Cold Husband Burning Regret: The Divorce He Couldn't Handle novel Chapter 136

Maybe feeling her pride had taken a hit, Abigail finally dropped the façade. “And who are you, a kid, to question me? So what if I did it? He’s my son—I’ll do whatever I want with him!”

“Today, what belongs to my boy—whether you hand it over or not—you’re giving it up either way!”

Before anyone could react, Charlotte slapped Abigail hard across the face.

The blow landed so suddenly that the whole room froze in shock.

“Charlotte, are you out of your mind?” Alistair shouted, staring at her.

“Oh, I’m out of my mind, all right.” Charlotte whipped a paring knife from her pocket, grinning as she leveled it at them. “Anyone who tries to take another step—well, they’ll find out just how crazy I can get.”

Alistair’s expression flickered with unease. “Charlotte, let’s talk this through. There’s no need for knives.”

“What, you’re scared of a little girl?” Alistair’s wife scoffed, refusing to back down. “What’s she gonna do, stab me?”

“Adelaide, you seem to have forgotten what I do for a living.” Charlotte spun the knife expertly between her fingers. “I’m a doctor. Trust me, I know exactly how to make someone wish they were dead—without actually killing them.”

She tilted her head, eyes cold. “And since there are no cameras here, your word against mine won’t hold up in court. Maybe I should start with you, Adelaide.”

Charlotte lunged forward, knife poised.

Alistair’s wife shrieked and stumbled back, her face drained of color. “She’s lost it! She’s completely insane!”

“Let’s go—now!” Alistair barked, his bravado gone. Fearing things would spiral out of control, he grabbed his wife and hurried the others out of the house.

Darleen paused at the doorway, glancing back at Charlotte and her mother. She sighed heavily before leaving.

At last, the funeral parlor was quiet again.

“Lottie.” Rachel called softly from behind, eyes rimmed with red. “This is all my fault. I dragged you into this mess.”

Just deciding to leave Evander had taken her half a year. She’d been struggling, trapped in that marriage.

And yet, as her mother, knowing how much Charlotte suffered, she’d still asked her to stay a little longer, for her brother’s sake…

The thought stung so badly that Rachel slapped herself across the face.

“Mom!” Charlotte rushed to stop her. “What are you doing?”

“I failed you, Lottie. I’m so sorry—I don’t deserve forgiveness!”

Rachel started to drop to her knees, but Charlotte caught her in a tight hug. “Don’t! Please, Mom, I don’t blame you!”

Rachel broke down in her arms, wracked with sobs and guilt.

At that moment, Jonathan strolled into the parlor, feigning casual interest. “Is everything all right in here?”