Chapter 18 O In the living room , Howard and Linda sat stiffly on the couch . The atmosphere was tense and quiet . A tea set sat on the table . The water was already boiling , but nobody moved a muscle . Seeing Teresa walk in , Howard sat up a little straighter . " Teresa , come brew us some tea . " he said , " It's been too long since you made us a cup . " Before Teresa married Charles , Howard had always loved her tea . He'd often talked to her about business matters . Back then , Teresa cared less about the family business . She never paid full attention , just humored him with a few vague words and a smile . Thinking about it now filled Teresa with guilt . She'd bent over backwards to please the Logan family , who hadn't lifted a finger for her . Yet her own parents had poured everything into raising her - only for her to turn around and become someone else's eager - to - please servant . It felt ridiculous . Teresa murmured an agreement and walked over to the tea table . She sat on the small stool and began making the tea , her movements practiced and automatic . Howard and Linda watched her quietly . Not a word was spoken . Teresa could feel that they were holding back words , wanting to say something . She didn't know what it was , and she couldn figure out what was on their mind . She didn't push them , just waited patiently . Once the tea was ready , she handed a cup to Howard . " Dad , your tea . " she said . Linda , who avoided caffeine at night to help her sleep , simply shook her head . Before Teresa got married , life in the Sullivan Family had been genuinely warm and cozy . Theodore talked tough but had a soft heart . Back then , he always said his little sister should marry completely . someone We who truly cherished her But life had other plans . Teresa ended up married to Charles , who didn't love her . དདདདད་ དང་ w ! € \ { \ ནཱ When Yvonne married Theodore , she treated Teresa like her own sister . Teresa had gained another person to love her . Teresa knew why Linda avoided tea at night , and it was partly her fault . དཀརྟ་ ཀ་ ང་ བ་ དང་ དེ་ ད After Teresa threw herself into the Logan Family , Linda spent countless nights crying herself to sleep . Back then , peaceful rest was almost impossible for her . Howard took the teacup but didn't drink . He looked at Teresa for a long moment before the words one thing . But that child ? You risked your life bringing her into this world . You have to fight " Your mother and I talked . Bring her home . We'll raise her . " His tone hardened . " Why should the spilled out . " Teresa , divorce is Logan Family get to keep your child ? " Teresa's heart sank a little hearing this . Of course she'd love to have her own daughter live with her . " Dad , it's not that I don't want custody . " she said , looking down with a heavy heart , " It's just . Yolanda doesn't voice was thick with the difficulty of it all . 3 to be with me , " Her Howard wasn't having it . " Yolanda's a girl . " he said firmly , " Girls belong with their mothers . If it were a boy , well , maybe we wouldn't be so insistent on custody . Haven't the Logan Family always been desperate for a son ? How can you be okay with them raising Yolanda ? " Teresa understood where Howard was coming from . He was scared the Logan Family , who clearly wanted a boy , wouldn't treat Yolanda right Teresa knew the Logans weren't great people , but Charles was different . He was Yolanda's father , after all . Teresa took a breath before continuing . " Dad , Charles is Yolanda's father . He wouldn't do her wrong . " い Howard's voice shot up , clearly worked up . " Are you seriously putting your trust in him over us ? Come on , Teresa , you know deep down who really has Yolanda's best interest at heart ." 1/3 M / P Chapter 18 Teresa couldn't deny the hurt Charles had caused her with his neglect . But he was a decent dad to their daughter . Faced with Howard's question , Teresa couldn't give him a straight answer . Instead , she just looked at him helplessly , her voice dragging out the word , " Dad … " Howard's knuckles went white where he gripped the teacup . He looked away sharply , his eyes suddenly glistening . When he spoke again , his voice shook without meaning to . " Then at least let me see the child . I haven't laid eyes on her since the day she was born . She's your flesh and blood … " His words trailed off as Linda beside him began silently dabbing her eyes with a tissue . Teresa watched her parents , her own heart twisting . She'd barely been back to the Sullivan Family since her marriage . Afraid her parents and brother wouldn't welcome Yolanda , she'd kept the child sheltered at Joyacre Villa . But Teresa had never thought that her parents and brother were people with such good hearts that they would also love her child . so distant from her . Teresa honestly didn't know if she could even get her daughter to visit the The problem was , Yolanda had Sullivan Family now . Linda patted Howard's back , her red - rimmed as she looked at Teresa . " Your dad hasn't slept properly for days because of this . " born , he's been setting things aside for her , just hoping one day you'd bring her home she said , her voice thick , " Ever since Yolanda so he could finally give them to her . was " We supported you when you wanted the divorce . But Yolanda's your own daughter . And it's not like we couldn't afford to keep her . Why hand her over to the Logan Family like that ? " She wiped away tears before pressing on , " Even if you don't get custody , shouldn't Yolanda at least know who her grandparents are ? Your dad and me … we just want to lay eyes anddaughter . That's all … " Teresa stared down at the pattern on the table , her gaze unfocused . A long , silent stretch passed before she finally spoke , her voice quiet . " Okay . I'll try . " As for the custody battle , Teresa could let that go . But her parents ' plea tugged at her heart . She couldn't bring After all , they were just grandparents who wanted to see their granddaughter . * herself to ignore it . At ten that night , Teresa stepped out of the shower . Wrapped in a towel , she stood lost in thought in front of her vanity . After a long moment of standing there , she finally decided to call Charles . Normally , he might not have picked up . But tonight , surprisingly , he answered on the first ring . " What is it ? " Charles's voice , the one she'd once longed to hear , came through the line . Teresa froze for a second . The old rush of warmth she used to feel was gone . " Is Yolanda there ? " Teresa's voice was flat and detached , like she was discussing business with a total stranger . Charles replied , " She is . " Without missing a beat , Teresa said , " Put her on . I need to talk to her . " Charles didn't verbally agree , but Teresa heard him call out , not far away , " Yolanda . It's your mom on the phone . Come take this . " Almost immediately , Yolanda's voice cut through , thick with resentment , " No. I don't want to talk to her . " Yolanda was standing her ground with Teresa . Her teacher had said that one would get credit for owning up to the mistake and making it right . Yolanda figured , ' Until Mom says sorry , I'm not making up with her . Teresa had no clue what Yolanda was thinking , and she wasn't about to try and figure it out . If Yolanda didn't want to talk , Teresa wasn't gonna push it . Just as she was about to hang up , Charles ' voice suddenly dropped low , " Yolanda Logan . " Using her full name meant Charles was ticked off . Yolanda was scared of her dad , and she flinched without thinking . But still sulking , she muttered , " Dad , Mom's the one who messed up . She hasn't even said sorry to Miss Naomi yet . Why should I take 2/3 Hearing Volania's words , Teresa was confused . Without thinking , she asked , " What do you can ? The looked away fromi Yolanda and star k Deto Jerase could even presence on Content art time . Yen ve g achos tomorrow " Teresa midn't the he had to the als of the same Yolanda's wrior @ leo at me to matte it and re And the Bengine Lean and they were sinnty Taurea though ianly , Gura Chart in her always did arenard moves 2/8