with the heavy atmosphere between them, Yolanda dialed Charles’s number.
The phone was answered quickly, but it was Naomi’s voice on the other end. “Yolanda!”
Yolanda instinctively wanted to say “Miss Naomi,” but remembering her mom was still nearby, she simply asked, “Where’s Dad?”
The room was silent, and Teresa could hear Naomi’s voice.
our dad is taking a shower. Should I pass the phone to him?”
Yolanda shook her head, her voice muffled “No, just talk to me instead?
“Are you upar Naomi’s sharp intuition caught sugedung, and she quickly asked with concern.
Yolanda secretly glanced at Teres and red “I’m post a bit bored. I
Should I tell Charles We can voce pack you
to come back to Joyacre Villa
fulanda romerbesed her prone to darkes and decued. “No, the bank oorrow
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1:05 PM P P .
Chapter 26
Naomi seemed to worry, “Has someone been bullying you?”
Teresa overheard the conversation and couldn’t help but wonder if Naomi truly cared about her daughter.
But Yolanda was Charles’s child, and Naomi’s concern was probably just because of that.
The kindness Naomi showed, Teresa felt, was not sincere.
“Miss Naomi, no one’s bullying me. They just want to hold me, kiss me, but they all smell bad, not like you. You smell sweet and nice.”
Yolanda was being her usual cheeky self.
Whatever they talked about after that, Teresa no longer cared.
It was just more complaints about the Sullivan Family.
Clenching her fists, Teresa silently made a decision.
After Yolanda hung up, Teresa stood up and walked over to her.
Yolanda noticed her mother approaching and felt uneasy.
She couldn’t help but think that if her mom were to hug her right now, she would definitely return the hug with all her heart.
But instead, Teresa bent down and looked into Yolanda’s eyes, asking softly, “Do you want to go back?”
Her tone was gentle, her face free of any extreme emotion.
For a moment, Yolanda felt as though her old, loving mom had returned.
Yolanda lowered her guard and, without hesitation, said, “Yes, I want to go back.”
Teresa smiled and said with even more warmth, “Then pack your things, I’ll take you home.”
Seeing her mom agree so readily, Yolanda felt a bit uncomfortable. “But Dad said…”
Before she could finish her sentence, Teresa quickly cut in, “If you want to go, then go. I’ll take you.”
If staying here made her uncomfortable, why should she force her to stay?
She had seen enough of the Sullivan Family, and Yolanda didn’t need to stay any longer.
Yolanda, seeing that Teresa was serious, answered uneasily, “Okay.”
Teresa ruffled her hair and said, “Then pack up.”
When they went downstairs, only Susan was tidying up the living room.
With no one else around, Teresa felt a sense of relief.
Bur Yolanda looked around nervously. “Mom, aren’t we going to say goodbye to Grandpa and Grandma?”
Teresa held her hand and simply replied, “No need.”
Yolanda felt even more uneasy, but she couldn’t stay at the Sullivan Family any longer.
On the way to Joyacre Villa, Teresa didn’t say a word to Yolanda.
Yolanda didn’t dare look at her phone, though she desperately wanted to say something, but she didn’t know where to start
The unease in her heart was finally dispelled when they arrived at Joyacre Villa
Yolanda jumped out of the car and happily ran toward the entrance of Joyacre Villa, shouting “Dad, Miss Naomi, Em bask!”
The contrast between the joy here and the rudeness at Sultivar Maunade Teresa’s heart ache even more
She silently thought for a gut lectore following me.
1:05 PM PP
Chapter 26
Sharon, hearing Yolanda’s voice, came out from the hall to greet them. “Miss Yolanda.”
Seeing Teresa behind her, she nodded and greeted, “Mrs. Logan.”
Teresa smiled faintly and stepped into the living room.
As soon as she entered, she saw Charles and Naomi descending the stairs, both dressed in gray silk pajamas and blue nightgowns.
They had just finished showering, and Naomi’s cheeks were slightly flushed, her hair disheveled, as if she had just been through something intimate.
Yolanda ran up the stairs and hugged Naomi’s leg, saying, “Miss Naomi, I want to take a fragrant bath, just like you.”
She had already forgotten the unpleasantness that had happened at Sullivan Mansion and had pushed aside the earlier things she had said to her mother.
Naomi bent down, picked Yolanda up, and smiled, rubbing her forehead. “Alright, I will take you to bathe.”
Charles stood still on the stairs, his gaze falling on Teresa.
When their eyes met, Teresa didn’t look away. She gazed at him openly, her eyes burning with the intensity of fire.
Neither of them spoke, allowing the strange tension to spread.
Finally, Charles turned to walk upstairs.
“Charles, I need to talk to you.” Teresa called out to him.
Charles stopped, his gaze cool, “What is it?”
Teresa said, “When you have time, let’s handle this matter.”
Dragging it on was no good for anyone.
At a certain distance, they stared at each other. Teresa, however, vaguely noticed a lipstick mark on Charles’s neck.
She knew exactly what that meant.
She wanted to stay calm, but after eight years of love, she couldn’t hold it in any longer. Her eyes suddenly filled with tears.
Charles didn’t understand. “Handle what?”
Teresa bit her lip and, with difficulty, said, “The divorce…”
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