Cold Husband Burning Regret: The Divorce He Couldn't Handle novel Chapter 539

That evening, Hulda and Quincy Rayburn joined Mr. Rayburn for dinner, acting as if nothing was wrong. Hulda’s fawning attention toward the patriarch was so over the top it made Kate sick to her stomach.

Mr. Rayburn noticed Kate’s sour expression but offered no comfort. “I don’t want a repeat of that family mess,” he said sternly. “As the eldest daughter of the Rayburn family, you should be as dependable as your brother. If you had just listened to me back then and not married that foreign student, you’d be as well-off as your sister Susy now.”

Susy Rayburn had followed the patriarch’s wishes, marrying a prominent politician and was now living a very comfortable life. Kate had her own moments of regret; if she hadn't impulsively chosen her ex-husband, she wouldn't have ended up divorced. Now, all she wanted was a word of concern from her father, but all he did was dredge up the past. The betrayal from Hulda and Quincy had already left her heart cold, but this—this killed what little hope she had left.

“Right,” Kate said, her voice dripping with self-mockery. “Susy married well, with her husband’s family to back her. Her daughter doesn’t have to marry some low-life. But I have no one to support me. I guess a married daughter is no longer his concern, unable to even protect her own child.”

Her bitter tone made the patriarch’s expression darken. Before he could speak, Quincy chimed in with a placating voice. “Kate, what’s gotten into you? Dad only wants what’s best for you. Besides, even if Tobias Lowe isn’t much, the Lowe family is still run by Emmett Lowe. You really think they’d mistreat Loretta? Once she gives them a son, the family will be hers to command.”

If Quincy had said this before, Kate might have tried to console herself with the thought. But after what she’d witnessed that day, she just let out a cold laugh. “It’s not your daughter getting married, so why are you so worried about it?”

Quincy froze, exchanging a look with Hulda. “Kate, what are you saying? I’m Loretta’s uncle.”

“Is it so rare for family to turn on each other? What’s an uncle matter?” Kate’s words were pointed. Without another word, she pushed her plate away, dropped her fork, and left the table.

It was the first time Kate had ever walked out in the middle of a meal.

Hulda watched her go. Her sudden change in attitude was alarming. Had she discovered something? She turned to gauge Mr. Rayburn’s reaction and said patiently, “Father, Kate’s just upset. She doesn’t mean what she says, so please don’t take it to heart. I’ll have Quincy go talk to her. They’re siblings, after all.”

“Do as you wish,” Mr. Rayburn said, his appetite gone. He slowly rose from his chair.

Hulda got up to help him, glancing at Quincy, who understood the signal and followed Kate out.

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