When She Turns Her Back (Teresa and Charles) novel Chapter 225

Chapter 225

Inside the hospital room, Teresa looked haggard and weak, as if life had weighed heavily on her. Elsewhere, the place was buzzing with energy and excitement.

Charles and his crew lounged in the VIP booth, the bass–heavy music pulsing through the air around them.

On the dance floor, guys and girls let loose, moving to the beat without a care in the world.

In the VIP booth, Charles was knocking back glasses of red wine like water–he’d already gone through more than a bottle. ‘My chest feels so damn tight. Drinking is the only way I can dull the ache, Charles thought, pouring himself another glass.

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Jason was the last one to show up. Seeing that Charles had almost finished off two bottles of wine, he shot Finn a puzzled look. “What’s got him like this?“.

”

Finn shook his head, but leaned closer to whisper, “Serena had a high–risk exposure during surgery. Charles is really stressing over it.” Jason had gotten word about this from Naomi.

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Jason gave Charles a concerned look, then scooted over and patted him on the shoulder. “Serena’s already taken the blockers. Nothing’s final yet. There’s still hope, man. Try not to worry too much.”

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Charles looked up at Jason, his gaze dark and haunted, as if his eyes were stained with blood.

He hesitated for a moment before finally nodding. “Yeah.”

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Jason figured his words would cheer Charles up a bit, but the more he watched, the more he felt something was off.

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He turned to Finn again. “Is there something else going on?”

Finn had noticed it too, his brow furrowing. “I have no idea.”

Jason took a shot in the dark. “Could it be about Teresa?”

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Finn shook his head, protesting, “Come on, there was never anything between them. Charles wouldn’t be this worked up because of

Teresa.”

But Jason insisted, “Who else could it be, if not her?”

Finn countered, “Couldn’t it be something about Yolanda or Naomi?”

At Naomi’s name, Jason replied smoothly, “Naomi’s always been gentle, never wanting any status or recognition. Just sticking by Charles’s side all these years proves she’s solid–she’d never make him mad.”

Finn just went quiet after hearing that.

After a beat, he spoke up again. “Whatever, man. Let’s just leave him alone. He’s been like this the whole time I’ve been here. Doesn’t matter what I ask–he’s not saying a word.”

Jason nodded, going along with Finn’s idea.

Charles had already thrown back a hefty amount of wine. After polishing off his second bottle, he popped open a third without hesitation.

But halfway through it, he suddenly stood up without a word and walked out of the bar in silence.

Seeing him leave, Jason and Finn instinctively moved to follow.

But at that moment, Andrew showed up with Stella, suddenly stepping right in front of Charles.

“Charles, you’re leaving already?” Andrew asked, straight to the point.

Charles looked momentarily startled at the sight of Andrew and asked, “What are you doing here?”

Andrew replied, “Grandpa’s not too sure about you, so he sent me to look after you.”

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Chapter 225

Stella lingered behind Andrew, a little too shy to step forward and show herself.

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Charles just gave a simple nod. “I’m going to the hospital to visit someone. You go have fun with Jason and Finn. When you’re done, head back early, okay? Don’t hang around outside too late.”

When Charles said he was headed to the hospital, Andrew’s heart almost skipped a beat.

He fixed his gaze on Charles, trying to keep his cool. “Which friend are you visiting?”

Charles replied without missing a beat, “Teresa.”

When Andrew heard Charles say “Teresa,” he totally freaked out and nearly stumbled.

Luckily, Stella was standing right behind him and swiftly steadied him.

At the same time, she squeezed his arm hard, clearly telling him to figure out something quick. Right then, Andrew’s mind was an absolute jumble.

Charles saw Andrew just standing there in silence, so he went to step around him and head outside. But Andrew blurted out anxiously, “Charles, what happened to Teresa?”

Charles gave Andrew a sharp frown, his voice tightly controlled. “What exactly do you want to know?” Andrew didn’t answer. Instead, he glanced over at Stella, silently looking to her for help.

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After a brief pause, Stella steeled herself and stepped out from behind Andrew.

She faced Charles and greeted him sweetly, “Hello, Charles.”

Charles squinted at Stella.

Her face was familiar, but he couldn’t remember where he’d seen her before.

So he just nodded and said, “Hello.”

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Only after he spoke did it hit him–Stella was the one who’d deliberately poured oil on Teresa at that event.

And that day, Troy had completely humiliated her in front of

everyone.

Charles never expected to see her here, standing right next to Andrew.

He shifted his gaze back to Andrew and asked cautiously, “And who’s this with you?”

Andrew replied, “She’s… a good friend of mine.”

As he said that, Stella shot him a nervous sideways glance.

Charles could read people like an open book, and he instantly caught the meaning behind that look.

He didn’t even bother to be polite. “Oh? Since when does just anyone get to be called your ‘good friend“?”

Andrew hesitated for a second. “What?”

Charles fixed his gaze on Andrew and said quietly, “This ‘good friend‘ of yours went after Teresa. Seriously, can you call someone like that your friend?”

Andrew was taken aback by Charles’s words, momentarily frozen.

“Since when dogs Charles care so much about Teresa?‘ Andrew thought, baffled.

Andrew had only dared to let Stella target Teresa because he’d believed Charles couldn’t care less. Now, though, what was with this sudden shift?

But now, out of nowhere, he’s like this?

Feeling Charles’s piercing stare, Andrew fumbled, “Uh, is that so?”

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Chapter 225

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Charles replied flatly, “Yeah.”

Even though he’d polished off nearly three bottles of wine, Charles didn’t show a hint of it. He looked completely sober.

Stella, standing off to the side, instantly sensed trouble. She quickly tried to explain, “Charles, I think you misunderstood me. That day at the event, I really didn’t mean to spill anything on Teresa.”

Charles didn’t even glance at her. He just turned to Andrew and said, “Teresa or your ‘good friend‘–you’re going to have to choose.”

With that, he stepped right past Andrew and walked out of the bar.

With Teresa still stuck in the hospital, Charles couldn’t help feeling restless.

Yeah, she’d lost their baby, but how the hell could he just let her tough it out in that hospital all by herself?

As Charles walked out, Andrew and Stella were both totally panicked.

Andrew was trembling, and Stella looked like her legs could give out any second.

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But just as he was about to reach the bar’s exit, Charles saw Naomi coming in from the chilly street outside.

was already winter, and the cold outside left Naomi shrouded in a faint layer of mist as she stepped through the door.

Charles noticed her at once- -and she spotted him right away too.

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The two of them walked straight toward each other, stopping at the same moment.

Naomi’s smile was warm and bright. She slid her arm through Charles’s and asked softly, “Charles, where are you headed?”

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