Cold Husband Burning Regret: The Divorce He Couldn't Handle novel Chapter 299

Should she tell Hiram that Tricia was his real sister? That it was his own sister who had driven his family to ruin, step by step?

What a cruel truth that would be for Hiram to hear.

Evander pressed his lips together, drew in a deep breath that made his chest rise, then slowly exhaled. “Have you ever considered that you’re not actually the Sterlings’ biological daughter?”

She answered calmly, “I’ve known that for a long time.”

“For a long time?”

Charlotte stood, unhurried and collected, and faced him directly. “Yes, for a long time. Even though they were only my adoptive parents, I was the reason they were caught up in all of this. They could have survived, if not for me.”

Her composure finally wavered, her eyes reddening as she fought to keep her emotions in check.

Each time Evander heard those words, it felt like a lead weight pressing against his chest, a constant reminder that he was the one who’d set all this in motion.

He was the guilty one.

He stood there, motionless, letting her vent her grief and anger. Only when her trembling had faded a little did he finally speak, his voice hoarse. “I’m sorry.”

He didn’t know what else to say. Apologies were all he had left.

Charlotte faltered, almost letting herself be moved by his regret. She clenched her fists tightly and avoided meeting his sorrowful gaze. “Save your apology for him.”

Evander’s eyes lingered on her face, as if trying to see past her cold mask and catch some flicker of tenderness for him.

After a long silence, he let out a soft, bitter laugh. “Alright.”

…

After fleeing the clinic, Tricia had been holed up in a shabby motel on the outskirts of town, too afraid to set foot anywhere near the city center.

The only person she dared contact was Loretta.

People were greedy. She knew better than to trust a word from Loretta’s mouth.

“Don’t forget, if it weren’t for me, your family wouldn’t have had even a shot at turning your lives around,” Tricia said, her left hand covering the lace glove on her right, contempt flickering in her eyes. “Relax. I don’t want your money. Eight million means nothing to me. I need you to be Evander’s savior, to earn his trust, and to drive a wedge between him and his wife.”

“Mr. Howard… he’s married?”

“What, did you think you had a chance?” Tricia sneered, hooking a finger under Loretta’s chin. “I’ve known him for ten years. We had a stormy, passionate affair for years, and even I never got a real chance. You think you will?”

Loretta said nothing.

Tricia released her, her voice as cold as ever. “Don’t go coveting what was never yours. You’re just an imposter, after all.”

Those last three words—just an imposter—snuffed out whatever hope Loretta had been holding onto.

Because it was true. She was a fake…