Cold Husband Burning Regret: The Divorce He Couldn't Handle novel Chapter 398

When Charlotte let herself into the apartment with the spare key, the living room was dark. She closed the door quietly, careful not to make a sound, and started toward her bedroom. But then, the lights behind the glass bar cabinet flickered on.

She stopped in her tracks. Evander stepped out from behind the bar, wearing a robe and holding a glass of whiskey.

“Couldn’t sleep?” she asked.

He set his glass down on the marble countertop, his eyes lingering on her. “Couldn’t get any rest,” he replied. “You’re home pretty late.”

“Work ran late.” Her gaze drifted to the drink in his hand. Without thinking, she added, “You really shouldn’t be drinking, not with your health like this.”

He paused, a faint ripple passing through his otherwise calm eyes before vanishing. “Relax. It’s not going to kill me. You won’t be a widow just yet—sorry to disappoint.”

His tone was sharp, almost mocking.

Charlotte had no patience for his sarcasm. She turned to go to her room, but he called her back.

“Charlotte.”

She glanced over her shoulder. “What now?”

He looked at her for a long moment, as if searching for words, but in the end, all he managed was, “Get some rest.”

She didn’t bother replying and disappeared into her room.

Evander stared after her, gripping the glass so tightly the veins stood out on the back of his hand.

Genevieve’s words from earlier that day echoed in his mind:

*Brother, do you really think Charlotte wants to stay with you? I heard Mr. Rayburn say it himself—she only agreed to be with you because your mother promised her a divorce once you got better. She’s not here because of you!*

Evander sat at the bar, pressing his thumb and fingers to his forehead, struggling to catch his breath as a dull ache tightened in his chest.

…

The next day, The Capital.

“I don’t want to go abroad, Grandma!”

The Howard family’s old manor was filled with Genevieve’s pleading as she stood before Rosemary Howard. “Why is my brother doing this to me? Just because of Charlotte? He’s the one who ignored her in the first place! How is it my fault?”

“And now, he’s accusing me of stirring up trouble and wants to send me away? Why? I’m still part of this family, your granddaughter!”

Outside the door, Natalie lingered, listening to the commotion inside.

She turned away, stepped outside into the courtyard, and dialed Evander’s number to let him know that Rosemary had agreed to send Genevieve abroad.

Evander flipped listlessly through a magazine, barely interested. “Anything else?” he asked.

“Yes. Neely’s son just came back from overseas.”

His hand paused on the page, eyes narrowing in thought.

Meanwhile, at the research center—

Tricia slipped into the lab to check the latest test results. As she tried to secretly snap a photo with her phone, someone called out from behind her.

“Ms. Sterling, is that you?”

Tricia quickly hid her phone and turned around.

Charlotte was watching her, too.