Cold Husband Burning Regret: The Divorce He Couldn't Handle novel Chapter 168

Rachel invited Jonathan to stay for lunch, and he accepted without hesitation. She headed off to the kitchen to prepare the meal, purposefully leaving the living room to the two of them. Still, she kept half an ear on the conversation drifting in from the other room.

Jonathan took a sip of his tea and noticed Charlotte’s distant expression. With a gentle smile, he said, “Don’t worry. If those women come around again to bother you or your mother, just let me know. I’ll be there.”

Charlotte snapped out of her thoughts. “But I don’t want to trouble you.”

“It’s no trouble at all,” Jonathan replied, setting his teacup down. “Anything that concerns you is never a bother.”

Charlotte shifted a little, feeling uneasy. Was she reading too much into it, or was he almost… confessing something to her?

Jonathan seemed to pick up on her discomfort. He traced the rim of his cup in silence, wondering if he’d startled her.

Just then, Charlotte’s phone vibrated.

She glanced at the screen. It was Evander.

She declined the call. But before she could set the phone aside, the doorbell rang.

Charlotte’s grip tightened around her phone, and her expression changed. Could it be—

Rachel came out of the kitchen, drying her hands. Jonathan stood up. “Let me get it, Mrs. Sterling.”

He opened the door. There, standing on the porch, was none other than Evander himself.

Their eyes met, and the air tensed instantly.

Evander’s lips curled into a cold, mocking smile. “Mr. Pembroke, you seem to have plenty of free time.”

Jonathan matched his tone with a polite smile. “Not nearly as much as you, Mr. Howard.”

Evander’s gaze slid past him, landing on Charlotte, then shifted to Rachel, whose face had grown tense. “It seems my mother-in-law isn’t too pleased to see me.”

Rachel clutched her apron, forcing herself to be polite. “Not at all, Mr. Howard. You’re always welcome here.”

Evander frowned at the formality. He clearly didn’t care for it. “Charlotte and I aren’t divorced yet. Is it really appropriate to call me ‘Mr. Howard’?”

Rachel hesitated, about to respond, but Charlotte interjected, “Evander, did you come here for something?”

“Do I need a reason to visit?” His dark eyes flicked over her. “Or are you just worried I’m interrupting your search for a new family?”

“You—”

“If you’re so willing, Mr. Howard,” Jonathan cut in, his meaning clear, “why not just grant Lottie the divorce? After all, Miss Winthrop is still waiting for you.”

Before the words had fully left Jonathan’s lips, Evander grabbed him by the collar, his knuckles turning white with anger. His eyes were icy. “Don’t you think you’re meddling a bit too much, Mr. Pembroke?”

Evander walked over to Charlotte and put an arm around her shoulders. “No need to trouble yourself with my wife, Mr. Pembroke.”

Jonathan’s clenched fists slowly relaxed. “Forgive the intrusion.”

He turned and left.

“Jonathan…” Rachel started to call after him, but with Evander still there, she hesitated, afraid of making things worse.

Jonathan hadn’t been gone long when Natalie arrived, accompanied by four bodyguards and two housekeepers. She nodded to Rachel and Charlotte.

Rachel looked confused. “What’s all this?”

Evander tightened his arm around Charlotte, who still seemed lost in thought, and addressed Rachel. “With just you and Charlotte here, she worries. To avoid any repeats of today’s incident, they’ll be here from now on to keep you both safe. They’ll follow your instructions.”

“Thank you for your concern, Mr. Howard…” Rachel replied, though she sounded more uneasy than grateful.

Evander didn’t answer, his gaze settling on Charlotte’s unreadable face. Seeing her so indifferent, the trace of a smile faded from his lips.

The lunch that might have been pleasant was completely ruined by Evander’s arrival. Charlotte didn’t even stay to eat with her mother; Evander whisked her away before she had the chance.

On the drive back, Charlotte sat in stony silence, her eyes fixed on the world passing by outside the window.