Cold Husband Burning Regret: The Divorce He Couldn't Handle novel Chapter 348

Miranda watched her son—usually so proud and unyielding—wilt with heartbreak over a woman, and her feelings were a tangled mess. She simply couldn’t bear to see her child pay such a terrible price for love ever again.

Meanwhile, Genevieve stormed into the house, scowling. Noticing her daughter’s expression, Ilse looked up, puzzled. “Weren’t you going to see that Rayburn girl?”

“I did,” Genevieve huffed, flopping onto the couch and folding her arms. “That woman’s completely nuts!”

Ilse adjusted her shawl and walked over. “What do you mean?”

Genevieve got up and moved to her mother’s side. “You don’t even know, Mom. Miss Rayburn is not just clueless, she’s absolutely brainless. And the way she dresses—it’s just appalling. There’s nothing ladylike about her at all!”

“She’s the Rayburns’ daughter who’s been missing for years. It’s not like she grew up in their family. Isn’t it normal she’s a little ignorant?” Ilse replied.

As long as she’s a Rayburn, once the family acknowledges her, they’ll cover for her, no matter how little she knows.

Genevieve shot her mother a look. “But she’s delusional! She actually thinks she can take credit for saving my brother’s life! Grandma and Auntie both know it was Charlotte, but somehow she has the nerve to claim it was her. How shameless can you get?”

Ilse was momentarily stunned.

She’d expected Miss Rayburn’s ignorance to be a matter of inexperience, but delusions?

Could the Rayburns’ long-lost daughter really be this much of a disaster?

But honestly, Ilse didn’t much care anymore.

“Genevieve, she’s their real daughter. No matter what, she’ll end up your sister-in-law.”

“But do we really want an idiot like that marrying my brother?”

Ilse’s face darkened. “Evander is Evander, and you are you. You’re not even full siblings. If he wants to marry an idiot, what does that have to do with you? Besides, it’s better for us if the Rayburn girl isn’t too sharp! That way, we just sweet-talk her a little, and she’ll be putty in our hands. And don’t forget—we’ll need her to put in a good word for you with Mr. Rayburn.”

Before Genevieve could respond, Ilse pressed on, her tone serious. “Genevieve, I’m thinking of your future. Your father and your uncle are both your grandmother’s sons, but you know how she plays favorites. If we don’t fight for ourselves, do you really think, once your uncle’s wife takes over after Grandma’s gone, the Howard family will still listen to us?”

Genevieve fell silent, unsure whether her mother was truly looking out for her—or just for herself.

***

At a quiet restaurant, Charlotte and Wesley were having dinner when her phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen—a number from Riverspire City.

“Send me your location.”

“Alright.”

After she hung up, Wesley looked up. “Carstairs… from Riverspire City, right?”

She nodded.

He teased, “Didn’t know my little sister was so popular.”

“Oh, stop it. He’s just a colleague,” Charlotte said, ducking her head to sip her soup.

Wesley just smiled and let it go.

Not long after, Judd arrived at the restaurant.

It was Wesley’s first time meeting Judd. Rising slowly, he extended his hand. “Mr. Carstairs, I’ve heard so much about you. I’m Charlotte’s brother.”