Cold Husband Burning Regret: The Divorce He Couldn't Handle novel Chapter 86

Seeing Hiram in such a state, Charlotte's heart ached. She hurried to his side, reaching out to steady him from behind.

But before she could help, a security guard stepped between them, forcibly pulling the two apart. As Hiram was dragged away, Charlotte spun around in alarm, searching for Evander. "What are you doing? You promised me—if Tricia was unharmed, you wouldn't go after him!"

When she'd told Evander that Hiram had taken Tricia, she'd also sworn that Hiram would never truly hurt her. He had promised her too.

Evander fixed his gaze on Charlotte's pale, worried face, his expression unreadable. "Didn't you see the cut on her forehead? You call that unharmed?"

Charlotte froze.

Only then did she notice the dried blood at Tricia's hairline.

"I said I wouldn't make things difficult for him. I never said I'd let him go." Evander turned to Natalie. "Take him to the police station. Hiram's facing kidnapping charges—let the law handle it."

Natalie gave a curt nod.

The security guards led Hiram away.

Evander slipped an arm around Tricia's shoulders and guided her out. As he passed Charlotte, he didn't spare her a single glance.

Tricia's eyes flickered back at Charlotte, her lips curling into a cold, triumphant smile.

As they slid into the car, Natalie turned from the front seat. "Mr. Howard, should we wait for Miss Sterling?"

Evander was about to answer when Tricia suddenly pressed her hand to her head. "Evander, he knocked me out with a wrench—my head is killing me."

He didn't hesitate. "Take us to the hospital."

Charlotte can get a cab herself, he thought.

…

By the time Charlotte made it outside, Evander's car was already disappearing down the street.

It wasn't the first time she'd been left behind because of Tricia. She'd grown used to it.

She headed for the curb to hail a ride, but realized the area was nearly deserted—no cars in sight. Even rideshare apps turned up empty; no one wanted to pick up from such a remote spot.

The sun beat down mercilessly, the surrounding streets barren, with barely a scrap of shade to be found.

She watched Evander, desperate for his reaction.

Once, if she'd suffered even half this much, he would never have let it go.

She didn't want Evander to let the Sterling siblings off easy.

"Don't overthink it." Evander kept his voice gentle. "I'll get to the bottom of this."

Tricia forced a small smile, lowering her gaze to hide the malice simmering in her eyes.

—

Charlotte woke to the steady drip of an IV in her arm.

She sat up slowly, taking in the unfamiliar hospital room. On the next bed, an older woman smiled kindly at her. "Awake, dear?"

Charlotte turned and nodded, and the woman's smile widened. "You passed out from the heat by the side of the road. Some tall, handsome young man brought you in and asked me to keep an eye on you."