Chapter 353 Sudden Change
Teresa's two plainclothes bodyguards stood outside the ladies' room, watching as the janitor with the cleaning cart entered. They didn't notice anything odd about her.
Indeed, the janitor was a longtime employee of the club, in her forties, stocky and energetic. Her expression was as usual when she entered.
In the restroom, Teresa stepped into a stall. After finishing up, she stood and suddenly felt dizzy, swiftly reaching out to steady herself against the wall.
After a moment, she felt more steady and shook her head to clear the unexpected grogginess. But just as she was about to leave the stall, a hand reached out, swiftly covering her mouth and nose.After a moment, she felt steadier and shook her head, trying to clear the grogginess that had unexpectedly set in.
But just as she was about to exit the stall, a hand reached out toward her, clamping accurately over her mouth and nose.
"Mmph!"
Teresa struggled, but in an instant, the attacker pushed her against the stall's wall. In mere seconds, everything went black for Teresa as she passed out.
Once Teresa was down, a woman climbed out from the janitor's cart. She was identical to Teresa in build, appearance, and even hairstyle.
"Quick, strip her clothes off," the woman ordered after emerging, entering the stall and locking it behind her.
The janitor nodded and began undressing Teresa swiftly, passing the clothes to the woman waiting beside her.
With practiced ease, the woman swiftly undressed and smoothly donned the clothes she had taken from Teresa. Once her disguise was flawless, she shot a cold, nasty glare at the unconscious Teresa huddled in the corner. A chilling smile crossed her lips as she and the janitor together lifted Teresa into the cleaning cart.The woman undressed with practiced ease, swiftly and fluidly slipping into the clothes she had taken from Teresa. After ensuring her disguise was perfect from head to toe, she cast a cold, nasty glare at the unconscious Teresa curled up in the corner. A chilling smile flicked across her lips as she and the janitor lifted Teresa into the cleaning cart together.
With the switch complete, the woman approached the restroom's sink, her reflection mirroring Teresa's exactly. The icy look in her eyes softened, her face breaking into a tender smile.
She turned on the faucet, washed her hands, then dried them with the nearby clean hand towel.
Gazing at herself in the mirror, she ran her fingers through her long, straight black hair.
Who else in the world wouldn't believe that she was Teresa? Their voices matched just as closely as their appearances.
The hand towel tossed into a bamboo basket, she walked with poised steps out of the restroom.
Two undercover bodyguards were keeping watch outside the ladies' room. Noticing Teresa had been inside for quite some time, they exchanged glances, and one started to stride toward the entrance.
Before he reached the door, however, "Teresa" emerged from within.
Upon seeing her, the bodyguard stopped and respectfully greeted her as "Unity."
With a slight nod, "Teresa" brushed past the guards and headed towards Diana's private room.
The bodyguard observed "Teresa," noting nothing out of the ordinary—her figure, her walk, and even her scent were all unchanged.
Relieved to see her unharmed, the bodyguard resumed his watchful position outside the private room.
"Back already?" Inside the room, Diana was playing with Croissant when she heard the door and looked up to see "Teresa" returning. She made the offhand remark and continued playing with her pastry.
"Mama, are you done peeing?" the little one asked, catching sight of Teresa, with bright, inquisitive eyes and a pouty mouth.
"Mm-hmm, mama's all done," replied Teresa, picking up Croissant and her bag. She turned to Diana with a smile. "I got a call—an urgent matter. I need to leave early."
"Leaving now?" Diana looked up, scrutinizing the woman standing before her, her brow furrowing slightly.
Something about Teresa seemed off, but Diana couldn't quite figure out what it was at that moment.
"Yes, right now." Teresa took Croissant's hand, her voice extra sweet as she cooed. "Come on, sweetheart, say goodbye to your godmother. We're heading home."
"Mommy, Mommy, can I play with Auntie more? Can we go home later, pretty please?" Jess' big eyes twinkled as she negotiated with Teresa.
Teresa shook her head. "Sorry, sweetheart, Mommy has some urgent business. How about we play with Auntie another day, okay?"
As soon as she finished speaking, not waiting for Jess' reply, she addressed Diana, "We've got to go."
"Okay." Diana watched Teresa and the little one in her arms nodding. "Teresa, about that thing you promised..."
"Don't worry, I've got it covered." Teresa cut her off before she could finish and, holding Jess tightly, swiftly turned to leave.
"Bye, Auntie!" Jess, perched on Teresa's shoulder, looked back and waved at Diana.
Snapped out of a daze from staring at Teresa's departing figure, Diana waved back, smiling, "Bye!"
Diana furrowed her brow in confusion as she observed Teresa quickly leaving without waiting for a proper goodbye. Something seemed off about Teresa's behavior, but Diana couldn't quite figure out what it was. Perhaps Teresa was just in a hurry, explaining her abrupt departure without any additional words or offering a ride home.Diana furrowed her brow in confusion as she watched Teresa hastily exit without waiting for her to say goodbye fully. What was up with Teresa? Her actions felt off.
But in the moment, Diana couldn't quite pinpoint what was strange. Maybe Teresa was just in a real rush, and that's why she left so abruptly, without saying anything extra, let alone offering a ride home.
And that phrase Teresa blurted out, "I've got it covered" – why did it sound so odd? Teresa wasn't one to make promises lightly; she never boasted about handling things before they were done.
This was really different from Teresa's style.
Perhaps Teresa had an emergency and was just too hurried.
Since Teresa and Jess had already left, Diana felt no point in staying. She grabbed her purse and went to the coat rack by the door to collect her coat, ready to leave.
It was only then that she noticed Teresa's coat still hanging there, forgotten.
That girl, in all likelihood, must've been too frantic with whatever urgent matter was at hand – otherwise, why would she forget her coat? She was never one to be so forgetful.
Quickly slipping into her coat, Diana grabbed Teresa's and hurried outside to catch her.
By the time Diana reached downstairs, Teresa was already in her car, which was now several yards down the street.
What could be so urgent?
"Diana, that's the Missus's coat, isn't it?" The club manager, noticing Diana clutching a coat and chasing after someone who was already gone, came over with a smile and asked.
Diana nodded at the club manager. "Yes, it's Teresa's."
"Why don't you hand over Miss's coat to me? I'll have someone return it later," the manager said with a genial smile.
Diana hesitated for a moment before agreeing. She handed Teresa's overcoat to the manager and then left to fetch her car.
It wasn't even thirty minutes after Teresa and Diana had left when a sleek black Rolls-Royce pulled up in front of the club. Gabriel stepped out of the vehicle.
Upon hearing the news, the club manager quickly rushed outside to greet him.
"Gabriel, good evening! Are you meeting someone tonight?" asked the manager with an obsequious grin.
"Which room is my sweetheart in? Take me to her," Gabriel said coolly, barely glancing at the manager as he strode towards the elevator.
"Your Miss?" The manager yelled out in surprise. "Gabriel, Miss left nearly thirty minutes ago. Didn't she tell you?"
"She's gone already?" Gabriel paused, visibly surprised.
He had planned to pick her up after his dinner meeting.
Besides, Teresa had mentioned it had been a long time since she saw Diana, and with the kid around, there should have been plenty to talk about. How could she have left so promptly and half an hour ago at that?
"Yes, Miss seemed to be in a hurry for some urgent matter. She even left her coat behind." The manager looked at Gabriel, paused, then asked with a smile, "Gabriel, do you wish to leave now, or...?"
"Bring me my sweetheart's coat," Gabriel instructed flatly, then pulled out his phone to call Teresa.
