Chapter 37 The words struck Charles like a physical blow . His fingers slackened - just enough for air to rush back into Teresa's lungs . She gulped it greedily , color returning to her cheeks as Charles straightened , putting cold distance between them . Bathed in the harsh light now , he looked different . The magnetism Teresa once saw in him had been gone . She coughed , her glare sharp enough to draw blood . " You just destroyed the one person who loved you more than her own life . " The hatred was old , familiar - for his neglect , his cruelty , his infidelity , his selfishness , his arrogance . But now , what she felt even more was regret . She regretted ever falling for Charles , regretted that she was once willing to give up everything for him . Charles turned away , leaving her staring at the unyielding line of his shoulders . " You think I care about your feelings ? " There is ice laced in every word . Teresa laughed , brittle . " I know you don't . " ' Yeah , he never cares . Not from the very beginning , Teresa thought to herself . The only one he ever cares about is Naomi . She snatched her bag , ready to storm out - then froze . Hector . She'd come here for him , and now his ruin was sealed . Jaw clenched , she hurled the question at Charles's retreating back . " Name your price . What will it take for you to leave Hector alone ? " Charles didn't bother turning . " My decisions stand . I don't rescind orders . " The finality in his voice left no room for negotiation . Teresa knew it was futile , yet she remained rooted in place - Minutes ticked by until her legs burned with numbness . Only then did she stagger out , the weight of defeat pressing down on her shoulders . Across the mansion , Charles sat before an extravagant dinner , appetite absent . One taste confirmed it - these weren't Teresa's flavors . Mrs. Davis's bland cooking might as well have been ashes on his tongue . Hector was irrelevant . What gnawed at Charles was Teresa's defiance - how readily she'd bared her teeth for another man . ' If she's determined to paint me the villain , he thought , swirling his wine , ' then I'll give her a performance she won't forget . In her car , Teresa sat frozen , guilt curdling in her stomach . Was I too impulsive ? ' Maybe things could have turned out differently , but now Hector's in an even tougher spot because of me , ' she thought . Then , it came the bitter truth . ' But honestly , even if I hadn't stirred things up , Hector's situation probably wouldn't have been much better . Her phone shattered the silence - Yolanda's name flashing on the screen . Teresa answered after the third ring , voice unusually cool " Yes ? Volanda caught the frost immediately . Mom are you at Grandma's place ? " Her small voice wavered with unspoken tear the terror of a child sensing love slipping away . " No " Teresa's reply was curt " C " Disappoinunicat dripped Ivan the syllable . You haven't gotten of work ? I thought maybe we could visit Grandma together ) But the truth was vinding Linda was just en cache what she really wanted was to gauge if all cared about her p p . Chapter 37 She'd tried Teresa a few days ago , when Teresa had refused to attend the kindergarten event with her , claiming she was not available . ' If Mom weren't busy , she'd definitely have gone , Yolanda had told herself , clinging to that thought . Teresa shut down the idea firmly . " No need . Grandma needs her rest . " Ever since Yolanda's incident , Linda had taken ill - not physically , but emotionally , unable to shake off the hurt her granddaughter had caused . Teresa knew that well . Yolanda , flustered and suddenly meek , asked , " Mom … are you still mad at me ? " Teresa's voice was cool , flat . " No. " Disappointment , when it piled up enough , drained away all expectation . And without expectation , anger had no fuel to burn . Yolanda's voice turned small , tentative . " Mom , will you pick me up after school tomorrow ? " Secretly , she loved when Naomi came her classmates gushed about how beautiful Naomi was , making Yolanda feel like she was on top of the world . But ever since she'd told Teresa to leave that day , a vague unease had lingered . She just wanted to fix things with her mom . Once they were okay again , she could let Naomi pick her up every day without that guilty twist in her stomach . Otherwise , the awkwardness would keep gnawing at her . Teresa had no clue what was going through Yolanda's head , but tomorrow was packed . She declined again , gently but firmly . " Yolanda , I have to work tomorrow . Let Dad pick you up , okay ? " . Yolanda's reply was a tiny , deflated " Okay . " Teresa didn't add anything else . " I'll hang up now . Go to bed . " Before Yolanda could say more , the line went dead . Teresa returned to the Sullivan Mansion a little past 8 PM . She parked her car and walked in , only to cross paths with Howard , who was heading out . " Dad ? What's wrong ? Where are you off to ? " she asked . Howard explained , " Monica's been out playing for ages . I'm going to fetch her home . " Dad , let me go . You go back and rest , " Teresa offered . Howard nodded . " All right . I'll have Betty fix dinner , so you can eat as soon as you're back . " " Okay , Teresa said . She stepped out of the mansion , and across the street , a sleek black luxury car sat idling . Inside , Yolanda spotted Teresa instantly and hurried to the driver . " Mr. Smith , open the door ! I see Mom ! " John Smith , the driver , had noticed Teresa too . He jumped out , reaching to open Yolanda's door - when Teresa's voice rang out . " Monica ! Timor to come home for dinner ! Aunt Teresa ! Coming Monica called back her voice bright . At the sound of Teresa's vulce , Mouka dulis silate In no time . Mojca caror bounding over from the little square and launches herself into Exresas seins Aunt Tamaal Your bouwt ud you have a tiring day ? trauma told Betsy to make your LaverUS glazed hain and garlic butter P P Chapter 37 shrimp for dinner ! " Monica chattered . Teresa lifted Monica up and pressed a quick kiss to her forehead . " Seeing you washes all the tiredness away . With such a sweet little niece , I'm the luckiest aunt ever - how could I feel worn out ? " Monica beamed and patted Teresa's cheeks . " Aunt Teresa , you look so pretty today ! " " Thanks , cutie . You're pretty darn adorable yourself , " Teresa said , grinning . " But everyone says I'm squishy , " Monica mumbled , poking her own cheek . " Whoever said that is wrong - you're not squishy ! You're perfect . And when you get older ? You'll bloom like a little flower , just wait and see ," Teresa said , tickling Monica's side lightly . " Aunt Teresa's right, I bet ! " Monica said , nodding hard , her pigtails bouncing . " Come on , let's head in for dinner . I'll peel the shrimp for you later , deal ? " " Yay ! Shrimp time ! " Monica cheered , kicking her legs happily . Across the street , John held the car door open , but Yolanda just sat there , stiff as a board . " Miss Yolanda ? " John called softly . Yolanda jolted out of her daze , but her eyes were already shiny with tears . She'd heard every word - Teresa's patience , her laughs , the way she fussed over Monica . But on the phone ? Teresa had barely said two sentences before hanging up . It felt like Teresa didn't love her anymore . And Teresa used not to be this cold . " Miss Yolanda , should we still go see Mrs. Logan ? " John asked . Yolanda's chest hurt . " No. Take me back to Joyacre Villa . I want to see Miss Naomi . " If Teresa didn't love her , there was no point in chasing after her . Naomi was the best - she cared , she paid attention , she saw her . But on the drive back , Yolanda couldn't stop sniffling . ' Why'd Mom get like this ? ' she thought , rubbing her eyes . ' She used to love me so much . How can she just … stop ? ' L She sniffled harder , then squared her shoulders . ' Fine . If Mom doesn't love me , I've got Miss Naomi . She's the nicest to me . Always . 五