Cold Husband Burning Regret: The Divorce He Couldn't Handle novel Chapter 288

Wesley suddenly remembered—Charlotte was only the Sterlings’ adopted daughter.

In truth, she was an orphan.

The thought brought an unexpected ache to his heart as she spoke.

He reached out and rested a hand on her shoulder. “Even if I find my real sister, you’ll always be my family.”

Charlotte looked at him and smiled without replying.

After saying goodbye to Wesley, Charlotte took a cab back to her apartment.

She’d barely stepped out of the elevator when she ran into Judd and Evander in the hallway, standing face to face. The tension between them was almost palpable.

It wasn’t until she noticed Evander’s fist clutching the front of Judd’s shirt that she hurried over and pulled him away. “Evander, what are you doing?”

Judd smoothed the wrinkles from his collar, shooting Evander a look. “Really, Mr. Howard, you’re awfully quick to lose your temper.”

Evander’s jaw tensed, his expression thunderous. “And you, Mr. Carstairs, were hardly polite just now.”

“I only asked a question—how is that impolite?”

“Is that really your place to ask?”

“So, what’s the problem—are you unwilling to answer, or just afraid to?”

“Enough!” Charlotte stepped between them, pushing them apart. “If you want to argue, take it downstairs. Don’t do it in front of me!”

Both men fell silent, the standoff broken.

Charlotte unlocked her door and stepped inside, but before she could close it, she heard shuffling behind her. She turned to see the two of them crowding the doorway, neither willing to let the other go first.

What on earth…?

“What are you two doing?”

Judd glanced at her. “Your hand’s injured. I came to make you dinner.”

Evander scoffed. “She doesn’t need you. I’m here—she’ll be just fine.”

“If you’d been taking good care of her, maybe your ex wouldn’t have had a chance to hurt her.”

“And where were you when your mother was being manipulated by Tricia?”

Charlotte snatched the grocery bags from their hands, shoved them both out, and closed the door firmly behind them.

The next day, Charlotte returned to the hospital.

Everyone in her department already knew about her injured right hand, and she could hear whispers—whether she’d ever be able to handle a scalpel again.

She paid them little mind.

Back in her office, Gentry clasped his hands together, looking almost comically earnest as he apologized. Apparently, he’d been gossiping with Mrs. Carstairs and ended up causing a misunderstanding.

Charlotte frowned. “A misunderstanding about what?”

“Mrs. Carstairs was asking me about Professor Carstairs, and I made a joke—I said he might have found someone he likes. But I never said it was you! Now Mrs. Carstairs thinks the woman he likes is that Tricia…”

So that’s how it happened.

Charlotte realized that Tricia had managed to manipulate Mrs. Carstairs because Gentry’s offhand comment made her think Tricia was Judd’s new love interest.

“Princess, please forgive me! I talk too much—I’ll slap myself twice and never gossip again!”

Charlotte gave him a faint smile. “You’re dismissed.”

“At once, Your Grace!” Gentry made an exaggerated bow and backed out of the office, playing the part to the end.