Cold Husband Burning Regret: The Divorce He Couldn't Handle novel Chapter 318

Loretta returned to the capital with Wesley, where Sean and his wife were waiting to welcome their long-lost daughter home in person.

As Loretta stepped out of the car, she hesitated, her cheeks tinged with shyness as she walked toward Mr. and Mrs. Rayburn. Sean’s eyes shone with anticipation. “Go on, say hi,” he prompted gently.

She lowered her gaze, her voice unexpectedly sweet. “Dad. Mom.”

Sean blinked back tears. “Sweetheart, we finally found you.” He guided his wife forward, his voice tender. “Laurinda, look—this is our daughter…”

Loretta gave Mrs. Rayburn a strange look, studying her as if she couldn’t quite believe what she saw.

So beautiful, and yet… something’s not right.

Mrs. Rayburn clutched a doll tightly to her chest. Suddenly, her face twisted, and with a cry she hurled the doll at Loretta. “She’s not—!”

The outburst left everyone frozen: Sean, Wesley, and especially Loretta, who just stood there, stunned by the blow.

“Laurinda!” Sean grabbed his wife’s shoulders, thinking she was having one of her episodes. He tried to soothe her, voice full of patience. “This is our daughter! She’s ours!”

“She’s not!” Mrs. Rayburn’s eyes were wild, her voice thick with panic. “She’s not my daughter! Not her! I want my own daughter!”

“Laurinda…”

“Dad, let me.” Wesley seemed to realize something. He picked up the doll from the floor, walked over, and placed it gently back in his mother’s arms. “Mom, I’ll take you to see your daughter in a few days, okay?”

Mrs. Rayburn clung to the doll, calming down at last. “Okay. I want to see my daughter.”

Once she was settled, Wesley instructed Julian to take her home to rest.

Sean was completely bewildered. “Wesley, what’s the meaning of this? She’s your sister, isn’t she? The DNA results are right there!”

Loretta felt her face drain of color. That scene just now had truly rattled her.

Wasn’t she the heiress of the Rayburn family?

They’d done the DNA test—there was no mistake!

It was all that crazy woman’s fault.

She hurriedly called back, and he answered almost at once.

Forcing a smile, she said, “Professor Aldridge, you were looking for me…”

“Why was your phone off? I’ve been trying to reach you for days.”

“Oh, I’ve just been busy with family stuff lately.”

“Alright,” Professor Aldridge said, his tone turning businesslike. “I want you back on the nanomedicine project.”

Tricia was floored.

She’d been convinced that Evander had blacklisted her for good.

But if that were true, why would Professor Aldridge be calling her now?

Hands trembling, she gripped her phone tighter. “Professor, do you really want me back on the team?” She hesitated, adding carefully, “I’m just worried the Howards won’t exactly welcome me.”