Cold Husband Burning Regret: The Divorce He Couldn't Handle novel Chapter 349

“So you’re Mr. Rayburn.” Judd shook his hand. “Did you and your sister finally reunite?”

Wesley smiled. “That’s right. Lottie is the Rayburn family’s long-lost treasure. Thank you for looking after her here in Riverspire City, Mr. Carstairs.”

Judd returned the smile. “It was nothing, really.”

Charlotte watched the two men chat like old friends, both at ease and talkative. She couldn’t help being surprised. She’d always assumed Judd was the sharp-tongued, work-obsessed type—apart from his friendships with Gentry and Jonathan, he rarely socialized and hardly ever made small talk.

Partway through, Wesley took a call. Something urgent had come up, and he entrusted Charlotte to Judd’s care.

After Wesley left, Judd offered to drive Charlotte back to her hotel.

When she got out of the car, Judd rolled down the window. “You’re staying at a hotel here in the capital?”

She turned around. “Why not?”

“The Howards didn’t even give you a place of your own?”

Charlotte folded her arms across her chest. “A real home is one you own yourself. If it’s not my place, what difference does it make where I stay?”

Judd laughed. “Fair enough. Whatever you say.”

He watched her walk into the hotel, then picked up his phone and booked a room for himself—at the exact same hotel.

“Mr. Carstairs, there’s only one suite left. Would you like to reserve it?”

Resting his arm on the car window, he replied, “No need. Just put me on the same floor as Miss Sterling.”

Back at Wesley’s family estate, a housekeeper approached him as he walked in, reporting that Genevieve had come by to see Loretta earlier.

Wesley’s expression didn’t change as he stepped into the living room. Loretta greeted him with a bright smile. “Welcome home, big brother—”

He ignored her and headed straight upstairs.

Loretta’s smile faltered, her face darkening with embarrassment at being brushed off.

Upstairs, Julian and Sean were deep in conversation in the study. By the time Wesley opened the door, Julian had already shared the results of his investigation with Sean.

Sean’s face was unreadable, as if he was still trying to process everything he’d just learned.

Wesley stopped at the desk. “I ran into her in Riverspire City.”

“She’s been there all this time?”

So what if Evander had protected her? Surely that made them even now… didn’t it?

She dropped her hand.

“Aren’t you going in to see Mr. Howard?”

Charlotte startled—Natalie had appeared at her side without a sound, her quiet voice echoing in the empty corridor.

Charlotte took a deep breath. “It’s fine… As long as he’s out of danger, that’s enough.”

“Still, you and Mr. Howard are married, after all. It wouldn’t hurt to take a look.”

Charlotte hesitated. After a moment, she finally pushed open the door.

Evander lay on the hospital bed, the dim light casting soft shadows over his pale, gaunt features. His chest rose and fell gently with each breath, but a faint tension knitted his brow—troubled even in his sleep.

Charlotte walked to his side and reached to turn off the bedside lamp.

At that moment, Evander’s eyes slowly opened.