Cold Husband Burning Regret: The Divorce He Couldn't Handle novel Chapter 199

Jonathan was completely caught off guard by the blow, sent sprawling by Evander’s force.

That was when Charlotte snapped out of her shock and stepped between them, blocking Evander’s path. “What the hell are you doing? Why are you hitting him?”

Evander yanked his tie loose, his shirt now missing a button from the scuffle, exposing a broad, muscular chest that rose and fell with his rapid breaths. “So you actually care about him?” he shot back.

Jonathan, wiping blood from his lip as he sat up, glared at him. “Mr. Howard, what’s that supposed to mean?”

“Still playing dumb, Mr. Pembroke?” Evander flexed his wrist, unbothered. “Mrs. Fontaine is with you, isn’t she? You’ve gone to great lengths to keep my people from finding her.”

Charlotte’s gaze snapped to Jonathan, her brow creased. “Is Mrs. Fontaine with you?”

Jonathan faltered, then admitted, “I’ll explain everything to you later—”

“I don’t think explanations are necessary,” Evander cut in coldly. “If you really cared about what happened to Hiram, you would’ve handed her over long ago. Clearly, you never intended to help her at all.”

Charlotte pressed her lips together, her face tense.

It was true—what happened to Hiram in prison was connected to Mrs. Fontaine. But Charlotte’s real concern was always the person pulling the strings behind Mrs. Fontaine. Jonathan had figured this out long before, yet instead of exposing Mrs. Fontaine, he’d chosen to shield her.

The realization left Charlotte pale. “Were you involved in all of this too?”

Jonathan’s voice rose, desperate. “Charlotte, I can explain! Just listen—!”

But Charlotte jerked away from him, crossing her arms in front of her in a halting gesture. “Enough. That’s enough. I don’t know who’s lying and who’s telling the truth anymore. I don’t know how much longer you both plan to keep playing games with me. So right now, I don’t trust either of you!”

She turned without another word and ran, the only thought in her mind to get as far away from them as possible.

Jonathan glared at Evander, a bitter laugh escaping him. “Are you happy now?”

Evander absently traced the face of his watch, his expression unreadable. “That’s a question you ought to ask yourself.” He paused beside Jonathan, his tone layered with meaning. “You knew she was connected to me. You approached her deliberately—did it never occur to you she’d find out?”

Only eight days left. Just eight more days, and the three of them could leave together.

She stood outside the door for a long time. The moment she stepped inside, a hard object slammed into the back of her neck, and everything went black.

***

When Charlotte finally came to, her wrists and ankles were bound, and she was sitting on a massive crimson bed. Someone had even changed her into a bright red wedding dress.

Alistair’s wife, Adelaide, entered the room with a smile. “Lottie, you’re awake?”

“Adelaide?” Charlotte struggled against her restraints, panic rising. “What are you doing? Forced marriage is illegal!”

Adelaide laughed, settling herself beside Charlotte and resting a heavy hand on her shoulder. “We’ve already accepted the dowry, darling. The police won’t help you now.”

Charlotte’s eyes filled with tears of anger. “You knew she was hurt—none of you even bothered to ask! What does my dad mean to you people, anyway?”