Cold Husband Burning Regret: The Divorce He Couldn't Handle novel Chapter 256

Professor Aldridge stood right beside Old Mr. Carstairs, and hearing the exchange, he glanced at Charlotte—yes, she was indeed the same young woman he’d seen before.

He acknowledged that, during his last meeting with Evander in London, Charlotte had been by Evander’s side. As these words were spoken, everyone except Old Mr. Carstairs began whispering among themselves.

Nepotism wasn’t unheard of, but it was usually reserved for circles of power. In academia, merit mattered far more than connections; background and relationships might help widen one’s network, but they couldn’t substitute for genuine talent.

Especially for people like Old Mr. Carstairs and Professor Aldridge—they had no use for empty titles or unqualified protégés.

Just as most assumed Charlotte would be dismissed, Old Mr. Carstairs absentmindedly turned the prayer beads around his wrist, then spoke to Professor Aldridge. “Didn’t you say you wanted to meet my protégé?”

Professor Aldridge nodded. “That’s right.”

Old Mr. Carstairs beckoned Charlotte to his side and placed a hand gently on her shoulder. “This is my student—Charlotte.”

A wave of shock rippled through the crowd.

Tricia’s face drained of color, turning from pale green to an ashen white. She looked utterly stricken.

Charlotte? Old Mr. Carstairs’s student?

Impossible.

Professor Aldridge was taken aback. “My word, she’s really your protégé?”

“Without a doubt,” Old Mr. Carstairs replied, a note of pride warming his usually reserved tone. “I chose her myself—she’s the most gifted young surgeon I’ve ever come across.”

Tricia’s hands balled into fists. At that moment, both Professor Aldridge and Old Mr. Carstairs had eyes only for Charlotte—this was not the outcome Tricia had envisioned.

Swallowing the sting from the slap she’d received earlier, Tricia bit her lip. “Charlotte, if you’re Professor Carstairs’s student, why didn’t you say so sooner? You let us misunderstand—”

“Whether or not I’m Professor Carstairs’s student hardly needs Miss Winthrop’s approval, does it?” Charlotte replied coolly, giving her not the slightest courtesy.

The onlookers murmured among themselves.

“What’s her problem? Miss Winthrop just said she didn’t know Charlotte was Professor Carstairs’s student, that’s why there was a conflict. Charlotte could at least show some grace.”

“With Professor Carstairs backing her, what’s she got to be afraid of?”

“But Miss Winthrop didn’t even apologize! And besides, not knowing someone’s credentials doesn’t give you the right to insult them, does it?”

Tricia’s eyes rimmed red, tears threatening. “Professor Aldridge, I’ve let you down. I never thought I’d be so unwelcome here…”

Professor Aldridge, unaware of the deeper grudge between Tricia and Charlotte, tried to smooth things over with Old Mr. Carstairs.

Charlotte scoffed, her face cold. “You want me to shake hands and make peace with a woman who broke up my marriage and destroyed my family? I’d sooner shovel muck with my bare hands.”

With that, she looped her arm through Old Mr. Carstairs’s. “I’m sorry, Professor, but I just can’t do it.”

Charlotte snapped back to the present, slipped her arm through his, and walked down the marble steps with him. “Does it matter? What matters is, she’s the reason my parents are dead.”

“You didn’t go to the police?”

“There was no evidence.”

Charlotte’s gaze dropped. “She had people cleaning up after her. Even if I went to the police, she’d be out in no time.”

Old Mr. Carstairs stopped, his expression grave. “You suffered all this in London, and you didn’t think to tell me?”

She pressed her lips together. “I didn’t want to trouble you.”

He knew her character well. Old Mr. Carstairs closed his eyes and took a deep breath before speaking. “I thought that, with Rosemary in the Howard family, at least you’d have someone to stand up for you. I never imagined things would turn out this way. I blame myself—I’ve been so absorbed in my work, I didn’t keep up with your news.”

“Professor, I never wanted you to worry about me. Besides, didn’t you ask Jonathan to look after me? I couldn’t possibly trouble you any further.”

Old Mr. Carstairs was momentarily taken aback. “I asked Jonathan to look after you?”

Charlotte looked puzzled. “Didn’t you?”

Seeing the professor fall silent, lost in thought, Charlotte immediately understood.