Cold Husband Burning Regret: The Divorce He Couldn't Handle novel Chapter 43

"Divorce?"

Hiram froze in place, stunned. "You and Evander are getting divorced? Is it because of me...?"

"No!" Rachel, Charlotte's mother, stepped to his side and cut him off. "This isn't about you, Hiram. Don't overthink it."

She knew her son's impulsive temper all too well. If he ever found out the real reason Charlotte was divorcing Evander, he'd probably go after Evander's mistress himself. And if he caused trouble for Evander, the Sterling family would be the one to pay the price.

It wasn't that she didn't feel for her daughter. It was just that…the Howard family was their one shot at redemption. If anyone was to blame, it was her, for not having the wealth or power to give her daughter a better life.

"That's right. Your sister doesn't know how good she has it," Xavier chimed in, his tone harsh as ever. "Marrying into the Howard family was the best thing that ever happened to her, and now she wants to throw it all away arguing with Mr. Howard?" He criticized Charlotte relentlessly, as if she existed only to embarrass him and couldn't see how hard they'd worked for her sake.

Hiram lowered his gaze and fell silent, lost in thought.

***

Meanwhile, Charlotte had been in surgery since eight that morning, not leaving the operating room until well into the afternoon. She went into the locker room, changed out of her scrubs, and retrieved her phone from her locker. The screen was lit up with several missed calls—most from Hiram, and one from Evander.

She frowned, but only called back her brother as she left the staff lounge.

"Charlotte! Dad says you're divorcing Evander. Is it true?" Hiram's anxious voice came through the line, urgent and insistent. "Did Evander do something to hurt you?"

"No," Charlotte replied, rubbing her aching shoulder, her tone calm. "We just see things differently, that's all. I think it's time to end things."

His sister was the prettiest girl in the world, and that loser dared to spread lies about her? Said someone as beautiful as Charlotte must've had plenty of "experience" with the med school guys? If he weren't forbidden to use Evander's name, he'd have settled it with his fists long ago.

Charlotte paused, taken aback. So that's what it was about.

She had gone to Hiram's university a couple months ago at the request of his academic advisor—he'd skipped class for a week. She was used to it by now. Back in high school and now in college, whenever Hiram got in trouble, their parents always sent her to clean up the mess.

"Whatever happens, don't get into fights anymore. I can't always bail you out."

"Fine, fine, don't nag me like Mom. I get it! I'll behave, okay?"

Charlotte stepped out of the elevator, just as she ended the call. At the nurses' station, Director Fontaine called out to her, setting a file on the counter. "Dr. Sterling, as of today, your new direct supervisor is Director Winthrop. Congratulations."