Cold Husband Burning Regret: The Divorce He Couldn't Handle novel Chapter 264

"Are you out of your mind?"

"Not as much as you are," Charlotte shot back, her laugh airy and careless. "Aren't you the one locking me up? I'm just cooperating with Mr. Howard."

The moment she reached for him, Evander's muscles tensed into rigid lines beneath her touch.

Her trembling only grew more intense, her body tightening, while Evander, who had been cold and indifferent at first, suddenly resisted her advances. He caught both her wrists, pinning her against his chest. "Enough. Please, can we stop this?"

Charlotte's voice was weak. "You’re the one who locked me up without asking a single question, treating me like some kind of animal—didn’t even let me have my own clothes. And now you want to talk about ‘acting out’?”

Evander’s chest heaved with emotion.

He released her, his voice rough. "I’ll have someone bring you some soup."

Charlotte turned her face away, refusing to answer or even look at him.

Evander left and didn’t come back. Instead, Natalie showed up with a steaming bowl of soup, quietly urging her to eat.

Charlotte closed her eyes, unmoving.

Natalie set the bowl on the table with a gentle sigh. "Ma’am, Mr. Howard just wants to see you be compliant. Whether you mean it or not, at least don’t make yourself miserable."

"The more you put your guard up, the more stubborn he'll get. But if you act like you used to, maybe things will turn out in your favor, hmm?"

Charlotte’s eyes snapped open.

She looked at Natalie, but Natalie, having said her piece, simply walked away.

Charlotte sat in silence for a long time, gaze lingering on the untouched bowl of soup.

…

Three days passed without Charlotte returning to the hospital.

No one seemed to know exactly why.

Gentry hadn’t seen her in days either, and marched straight into Judd’s office. "Why hasn’t Charlotte come in? Is she sick?"

Judd’s hands stilled for a brief moment, but he didn’t reply.

But Gentry had already guessed the reason.

"Professor Carstairs, say something! Weren’t you the one who carried her into the hospital a few days ago?"

Judd lifted his eyes. "You’re asking me? Who am I supposed to ask?"

Hearing the nurse call him, Charlotte blinked and met his gaze.

Evander’s eyes lingered on her. She was always dressed in pale, plain clothes before, but now, in a dark green velvet slip dress, she looked striking and sensual.

He paused in front of her, draping his suit jacket over the back of a chair. "Have you had lunch?"

Before Charlotte could answer, the nurse chimed in, "She’s had a good appetite these past two days."

"Glad to hear it."

He was about to head to the bedroom when Charlotte suddenly reached out and caught his sleeve.

Evander stopped and slowly turned.

She asked, "When can I go back to work?"

She really couldn’t be away from the hospital much longer.

"You want to go back that badly?"

"I’m just colleagues with Professor Carstairs. It’s not what you think." Charlotte’s grip tightened on his sleeve, her lips pressed together. "I never lived with him. I made that up to Natalie."