Cold Husband Burning Regret: The Divorce He Couldn't Handle novel Chapter 334

“No.”

Evander handed her the fishing rod. “Let me show you.”

“I don’t need your help.” Charlotte took the rod, her eyes on Wesley as he fiddled with the bait, quietly copying his every move.

But patience was not her strong suit. After nearly twenty minutes of waiting with no action on the bobber, she was ready to give up.

Evander glanced at his watch. “Already running out of patience?”

“Not all of us have as much free time as you, Mr. Howard.”

“Am I really the only one here with nothing to do?” Evander’s gaze slid over to Wesley. “Surely Mr. Rayburn has more time on his hands than I do.”

Wesley unscrewed the cap off his water bottle. “I don’t have a job. Do you really want to compare schedules with me, Mr. Howard?”

Evander watched the gentle ripples on the lake. “So you’re not planning to take over the family business, Mr. Rayburn? Are you grooming Miss Rayburn for the role instead?”

Charlotte perked up, listening in.

Wesley paused, bottle in hand. “You’re awfully interested in our family matters, aren’t you?”

Evander smiled faintly. “Just curious. No one’s seen the Rayburn heiress in decades, and now everyone’s supposed to believe she’s real just because of a trinket and a DNA test?”

Wesley heard the implication in his words and fell silent.

Charlotte’s bobber finally twitched.

Her eyes lit up. “I got a bite!”

She reeled in, hauling out a medium-sized silver carp, its mouth caught on the hook as it thrashed and splashed.

Julian gaped. “Is this what they call beginner’s luck?”

With fishing pros like these around, anyone else would have packed up and gone home.

Wesley looked at her. “You really are lucky.”

She let the fish slip back into the water. “Shame. This kind’s all bones and tastes muddy—not worth eating.”

Evander, catching her rare good mood, couldn’t help the slight smile tugging at his lips. He watched her, eyes never leaving her face.

Wesley followed his gaze to Charlotte.

Charlotte was immune to both persuasion and pressure; he’d tried every approach and none had worked. He finally accepted that forcing things would get him nowhere.

As long as he and Charlotte were still married, no one else would have a chance. He still had a shot.

…

Wesley had barely stepped into the villa when his father called him into the bedroom.

Waiting until the housekeeper had closed the door behind her, Wesley spoke. “You wanted to see me, Dad?”

Sean hesitated. “That young woman from last time—I was wrong about her. Could you apologize to her for me?”

“I already have.”

Sean sighed. “I let your sister get in my head that day, and I acted rashly.” His expression soured at the thought. “The way she’s turned out, honestly, I don’t know how to deal with her anymore.”

What should have been a joyful family reunion had soured in just a few short days. Sean had planned to take his daughter to Eldermere City soon, to introduce her to the family.

But in no time at all, Loretta’s true colors had begun to show. You can learn a lot about a person’s character from their everyday behavior, Sean thought—and what he’d seen wasn’t encouraging.