Charlotte froze, stunned by the tenderness in Evander’s gesture. She’d never imagined he was capable of something so gentle—especially not toward her.
She quickly collected herself and turned away. “When did I ever say I wanted to go to Lake Zurich?”
Evander looked at her. “The first time you mentioned a honeymoon.”
It was just two months after she’d married him.
The memory flickered back to Charlotte. Back then, she was newly his wife, and she’d dreamed of a real honeymoon together.
She’d picked out the perfect place—Lake Zurich in Switzerland. She pictured the two of them sailing across the romantic little towns, hand in hand as they wandered along cobblestone medieval streets, picnicking by the water, soaking in the sun. She’d imagined them touring vineyards, making wine together, and visiting the world-famous Rhine Falls.
Every detail, she had planned. She’d been so happy, so hopeful—until she finally brought it up to him, and he shut her down with cold indifference.
The memory stung, and she felt a prickle at the tip of her nose.
But it wasn’t his words that moved her. It was remembering how small and desperate she used to be, always trying to please someone who didn’t care. That was what hurt.
She let out a quiet, masking laugh. “Well, I don’t want to go to Lake Zurich anymore.”
“Then where do you want to go?”
“Nowhere,” Charlotte replied, meeting his gaze. “I’m fine with work—being a pack mule suits me just fine. No need for a honeymoon. It’s a waste of time and energy.”
She slipped from his arms. “I should get back to work.”
Evander felt as if something heavy pressed against his chest, making it hard to breathe.
Because those were his words—what he’d once said to her. Now, they’d come full circle.
That afternoon, Evander returned to the hospital and asked Natalie to book two first-class tickets to Zurich.
Natalie blinked in surprise. “You’re traveling abroad with Miss Sterling?”
Evander nodded, scrolling through his tablet. “I owe her a honeymoon.”
Charlotte had no idea what was running through the head nurse’s mind. She just greeted her as usual.
“Not worried someone will expose your little affair with Dean Chase?” The head nurse scoffed. Her mother had been wrongly fired, and she’d never let it go. By now, her resentment toward Charlotte had hardened.
Charlotte paused, turning back. “What did you say?”
The head nurse smirked at her confusion. “You really are a good actress. If someone else hadn’t told me, I wouldn’t have believed it. I mean, when people started calling you a homewrecker behind your back, I didn’t buy it. Guess I was wrong.”
She started to walk away, but Charlotte grabbed her arm, using her full name for the first time. “Karin Lynn—who told you all this?”
“Does it matter?” Karin jerked her hand free. “If you don’t want people to know, maybe don’t do it in the first place.”
Charlotte watched her go, frowning.
But it didn’t take her long to figure out who was stirring up trouble behind her back.
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