Cold Husband Burning Regret: The Divorce He Couldn't Handle novel Chapter 68

Tears welled up in Charlotte's eyes, and Hiram was instantly thrown off. "Sis, wait—why are you crying?" He had no idea how to comfort a woman, let alone his own sister. But seeing her cry softened his heart. "Hey, don't cry, okay? I'm not mad anymore. I'll listen to you from now on, I swear. I'm not upset, really."

Charlotte couldn't help but laugh through her tears. She grabbed his hand and slipped the watch onto his wrist. "I'm just moved, that's all. The hotheaded little boy I knew has really grown up."

Hiram huffed, "I'm twenty-one, you know. I'm not a kid anymore."

She just smiled at him, saying nothing.

***

Meanwhile, Genevieve marched straight into Evander's office building. She didn't even wait for Natalie to announce her; she barged right in. "Evander!"

Evander was deep in conversation with several foreign businessmen when she burst through the door. Every pair of eyes in the room landed on her.

Annoyance flickered across Evander's face.

That's when Genevieve realized just how out of line she'd been.

Natalie rushed in behind her, flustered. "I'm so sorry—I'll take Miss Howard out right away."

She ushered Genevieve to the reception lounge and made her wait a full half hour before Evander finally showed up.

Genevieve jumped to her feet, eyes red with frustration. "Evander, you have to stand up for me!"

"I ran into Charlotte at the hospital today. I just said a couple of things to her, and then her brute of a brother actually hit me! And Charlotte just kept using Grandma as leverage against me. It's infuriating!"

"Are you finished?" Evander shot her a bored glance, then wandered over to the couch and sat down.

Genevieve faltered, but pressed on, "Evander, I was bullied by the Sterlings today!"

"What have I told you?" Evander picked up his mug, brushing the lid with his thumb. "No matter what, she's still your sister-in-law. And you made a scene at the hospital—do you really think you're in the right?"

She stared at him, incredulous. "You're taking her side now? Since when have you ever defended her?"

He met her gaze, his tone turning icy. "You think I don't know what you did at Grandma's birthday party?"

"Sis, you used to hate spending money on places like this," Hiram said, glancing around at the elegant surroundings. "A single meal here costs more than a month's rent. Even after you married Evander, you never treated yourself."

Charlotte twirled her pasta with a fork, her tone calm. "Sometimes you have to spend when it counts. Besides, tomorrow's your birthday."

Back when she'd first married Evander, she'd been afraid to spend a dime, worried he'd think she was wasting his money. For six years, she quietly saved whatever she could. By now, she'd put away enough to buy an apartment in Riverspire City.

Hiram gave her a long, searching look. "You've changed, Sis." For a moment, it was as if the woman in front of him wasn't the sister he'd always known.

"Isn't there an old saying? Women change the most when they grow up. I guess I've changed seventy-two times by now." She lifted her glass of juice in a mock toast and took a sip.

Hiram grinned. "I believe it."

"Charlotte?"

She paused, fork halfway to her mouth, and looked up. Jonathan was walking toward them from across the room.