Cold Husband Burning Regret: The Divorce He Couldn't Handle novel Chapter 12

Charlotte was still reeling when, out of the blue, Evander texted her: *I can get you a lawyer—but it depends on how you behave.*

She stared at the message, stunned.

Behave?

What was she supposed to do—make way for Tricia and her son without protest?

Charlotte gazed at the words on her screen for a long time before finally typing a single word: *Okay*.

Meanwhile, after receiving Charlotte's reply, Evander turned to Natalie and instructed her to look into why Hiram had been detained.

Natalie nodded and left, and not long after, Mrs. Howard—Miranda Sutherland—stormed in, swinging her designer handbag like a weapon. "Evander, don't tell me you have a secret child!"

He loosened his tie, looking perfectly unbothered. "A secret child? What are you talking about?"

"Don't play dumb with me!" Miranda slapped a photo onto his desk. In it, Evander and Tricia were pictured picking up Hans from kindergarten.

Evander's expression darkened.

"This is all over the internet now! Everyone's saying you have an illegitimate son. Even Mrs. Whitmore's grandson is telling people that child's father is you!"

Miranda's face was thunderous. "This is an affair, Evander! While you're still married!"

She might not have liked Charlotte, but Charlotte was still the Howard family's daughter-in-law. Now that rumors about a secret child had exploded online, it was a scandal for the whole family.

Evander uncapped his pen and began signing documents, only half-listening. "He's not my son."

"Are you sure?" Miranda eyed him suspiciously.

He barely glanced up. "I'm sure."

He dialed a number. "Tell the PR team to get this off the trending list."

Charlotte, meanwhile, spent her entire day in the hospital, performing back-to-back surgeries with barely a moment to check her phone. By the time she finally left the operating room, it was already afternoon.

She changed out of her scrubs, rubbed her stiff neck, and headed back to her office. As she looked up, she saw a tall figure waiting outside her door.

When she recognized Evander's sharp profile, Charlotte froze for a split second.

What was he doing here?

Probably here to see Tricia, she guessed.

Steeling herself, Charlotte walked over, half-expecting him to ignore her as usual, to walk away the moment she got near.

But this time, Evander stood in the doorway and didn't move.