When She Turns Her Back (Teresa and Charles) novel Chapter 152

Chapter 152

Troy grabbed his coat, but suddenly stopped in his tracks as he headed toward the window.

He stood right in the center of the bedroom, motionless.

For a long moment, he didn’t move at all.

Teresa kept her eyes on him, refusing to look away, her heart quietly aching.

But after a moment, Troy turned around. He slung his coat over his shoulder, one finger hooked through the collar.

He was sober now, but that roguish charm of his still made him look good.

“Your words don’t count. I’m not listening to you,” Troy said, his voice low and defiant.

If Teresa ever kept her word, she wouldn’t have gone back on her promises.

She was just a liar, and he wasn’t about to listen to her.

Teresa listened to Troy, a little lost and wanting to say something else, but he’d already turned away.

But just as he reached the window, Troy spun around, strode over to the bed, cupped her face in his hands, and leaned in to plant a dramatic kiss right on her forehead.

After the kiss, Troy licked his lips with satisfaction. “Guess that just makes me pathetic,” he muttered.

With that, he grabbed his coat and beat a hasty retreat.

Teresa sat on the big bed, staring at the empty window. Troy had already left, leaving only silence behind.

He was gone, but the room still smelled like him.

She lay down, her eyes blankly tracing the ceiling. Gradually, she just zoned out.

***

It was just starting to get light outside when Charles finally made it home.

Naomi had been waiting all night. As soon as she heard him come in, she sprang to her feet from the couch.

As soon as Charles stepped through the door, Naomi hurried over. “Charles, you’re finally back.”

Charles took one look at Naomi’s exhausted face, his brows knitting together. “Why didn’t you go to bed?”

Naomi shook her head. “I couldn’t sleep with you gone.”

Charles reached out and gently rubbed her cheek, his voice low and husky. “You silly girl.”

Naomi’s eyes were rimmed with red, but she didn’t say a word. She just shook her head.

Charles looked at her and smiled softly. “Go get some sleep. Don’t just stand here, alright?“,

Naomi still looked uneasy, but she asked tentatively, “How’s your grandfather doing?”

Charles’s eyes were bloodshot. Hearing her question, he let out a helpless sigh. “Things aren’t looking good. I’ll probably have to stay at Logan Manor for a while.”

Hearing that, Naomi dropped her gaze, sounding defeated. “Alright…”

Charles saw how down she was and gently reassured her, “Once my grandpa gets better, I’ll keep my promise.”

Naomi’s eyes turned red as tears spilled out. “I’m fine, really. I just don’t want Mom to worry too much.”

Charles glanced at the clock. It was almost seven. At this hour, Aya would probably be getting up soon.

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Chapter 152

After thinking for a moment, he said, “Don’t worry. I’ll go talk to her.”

After saying that, Charles walked over to Ava’s room and knocked on the door.

Naomi wanted to stop him, but it was already too late.

“Come in,” Ava called out from inside.

Charles pushed the door open and greeted her with a smile. “Hi, Mrs. Yates.”

As for what the two of them talked about after that, Naomi had no idea.

While she was in the living room, Naomi could hear Ava bursting out in laughter every now and then.

Soon, Charles came out of the room.

Naomi walked over, looking confused. “Charles, what did you say to Mom? Why is she so happy?”

Charles acted all mysterious. “That’s a secret.”

Naomi didn’t ask any more. If Charles wanted to tell her, he’d just say it.

Anyway, even if Charles kept quiet, she could just ask Ava herself.

After Charles took Naomi upstairs, he told Sharon to wake Yolanda up.

Back in his room, Charles sent Teresa a message.

Charles said, “Can we meet up and talk?”

Teresa replied, “If it’s not about the divorce, I don’t think we need to meet.”

Charles said, “It’s got something to do with the divorce. And with my grandpa in the hospital, even if you dodge me today, you’ll still see me there sooner or later.”

Teresa understood. If she didn’t agree to meet now, he’d just come find her at work anyway.

But by that time, the situation might be quite different.

In the end, Teresa gave in, and they agreed on a time and place to meet.

It was noon at a café.

When Teresa got there, Charles had already finished his coffee.

After she sat down, Charles got straight to the point. “My grandpa’s still in the hospital. For now, we need to keep things as they are and put on a show of being close. It’ll help him recover.

“Once he’s out of the woods, we can go to the local court and handle the next step of the divorce.”

Teresa replied, “I can keep up the act for your grandpa’s sake, and I can fake being a loving couple with you. But at least for now, we can file for the divorce cooling–off period. By the time that’s over, your grandfather will probably have recovered quite a bit.”

Charles didn’t say anything, just stared at her with a complicated look in his eyes.

After a few seconds, Teresa added, “Even if we get divorced, I’ll still be there for your grandpa.”

Charles pressed, “And what about having another baby?”

Teresa shot him down without hesitation. “I’m not having another kid. No way.”

Charles frowned. “If you pretend to be pregnant, you know the truth will come out sooner or later.”

“Charles, you could have a child with anyone else. Seriously, why does it have to be me?” Teresa said.

Honestly, she was sick and tired of this whole discussion.

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10:34 AM P P

Chapter 152

Charles was getting annoyed now. “Me? Have a kid with someone else? No way.”

Teresa looked him straight in the eye, totally unfazed. “Why not?”

Naomi had already moved into Joyacre Villa, and Yolanda basically treated her like her real mom.

He and Naomi could definitely have a child together.

Charles stared at Teresa, totally thrown off. He’d never seen her so blunt before.

Back then, she used to go along with whatever Charles wanted.

But now, she was nothing like that anymore.

Charles was done arguing. “This is pointless. Let’s just drop the divorce talk while my grandpa’s in the hospital. When he’s back home, we can figure out the rest.”

Teresa didn’t want to listen anymore. She got to her feet and said, “Fine, I won’t bring up the divorce for now, but we still need to kick off the next step–the cooling–off period.”

That cooling–off month was still ahead, and she was in no mood to drag this out any longer.

Charles hadn’t slept a wink, and with Teresa relentlessly insisting on moving forward with the next step, his head was pounding from all her persistence.

She wore him down. He just couldn’t argue with her anymore.

So, he finally relented. “Honestly, I have no idea where my grandpa hid our marriage certificate, but if you’re really set on getting this started, we can go get a replacement this afternoon.”

Seeing him give in, Teresa immediately agreed. “Okay, let’s go right now.”

There wasn’t much time left before work, and she was desperate to get it over with and kick off the cooling–off period.

Before they left, Teresa realized they’d need those red background ID photos for the replacement marriage certificate, so she and Charles went off together to get them taken.

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Unlike all the other couples at the registry, soaking up the romance and making a big deal out of it, Teresa and Charles looked like they belonged in completely different worlds. Even just standing next to each other felt painfully awkward.

They barely managed to get through the photo session, then headed straight to the marriage certificate office to pick up their replacement marriage certificate.

Teresa didn’t even blink before filing for divorce the moment she got the marriage certificate.

The staff handed them the forms, and Teresa breezed through hers without missing a beat.

While Charles was filling out the form, he glanced up at Teresa. She looked like she couldn’t wait to get this over with. ‘She’s really in a hurry to end things, he thought, a little thrown off.

Once they finished, the staff explained the process and said that starting today, they’d have a one–month cooling–off period. After that, they could get their divorce certificate. But during that month, either of them could call it off if they wanted to.

As they walked out of the local court, Teresa stared at the “Divorce Registration Application Receipt” in her hand. She finally felt like a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders.

Charles saw her breathe out in relief, and honestly, he couldn’t even tell what he was feeling right now.

He just told her, “Tonight, I’ll pick you up at the hospital. Grandpa will be really happy to see us together.”

Teresa agreed quietly, “Mm.”