Cold Husband Burning Regret: The Divorce He Couldn't Handle novel Chapter 195

Jonathan hesitated for a moment, then declined the call.

“Not answering?” Charlotte asked, puzzled, though she had no idea who was trying to reach him.

He gave a small smile and slipped his phone back into his pocket. “Probably just a telemarketer.”

But as the phone began to vibrate again, Jonathan gripped it tightly, conflicted and uneasy.

He knew he couldn’t answer.

The more Rachel trusted him, the more kindness she showed, the softer his heart would become when it came to her and her daughter.

What he needed was Evander’s weakness—not to create one of his own.

Even if, perhaps, he really was starting to care about Charlotte.

But when it came down to family or Charlotte, he would always choose family.

They didn’t stay together long before parting ways.

Charlotte had just climbed into her car when her phone rang. It was Rachel.

“Why isn’t Jonathan answering my calls? I’ve tried several times. Is he busy?” Rachel’s voice held a note of concern.

Charlotte paused. “When did you call him?”

“About ten minutes ago.”

Charlotte suddenly remembered Jonathan’s earlier gesture, declining that call. She’d even asked him, “Why aren’t you picking up?”

“I’m still with Hiram. I was just thinking, if Jonathan wasn’t busy, maybe he could give me a ride. Do you think I’m bothering him, always asking for help?”

Hearing her mother’s words, Charlotte felt a sharp pang in her chest.

After Xavier passed away, Jonathan had helped them so much. To her mother, he was almost like a son. But Charlotte realized that, to Jonathan, they were just outsiders—barely even distant relatives.

If he chose to help, it was out of kindness, not obligation. He didn’t owe them anything.

One was a nurse. The other—Tricia.

Tricia was examining her perfectly manicured nails, the polish gleaming under the fluorescent lights. “Hiram’s practically a vegetable, isn’t he? I can’t get in myself, so you’ll have to handle it.”

The nurse looked terrified. “Miss Winthrop, if anyone finds out, I’ll go to prison!”

“You won’t. All you have to do is inject a little bit of the beta blocker each day. Nothing will happen right away. By the time anyone notices heart failure, dozens of nurses will have been in and out of that room. I’ll make sure Mr. Pembroke finds someone else to take the fall.”

“If I can get rid of Hiram, I’ll finally teach Charlotte what happens when you cross me—”

Bang! The door slammed open.

Tricia and the nurse spun around, their faces draining of color at the sight of Rachel.

Especially Tricia. “You—how did you—”

Rachel’s whole body shook with rage, her eyes rimmed red. “Not just my husband, but my son too—was it you? Tricia, how could you be so cruel? How could you do something like this?”