Charlotte was momentarily taken aback when the man finally arrived, late as ever.
Evander stopped in front of them, barely glancing at her before turning to Hiram. "I didn't bring a proper gift, so consider this a substitute."
He handed over an envelope.
It looked thin and light, but Charlotte knew there wasn't cash inside. Whatever it was, it had to be worth far more.
Hiram declined, shaking his head. "No need, really. My birthday's already over."
Charlotte shot him a surprised look.
When did her little brother become so grown-up?
In the past, he'd never once turned down anything Evander gave him.
Since Hiram refused, Evander didn't push it. "Alright. If you change your mind, let me know."
Without warning, he grabbed Charlotte by the wrist and led her away before she could react.
Hiram watched them leave, his expression cold. His mind kept replaying the pictures and messages he'd received from a woman named Tricia.
His brother-in-law was having an affair.
No wonder his sister wanted a divorce.
Fearing it would only hurt Charlotte, Hiram deleted the chat history.
As for the shameless woman who'd come between his sister and Evander, he'd make sure she paid for it.
—
The car cruised quietly through town on the way back.
Charlotte hadn't said a single word since getting in—not even to ask why he'd broken his promise. It was as if she no longer cared enough to wonder.
Evander took a work call, discussing business for a few minutes before finally turning to her. "I got tied up at work today. That's why I was late."
Charlotte stared at him for a few seconds.
Was he… explaining himself to her?
That was rare.
A shame, really. She didn't care anymore.
She nodded. "Okay."
Evander narrowed his eyes, watching her for what felt like half a minute. "You don't have anything else to ask?"
No spending limit.
There were fewer than five people in the country who owned one.
Charlotte knew Evander was one of them, but she'd never imagined he'd hand it over to her.
Snapping out of her thoughts, she didn't reach for the card. "Why would he give this to me?"
Lana smiled. "He didn't say, only that if you needed to buy anything, you should use this card."
Charlotte stared at the card in silence.
In six years of marriage, she had never spent a penny of Evander's money by choice—she'd never wanted him to think she had ulterior motives for marrying him.
Yet, in his eyes, she was nothing but a gold-digger.
If that was how he saw her, why give her the card now? Was this another one of his tests?
She gave a bitter, self-deprecating smile and shook her head. "No, I won't need it. I have my own money."
Lana blinked in surprise. "Ma'am, how can you say that? What's his is yours—his money is your money. That's what marriage is."
Charlotte lowered her gaze, her smile tinged with sadness. "You don't get it, Lana. He's him, and I'm me."
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Cold Husband Burning Regret: The Divorce He Couldn't Handle