Cold Husband Burning Regret: The Divorce He Couldn't Handle novel Chapter 128

Night had settled deep over the city, the soft golden glow from inside the restaurant misting the windows, blurring where warmth met the cold blue tones of the street outside, as if someone had layered a gentle filter over the world.

Charlotte and Jonathan had just about finished their dinner. Charlotte signaled the waiter and asked for the check.

After the bill was settled, Jonathan laced his fingers and rested his chin on them, a playful glint in his eyes. “See? I wasn’t lying this time. I let you treat me tonight.”

Charlotte smiled, satisfied. “It felt good.”

They left the restaurant together, and Jonathan, ever the gentleman, hurried ahead to open the door for her.

She didn’t forget to thank him.

Walking a step behind her, Jonathan glanced down at his phone. “Where did you park?”

“There weren’t any spots left, so I just left it by that downhill turn up ahead.”

“I’ll walk you over.”

Charlotte turned to protest, but before she could say a word, a motorcycle shot out from a side street not far ahead.

“Watch out.” Jonathan’s hand shot out, pulling her back. She stumbled, colliding against his chest, breath caught in her throat.

The motorcycle whipped past them, so close she still felt the rush of wind tearing by.

It happened in a blur.

Charlotte’s heart hammered as she tried to steady herself. Jonathan’s voice came from above her, calm but concerned. “Are you okay? Did it scare you?”

She snapped out of her daze, stepping back from his arms, face a little pale. “Yeah, that really startled me… Good thing you pulled me back.”

Jonathan looked over his shoulder in the direction the motorcycle disappeared. “Kids these days. No sense of danger.”

“I’m fine, really. I’m almost there.” Charlotte steadied herself, slinging her purse over her shoulder. “You don’t need to walk me the rest of the way. I’ll be fine.”

Jonathan nodded. “Then I’ll watch you go, just to be sure.”

Charlotte walked to her parked car, slid into the driver’s seat, and glanced once more out the window before driving away.

Jonathan stood on the sidewalk, watching her car disappear from view. Only then did he lower his eyes to check a message on his phone.

…

Charlotte pushed open the bedroom door just as Evander stepped out of the bathroom.

He wore only a towel slung low around his waist, his upper body bare and glistening with water.

Only then did Charlotte realize he’d never used the hair dryer at home. No wonder, every time she put it away, it was always in exactly the same spot the next time she needed it.

She stepped into the bedroom and crossed to the walk-in closet.

The hair dryer was on the third shelf.

She handed it to him and left without another word.

That was the extent of their conversation.

The next morning, Charlotte was still half-asleep when her phone rang. It was her attorney. She answered groggily, not fully awake until she heard the word: photos.

Charlotte’s eyes flew open. She sat upright. “Photos?”

“Mrs. Howard, you’re trending online. Even though your marriage to Mr. Howard was private, being photographed in a compromising situation before your divorce is finalized could hurt your case.”

Charlotte opened her phone and checked the trending topics.

There it was: a photo of her from the night before, nearly run down by a motorcycle, caught as Jonathan pulled her to safety—right as she fell into his arms.

The headline read: #MrPembroke’sRumoredGirlfriendRevealed#.