Cold Husband Burning Regret: The Divorce He Couldn't Handle novel Chapter 89

Charlotte pushed open the hospital room door. Inside, only Tricia was there.

Tricia eyed her warily. "What are you doing here, Charlotte?"

Charlotte stopped by the bedside, drew a steady breath, and met Tricia's gaze. "I'm willing to let the past go. We're even. But I have one condition: stay out of Hiram's trial."

Tricia let out a derisive laugh, tilting her chin up with a look of disdain. "Let the past go? What exactly have I ever done to you? If you're going to make accusations, you'd better bring proof."

"And besides, your brother kidnapped me—threatened me. Why shouldn't I get involved in his sentencing? Or are you just hoping I'll let him off easy?"

Charlotte smiled, too. "Tricia, there's no one else here. I'm not recording anything. We both know exactly what happened. Why pretend?"

Tricia refused to budge. "I have no idea what you're talking about. I'm the victim here, Charlotte. Are you threatening me?"

Charlotte clenched her hand at her side, silent for a few seconds. "I'm not threatening you. I know you want to marry Evander, but you'll never get past his grandmother."

Tricia's face changed instantly at that.

She glared at Charlotte, her look cold enough to cut through steel.

Charlotte went on, "Even if you try to go through Evander, I'll make sure his grandmother steps in. What Evander thinks doesn't matter to me—I've played the villain before, you know."

"If I get her involved, she'll find out you've been hanging around her grandson ever since you got back. Do you really think she'll let you stay with him?"

Tricia bit her lip, her face suddenly pale. "If you're so capable, why bother coming to me? Why not just go to the old woman yourself?"

"I'm giving you a chance," Charlotte said, settling into the visitor's chair, her tone measured and calm. "If I bring her in, do you really think you'll have any future with Evander?"

Tricia was speechless.

She knew all too well how much that old woman despised her.

For six years, she'd wished nothing more than for that bitter old crone to die—then nothing would stand in the way of her marrying Evander.

But the old lady just kept living.

Tricia's clenched fist slowly relaxed. She let out a cold laugh. "Why should I trust you? Don't think I haven't noticed—you're living with Evander. Don't tell me you don't want to be Mrs. Howard."

Charlotte rolled her eyes.

Tricia picked up her phone and called Mrs. Fontaine, telling her to come to the hospital for an urgent discussion.

…

Charlotte was back in her office, seeing patients. A figure appeared in the doorway, moving with calm deliberation. Without looking up, she thought it was a patient. "Did you check in at reception?"

"What did you say to Tricia?"

The voice made her pause, and she glanced up to meet Evander's cold, blue eyes.

Her grip on her pen tightened. She'd expected Tricia might run to Evander, but she hadn't thought he'd care this much.

Tricia mattered to him.

"You didn't want to negotiate with me. So, I went to Miss Winthrop instead. Is that a problem?"

Evander's gaze lingered on her. After a moment, he gave a short, bitter laugh, his words edged with irony. "You really are relentless, aren't you?"