Cold Husband Burning Regret: The Divorce He Couldn't Handle novel Chapter 30

She stared at the message on her screen, hesitating before replying.

Her phone started ringing.

On the display, the contact name still read "Husband"—she'd never changed it. Seeing those letters made her lose her focus for a moment.

Evander had never reached out to her first, not in the old days.

But somewhere along the line, that changed. Now he not only messaged her, he actually called.

Charlotte answered, holding the phone to her ear. Her tone was distant, almost formal. "Mr. Howard, is there something you need?"

She heard the flick of a lighter on the other end; he must have been smoking. His voice was low, lazy, edged with impatience. "I told you to meet me at the parking garage. Didn't you see my message?"

"Miss Winthrop is here with you. If you need something, you can ask her," Charlotte said, ready to hang up.

He let out a short, humorless laugh. "Now that you've got Jonathan backing you, you're feeling pretty bold, aren't you?"

Her brow furrowed. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means exactly what it sounds like." Evander leaned against his car, cigarette between his fingers, absently playing with a metal lighter. "My patience isn't endless."

Charlotte didn't bother replying. She ended the call.

She made her way to the underground garage, and the first thing she saw was Evander—perfectly put-together, handsome as ever.

He'd always looked impeccable. Flawless.

She used to love that face so much.

Now, all she felt was resentment.

She stopped in front of him, her expression carefully neutral. She got straight to the point. "You fired Hiram's defense attorney. Why?"

Evander crushed his cigarette underfoot, lifting his gaze to her. "I told you to stay away from Tricia."

Charlotte's heart was cold, unmoved.

She'd already guessed the reason.

She just never thought—

"You're going back on your promise to me, just because of Tricia? I've never gone out of my way to provoke her. She's the one who keeps coming after me!"

"Let's not talk about her right now." His eyes darkened; he paused for half a beat before continuing, "Stay away from Jonathan. The Howard family doesn't tolerate scandal—not from its future daughter-in-law."

The words hit her like shards of glass, slicing into her heart.

All he cared about was the Howard family's reputation—and Tricia's.

"What you just said—"

"Uncle!"

Hans came running straight for Evander, latching onto his leg.

Evander seemed to snap back to himself, letting go of Charlotte and resting his palm on Hans's head, voice warm with affection. "What are you doing down here?"

Hans grinned. "Mom and I have been waiting for you forever! We got worried, so we came to find you!"

Tricia joined them, standing beside Evander. She glanced at Charlotte, her gaze sharp as a knife. "Dr. Sterling, you're here too? Where's Mr. Pembroke? Didn't he come with you?"

She'd seen Evander grab Charlotte's arm just now, every detail burned into her memory.

The look in her eyes was pure venom.

The man who used to love her with everything he had, snatched away by some woman—how could she allow that?

She would never let Evander slip out of her grasp.

Charlotte met her gaze, face expressionless. "Is it any of your business?"

"Dr. Sterling, I know you're still upset about the other day. If you're angry that I was the reason you got suspended, I can talk to the board for you, help you get back to the hospital sooner."