Cold Husband Burning Regret: The Divorce He Couldn't Handle novel Chapter 555

Charlotte delivered the sample to the institute’s lab and handed it to Judd.

Judd gave the sample to his assistant, instructing him to analyze the beta-amyloid and tau proteins. The assistant nodded and entered the laboratory.

“Sorry for the delay,” Charlotte said guiltily.

“It’s fine. I know you were tied up with matters concerning the Rayburn family. What’s important is that you’re back,” Judd said, unhurriedly taking off his gloves. He paused for a moment, then looked up at her. “Do you remember Finnick Vinterberg?”

Charlotte was taken aback. “I do.”

Judd put his hands in the pockets of his white lab coat. “He got into a conflict with some of the Chase family’s people in Southeast Asia. He was shot and killed, but they haven’t found the body yet.”

Charlotte’s heart sank. “What about… Norene Lennox? Is there any news about her?”

He shook his head. “Not yet.”

No news. It had been over a year since the cruise ship explosion, and a full year since Norene had been taken by Finnick Vinterberg without a trace. Whether she was alive or dead was still a mystery.

Meanwhile, Loretta sat in the living room, listening with growing anxiety as the Lowes and her family elders discussed the wedding arrangements. She had no idea how Charlotte was planning to help her.

Mrs. Lowe was leading the discussion on all the details, including the gift the Rayburn willl give for the wedding. The amount she had originally discussed with Kate was eight hundred and eighty-eight thousand dollars, and Kate had promised a generous gift in return. But with Kate gone and Loretta not being a Rayburn by blood, Mrs. Lowe was no longer willing to offer such a high price.

Susy took a slow sip of her ccoffee. “Loretta may not be a Rayburn, but she is still Kate’s daughter. A gift of five hundred and eighty thousand seems a bit unseemly for a family like the Lowes.”

Emmett shot Mrs. Lowe a look, signaling her to stay quiet. “When children get married, the gift is about the sentiment. I plan to transfer five percent of my company’s shares to Loretta’s name and let her join the management of The Lowe Group.”

Seeing Mrs. Lowe’s face turn pale, he continued, “As we’ve said, Loretta is my eldest daughter’s child. Her marriage will be handled with the same standards as a Rayburn daughter’s. The estate, the shares… these are merely safeguards I wish to provide for the child.”

Emmett’s face darkened completely. He hadn’t expected Mr. Rayburn to be so forceful. He had gone to great lengths to acquire the Crystal Heights Estate, intending to use it as his private residence. To hand it over now, especially for a “granddaughter” who wasn’t even a Rayburn, was a bitter pill to swallow.

“Patriarch Rayburn, aren’t you deliberately making things difficult for us? We had an agreement! You were the one who was interested in an alliance with our family!” Mrs. Lowe blurted out, her panic rising. Whether it was the estate or fifteen percent of the shares, both options were a massive loss!

The air in the room grew thick, the only sound the short, sharp breaths of those present. Susy lifted her coffee cup, gently blowing on the steam, a faint, cold smile in her eyes. Her father was forcing the Lowes to show their hand, while also securing the best possible outcome for Loretta. If the Lowes truly valued their partnership with the Rayburns, they wouldn't back out now.

Loretta clenched her fists. She didn’t want the money or the houses. If she had to marry Tobias, she would rather die.

Emmett’s own fists were clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. He wrestled internally with the decision, and finally, as if he had made up his mind, he was about to speak when a guard rushed in from outside, cutting him off. “Patriarch Rayburn.”