Cold Husband Burning Regret: The Divorce He Couldn't Handle novel Chapter 244

“You want to know why I married you?” Charlotte let out a cold laugh. “Back then, I told you it wasn’t about becoming Mrs. Howard, but did you ever believe me? What’s the point of asking me now?”

“It matters,” Evander replied, leaning in so close she could feel the heat of his breath. “At the very least, I want to hear your answer.”

Her face was unreadable, as calm as a still lake. “You want an answer? Fine. I married you for money. That’s it.”

Evander heard the sharpness in her tone and lowered his voice. “That’s not the truth, and we both know it.”

“Or did you really think I married you because I liked you?”

He fell silent, the words hanging heavily between them.

After a while, he asked, “Wasn’t it?”

For a moment, Charlotte hesitated, her gaze flickering away from him. “I made a deal with your grandmother for one reason: to climb the social ladder. My father wanted the Sterling family to rise again, and as his daughter, I needed a powerful, wealthy man to make that happen. Is there something wrong with that?”

Evander studied her quietly, as if searching for cracks in the mask she wore.

For just an instant, Charlotte saw the defeat in his eyes, a kind of empty darkness that seemed to swallow every trace of light.

But she couldn’t afford to waver now. She couldn’t allow herself to feel anything.

“You got the answer you wanted, Evander. Don’t come looking for me again.”

She turned to leave, but his hand shot out, gripping her arm.

She was tired—so tired. “Evander, I don’t want anything anymore. Please, just let me go. Will you?”

“Let you go?” His eyes were bloodshot, voice strained to the breaking point. “And what if I can’t?”

“Evander—”

He cupped the back of her head, pulling her roughly into his arms. “I told you, I’ll only be a widower, never a divorcé. Unless I die, I’m not letting you go.”

Her face changed. “Are you insane?”

“Maybe I am,” he said with a bitter laugh, his hands gentle as he cradled her face. His touch was warm and dry, but it still sent a chill through her.

“The thought of you with someone else drives me mad, Charlotte. Whatever you want, I’ll give it to you.”

She struggled to break free. “I don’t want anything from you!”

Just then, the exam room door swung open.

Judd folded his arms, unbothered. “So what if I’m the other man? All’s fair in love and war, isn’t it?”

“Love?” Evander shot Charlotte a look, his expression unreadable. “Stealing another man’s wife—are you really going to tarnish the Carstairs name your father built?”

Judd shrugged. “Doesn’t bother me.”

Evander turned to Charlotte. “But are you willing to let your mentor take the fall for you?”

Charlotte pressed her lips together, refusing to respond.

Evander always knew exactly where her weak spots were.

Even though Judd was only trying to help.

From the capital to Riverspire City, whenever she got tangled up with Evander, someone always stepped in to rescue her.

But after what happened with Jonathan, she’d learned relying on others, over and over, was pointless.

If she was ever going to get out of this, she’d have to do it herself.