Cold Husband Burning Regret: The Divorce He Couldn't Handle novel Chapter 267

She stiffened for a second, then turned to look at Natalie.

Natalie glanced at Judd, then walked over to her. “Weren’t you looking for the restroom? Mr. Howard asked me to come find you.”

Charlotte nodded, not forgetting to say goodbye to Judd.

Judd watched them walk away, deep in thought.

Just then, a man exited the men’s restroom and stopped beside him. “Sir,” he called.

Judd snapped out of his thoughts and turned. “Let’s go.”

…

Charlotte and Natalie made their way to the parking lot, where Evander was already waiting in the car.

As soon as she got in, the man beside her suddenly leaned over, his presence overwhelming—like a mountain pressing down, leaving her nearly breathless. Suddenly, she felt a cool touch at her neck.

A cold ruby necklace rested against her pale skin.

A smile played in his eyes. “I told you this color suits you.”

She asked, “When can I have my phone back?”

Evander’s smile faded a little as his fingers traced her collarbone. “Your phone’s old. I’ll get you a new one.”

“I’m fine with the one I have.”

She brushed his hand away, but he gently caught hers. “Charlotte, don’t push me away.”

The feelings she’d tried so hard to bury suddenly churned inside her. Hadn’t she been rejected enough already?

She managed to slip her hand free. “Whenever Tricia wanted something, you gave it to her. So you just assume all women want jewelry and designer labels, that we all crave a lavish life, and move on to the next shiny thing when we’re bored, right?”

Evander suddenly froze. “That’s not what I meant.”

“I told you, my old phone works just fine. I don’t need a new one. Evander, if you’re really trying to make things right, you shouldn’t force things on me I don’t even want.”

She turned away to look out the window, ignoring his reaction.

The front seat was silent, and the car filled with a heavy quiet.

She half-expected him to snap at her ingratitude, but instead, he surprised her. “Alright. Then tell me what you do like.”

Charlotte was caught off guard, her head still turned away. “Give me my phone.”

He didn’t agree, but he didn’t refuse either.

After a while, he finally brought her phone closer. Her eyes lit up and she reached for it, but he pulled it back just as quickly.

Charlotte tugged at his arm. “Give it!”

Evander leaned back, and she ended up half-sprawled on top of him.

He wrapped an arm around her, pulling her gently against him. “Give you what?”

Realizing what he was after, she tried to pull away. “The phone.”

“Kiss me, and I’ll give it to you.”

“…”

He dragged himself out of bed and opened the door—only to be tackled to the floor by a bodyguard before he could even see who it was.

The pain jolted him fully awake. Spitting out a mouthful of blood, he looked up and saw Evander step inside. He didn’t need to ask why he was here. “You’re here because of Charlotte, aren’t you?”

Evander sat down on the sofa, calm and unhurried. “You sent me that photo, didn’t you?”

Jonathan let out a short laugh. “So what if I did? You know exactly how you treated Charlotte these last six years. I just wanted to take her away.”

Evander’s expression darkened, his face sharp and commanding. “What makes you think she’d go with you? Weren’t you behind what happened with Hiram and Xavier Sterling?”

Jonathan’s smile faded. “Yeah, Hiram was just a casualty. As for Xavier—I know exactly what kind of father he was. If he’s dead, so be it.”

“I was an accomplice, sure. But you, Evander, you’re no better.”

Jonathan’s face twisted with anger. “Tricia turned out the way she did because you let her. Maybe you didn’t kill Hiram or Xavier, but you’re still the reason the Sterling family fell apart!”

Evander grabbed the heavy glass ashtray from the table and smashed it against Jonathan’s head.

Natalie went pale with shock. The bodyguards stood frozen, not daring to breathe.

Jonathan slumped to the floor, clutching his head as blood streamed down his face. Evander picked up the hotel phone, dialed emergency services, and put it on speaker. “Room 2668, Springbrook Hotel, Willowmere Road. There’s an injured man who needs an ambulance.”

He hung up, stood, and walked out with his men.

Outside the hotel, he stopped by the car, staring down at his bloodstained hand. He took out a handkerchief and wiped it clean.

Jonathan’s words echoed in his mind—Tricia is the way she is because of you; maybe you didn’t kill Hiram or Xavier, but you’re the reason the Sterling family was destroyed.

He stood there for a full minute before moving.