When She Turns Her Back (Teresa and Charles) novel Chapter 199

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The Helix Bar was awash in seductive lighting. Upstairs in the VIP area, three guys sat together at a table.

Peyton was the last to show up, but when he arrived, there were already two bottles of red wine uncorked on the table.

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Troy slouched in the corner, having already downed more than a bottle. Leo sat with him, trying desperately to talk him out of it, but even after practically talking himself hoarse, Troy just kept pouring himself another glass.

Noticing something was off, Peyton took a seat next to Leo and asked, “What’s up with him?”

Leo let out a helpless sigh. “What else could it be? Love problems.”

Romance just wasn’t Peyton’s area of expertise.

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Peyton stayed silent for a moment, and Leo said, “He’s been moping around all day. Maybe you can knock some sense into him.”

Peyton spread his hands. “Honestly? I don’t think I’m any better at this than you are.”

Peyton and Leo traded helpless glances–clearly, neither had a clue how to deal with Troy.

The music was deafening, the lights downstairs pulsed with color, and the dance floor was wild with energy.

The bar was packed and lively, but Troy just felt a hollow ache in his chest.

Every time he thought about what Teresa had said that morning, pain stabbed through his heart.

He thought they’d made a deal–he would be her lover.

But just one night later, she’d already gone back on her word.

‘Women–heartless, every last one of them, Troy thought, the bitterness twisting up inside him.

The more Troy brooded, the more pissed he got. He clenched the wine glass and slammed it down with a bang. “Teresa, you lying cheat! You’re the biggest liar in the world!”

With a sharp crack, the glass exploded in his hand, shards embedding themselves deep in Troy’s palm.

Pain didn’t register at all–instead, his tear–filled eyes only showed tangled anguish and misery.

Leo’s heart twisted with sympathy. “Troy, why are you putting yourself through this? If you love her that much, then fight for her–just go get her back!”

Right as Leo finished, Peyton stepped in. “Snatching her is against the law. Let’s not lose our heads.”

Leo gave Peyton a sidelong glare. “Don’t go all professional on me now. Troy’s life is what matters.”

Peyton pressed his lips together and went quiet.

Troy didn’t hear a word of their conversation. He glanced down at his bleeding palm, then stumbled to his feet.

“Troy, where are you going?” Leo asked, clearly worried as he stood up too.

Troy headed for the door, his voice low and determined. “I’m going to find her. Don’t follow me,”

It was just past one in the morning when Teresa got up to use the bathroom.

When she came out, by the faint streetlight outside the window, she saw someone sitting on the chair beside her hospital bed.

Thinking about what Charles said before he left, Teresa just assumed it was him.

She shot him a cold look and said, “Charles, I told you I don’t need~”

But before Teresa could finish her sentence, the person in the chair suddenly stood up

When he turned around, Teresa realized–this wasn’t Charles, it was Troy.

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She froze for a moment, but in the next instant, Troy pulled her over and pushed her down onto the bed.

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As Teresa lay flat on the mattress, Troy leaned in, planting a knee on either side of her. He caged her in with barely any effort, leaving

her no room to escape.

In seconds, the sharp reek of alcohol flooded Teresa’s senses, burning her chest and making it ache.

Troy’s hand was wrapped in a bandage, but blood had soaked through, glaringly red and shocking to see.

His eyes burned red against the darkness as he locked onto Teresa, letting out a low, mocking laugh. “Look at me. Really look. Who am I to you?”

Teresa squirmed, but with Troy pinning her down, there was nowhere to go.

Troy was so close, but all his weight stayed on his knees–he didn’t put any of it on Teresa.

Even though fear shot through her, Teresa blurted out his name, “Troy… you’re Troy.”

Troy finally let go of his tension, gently pressing his forehead to hers.

His face was so close, their breaths tangled together, just inches apart–charged and intimate.

every secret she had.

He didn’t say a word. He just stared into Teresa’s eyes, his gaze piercing, almost as if he wanted to read e

Feeling uneasy under his intense stare, Teresa’s voice trembled. “Why did you come all this way?”

Before she could finish, Troy buried his face against her neck, his voice barely more than a whisper. “Because I’m just shameless. I couldn’t help myself–I had to see you.”

His voice was choked with tears, and his whole body trembled uncontrollably.

Listening to him, Teresa’s heart ached with a bittersweet sting.

She just stayed silent, not answering him.

After what felt like an eternity, Troy finally lifted his face from Teresa’s neck and looked at her again. His eyes were so red it looked like they might bleed. Without warning, he seized her hand and forced it into his own face, striking himself hard, as if trying to punish himself through her.

Troy tried to make her hit him again, but Teresa struggled fiercely, shock and anger in her voice. “Troy, what the hell are you doing?”

When he couldn’t move her hand anymore, Troy glared into Teresa’s deep, dark eyes, voice hoarse with accusation. “Teresa, you started this. You messed with me first. You broke your word. You lied–you’re just liar.”

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Teresa stared at him in utter bewilderment, her voice shaky as she met his bloodshot eyes. “I really don’t understand what you mean.”

Troy just stared at her—lost in her eyes for what felt like an eternity.

Finally, he gave a bitter laugh. “If you don’t get it, that’s fine. It’s probably better that way for you.”

Teresa couldn’t remember any of the promises they’d made. But since she loved Charles so much, maybe it was just as well she forgot.

Trying to dredge up those memories would only add to her troubles.

In fact, Troy would rather she stayed just like this than torture herself remembering.

With that, Troy pushed himself off Teresa, sitting up straight.

Standing by the bed, half–hidden by the night, he lifted his hand and, without a word, quietly wiped away the tears from his face.

Teresa couldn’t make out his expression, and there was no way to guess what was going through his head.

But one thing was clear–she could feel that Troy was really hurting.

Before she could get a word out, Troy turned around and walked out of the room.

Teresa watched his back, blurting out instinctively, “Troy, wait-”

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But before she could finish, Troy interrupted her, his voice cold. “Teresa, for the rest of your life, you’d better never remember the promises you made.”

And with that, he rushed out of the hospital room.

If he stayed even a second longer, he was afraid he’d completely lose it.

Teresa watched him disappear through the door, the words she’d been about to say catching in her throat.

After Troy left, Teresa couldn’t sleep. She just sat there on the bed, staring into space for what felt like forever.

She had no idea what Troy meant when he said she was the one who started things between them–but deep down, she couldn’t shake the feeling that there must have been something between them once.

But for some reason, there just wasn’t any trace of Troy in her memory.

And what was this promise he kept talking about?

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