Cold Husband Burning Regret: The Divorce He Couldn't Handle novel Chapter 576

It was a text from Lilith: 'Evander, your mom is here looking for you!'

Evander’s smile faded. He stared at the screen, his thoughts unreadable.

When Evander returned to the hotel, he found Miranda waiting for him in the lobby. She'd managed to get his location from one of Lilith's bodyguards.

She was so worried about missing him that she hadn’t even gone to the VIP lounge.

The hotel manager and a supervisor hovered nearby, taking turns offering their services, terrified of falling short.

As Evander stepped into the hotel, his gaze fell on a small, deferential group in the lobby. He lowered his eyes and walked toward them.

“What brings you here?”

At the sound of the familiar voice, Miranda’s head snapped up. The others turned to look at Evander as well.

“Mr. Evander, do you know this lady?” the hotel manager asked, looking immensely relieved. After all, reading people was a key part of the hospitality industry, and with his experience, he could usually size up someone's background and status in an instant. This woman, despite only giving a surname and saying she was looking for someone, carried herself with an air of authority. Her clothes and jewelry were anything but ordinary. She was clearly the wife of a magnate, at the very least. It was also quite a coincidence that their hotel's most important guest at the moment was Mr. Evander, who had booked the penthouse suite.

Evander hadn’t removed his mask, but Miranda recognized him instantly from his voice, his build, his silhouette, and his eyes.

“She’s my mother.”

The manager and his staff quickly excused themselves, leaving them in peace.

Once they were alone, Miranda moved closer. Her eyes were bloodshot, and she slowly raised a trembling hand. He simply stood there, quietly accepting whatever was to come, even if she meant to strike him. But her hand stopped in mid-air. Instead, she gently reached for the half-mask and lifted it away.

Evander took her handbag. “Don’t worry. It was just a minor injury, and it's already been treated. It’s fine. Let's go upstairs.”

Miranda nodded.

Back in the suite, Evander made his mother a simple bowl of pasta. As Miranda looked at the steaming dish, she was swept away by a memory. He had made her a bowl of pasta once before, back when he was in high school. But she had been so busy with work back then, with no time for him. She was more focused on his academics and his training in corporate management, and she always disapproved of him wasting time in the kitchen. So instead of being touched by the gesture, she had scolded him. After that, Evander never set foot in the kitchen again. And while he always treated her with the respect due a mother, an invisible chasm had opened between them.

“Evander,” Miranda said, snapping out of her reverie, a lump forming in her throat. “I was too hard on you back then. Tell me honestly, did you ever hate me?”

Evander pulled out a chair and sat down. “You’re my mother. I could never hate you. The only person I hated was myself, for never being good enough to make you proud.”

Miranda’s throat tightened, and she said no more.