Cold Husband Burning Regret: The Divorce He Couldn't Handle novel Chapter 418

Judd ignored his words and changed the topic. “You haven’t been back in the country long, have you, Mr. Vinterberg?”

Finnick Vinterberg chuckled, conceding the point. “You’re right. I’ve only just returned, and already so many things—and people—seem to have changed.” His gaze lingered on Charlotte, his tone suggestive. “Even District General Hospital has a beautiful new doctor, and somehow I never heard a word about it.”

Charlotte forced herself to stay calm. The moment she heard his last name, she had already guessed who he was.

Even if he had ties to Neely, back when that incident happened, Finnick Vinterberg would’ve been about Judd’s age. They were never the same person.

Taking a deep breath, she finally replied, “You flatter me, Mr. Vinterberg.”

“Dr. Sterling, you’re certainly modest. No wonder…” He paused, leaving the rest unsaid, a knowing look in his eyes.

Judd’s brow furrowed as he stepped protectively in front of Charlotte. “I heard there’s talk of an engagement between you and Miss Lennox, Mr. Vinterberg. Should I be offering my congratulations?”

Finnick laid a hand lightly on Judd’s shoulder. “If there’s ever a celebration, you’ll be on the guest list, Mr. Carstairs.”

Judd glanced aside, deliberately casual. “Then I’ll wait for your good news, Mr. Vinterberg.”

With a soft laugh, Finnick turned and stepped into the elevator.

As he disappeared behind the closing doors, Charlotte let out a quiet sigh of relief, though her face was still shadowed with worry.

So, that was Finnick Vinterberg.

Judd turned back to her. “Did he scare you?”

Charlotte was caught off guard.

Did he really see right through her?

“I’m okay… Thanks to you stepping in,” she said, steadying herself.

“About yesterday—I owe you an apology.”

She blinked in surprise. “What are you apologizing for?”

“I was the one who asked you to come, and you ended up being put in an awkward position. I didn’t think it through.” There was a rare sincerity in Judd’s apology, more than a simple courtesy—he seemed genuinely regretful, even self-critical.

Charlotte lowered her gaze. “Professor Carstairs…”

“You were going to say I deserve someone better, weren’t you?” He saw right through her.

Charlotte had no response.

He smiled. “Even the best person in the world has to be someone I actually care about, don’t you think?”

…

Judd’s confession left Charlotte distracted the entire afternoon. She’d known it was a possibility, but when it finally happened, it was still so sudden.

“Where’s your head at?” Norene leaned over during the meeting, snapping Charlotte out of her thoughts. She managed a strained smile. “Just thinking.”

“Thinking that hard?” Norene eyed her suspiciously. “I get the feeling your mind’s nowhere near this meeting.”

Charlotte fumbled for a response, about to make something up, when Norene interjected, “By the way, I saw Mr. Howard’s car downstairs earlier.”

Charlotte froze.

She could already guess what brought him to the hospital today.