Cold Husband Burning Regret: The Divorce He Couldn't Handle novel Chapter 18

"Sorry…"

The words slipped out before she realized who was standing beside her.

But she didn't look up.

She simply put some distance between herself and the man, brows furrowed in discomfort.

She knew it was probably Evander who'd just grabbed her arm.

But she had no idea why.

Then again, she didn't want to know. She refused to let herself nurture any more foolish hopes.

Hopes that maybe—

He might actually have feelings for her.

When the elevator reached the top floor, everyone filed out.

Charlotte didn't spare Evander a glance, instead falling in step behind Jonathan.

The grand ballroom was already set, every seat arranged in advance. Charlotte's seat was right next to Jonathan's.

As for Hans, he ended up sitting beside Evander.

Evander wasn't even from the medical field—his invitation came courtesy of a generous donation of equipment to the hospital.

Whenever he felt like attending, the big shots in the medical community would practically trip over themselves to send him invitations.

Across the room, Tricia turned to glance at Charlotte's table, catching the sight of Charlotte and Jonathan chatting quietly. A flash of coldness crossed her eyes.

"Evander, don't you think Dr. Sterling and Mr. Pembroke make quite a pair?"

She watched him carefully as she asked, her tone deliberately probing.

Evander barely looked up from his phone. "Charlotte isn't good enough for him."

Not good enough…

Even with his dismissive answer, Tricia felt uneasy.

Charlotte exchanged a few more words with Jonathan when her phone suddenly began to vibrate.

She picked it up and froze.

A message from Evander.

"So, setting your sights on Jonathan? Ready to become Mrs. Pembroke?"

Charlotte stared at the screen, biting her lip.

Was he mocking her?

Or…

Wait. Evander had never bothered to text her over something so trivial.

Even if she were interested in another man, would Evander care?

But the message—why did it sound almost… jealous?

Jealous?

Could that be?

Would he ever?

She lifted her head, looking toward Evander's table, only to see him gently brushing Tricia's hair aside.

As she spoke, her tone turned coy, her whole demeanor radiating smug satisfaction.

Charlotte stood frozen, momentarily rendered speechless.

Her reflection in the mirror looked pale as a ghost.

"Dr. Sterling, are you alright?" Tricia stepped forward as if to steady her, slipping a bracelet into Charlotte's purse in the process.

She'd said all that just to gauge Charlotte's reaction, and now she was nearly certain—something was definitely going on between Charlotte and Evander.

She'd never let another woman win him over.

Snapping back to herself, Charlotte gently removed Tricia's hand, her voice composed. "I'm fine. Just remembered something, that's all."

She turned and entered one of the stalls.

Her mind buzzed with static.

She'd suspected they might've slept together, but hearing it aloud felt far crueler than anything she'd imagined.

He'd never cared about her feelings, not in that way.

Back then, she'd loved him, so she'd indulged him—even though it hurt every time, she convinced herself it meant something.

She used to think that if he touched her, it must mean he cared, at least a little.

But now, she saw the truth.

For men like him, body and heart, sex and love, were easily separated.

To him, she wasn't a wife—just a convenient outlet for his desires.

God, how foolish she'd been…