Cold husband burning regret

Regret 112 Evander's face darkened the instant he saw Charlotte's reaction. He yanked her back toward him. "Charlotte, what's that supposed to mean?" Her whole body trembled in his grip, lips pale as she whispered, “I don't feel well." He stared straight through her, his gaze growing colder. "Is it really that you're unwell, or is it just that you don't want to?" He couldn't quite remember when it started, but lately, she shrank away from even the slightest touch.

At first, he'd chalked it up to a passing mood. But now, it was clearly more than that.

Charlotte looked at him with hollow eyes, as empty as a marionette. "Evander, I'm a person. I have flesh, blood, and feelings. I'm not just here for your convenience!" "You don't love me. And now that Tricia's back, you don't have to force yourself to be withanymore, do you?" Eyander seemed to understand what she was getting at, but he dodged the question. His hand gripped the back of her head, drawing her closer. "So that's it.

You don't want to?" She drew a shaky breath, turning her face away. "No. I don't." A cold smile flickered across his lips. "You will." Without another word, Evander grabbed his coat from the end of the bed and left.

The door swung shut behind him, sealing Charlotte in a silence so absolute it rang in her ears.

The next morning, Charlotte was jolted awake by the shrill ring of her phone.

She barely managed to answer before Xavier's furious voice blasted through the speaker. "Charlotte, what the hell did you do? Why is Evander refusing to let us see Hiram?" Charlotte snapped fully awake, sitting up in bed. "What did you say?" "We went to the hospital to see Hiram," Xavier fumed. “Security wouldn't let us in.

Said it was Evander's orders! He let Hiram stay in his hospital, but now suddenly we're barred from visiting? What did you do to piss him off this time?" 1/4 07:58 Chapter 112 "You know how bad Hiram's condition is. Can't you just swallow your pride for his sake?" "It's because of you he ended up like this! Are you really going to just stand by and watch Hiram spend the rest of his life trapped in that hospital bed?" Every word stabbed at her heart. Before Charlotte could even begin to explain, Xavier hung up on her.

She sat motionless, numb, as if she'd punched a pillow with all her strength and felt nothing in return.

Meanwhile, Natalie was driving toward Howard Enterprises, glancing in the rearview mirror at the elegantly distant man in the back seat. “Conrad's been meeting with a lot of people lately. But the day before the incident, someone went to the police station to see him." Evander didn't look up. "Have you found out who?" Natalie nodded. "Yes, it was Mrs. Fontaine's driver. And..." She hesitated, unsure if she should go on.

Evander frowned. "Speak." "Mrs. Fontaine's been spending quite a bit of twith Miss Sterling recently..." Natalie shot him a cautious look. Hiram had been beaten at the precinct, yet somehow none of the officers on duty noticed a thing. The security cameras, conveniently, were 'under maintenance' that day. Such a blatant cover-up could only be deliberate. Conrad, who was supposed to be supervising Hiram, would definitely be held responsible for negligence, not to mention inciting violence and willfully allowing harm. If Mrs. Fontaine really was behind him, Tricia couldn't be far removed from this mess.

If it really cout that Tricia was involved-what would Mr. Howard do then? Evander was silent for a long moment.

His gaze grew colder, darker.

He stared out the window. "What about Commissioner Yates?" "Commissioner Yates has decided not to get involved," Natalie replied.

Besides, the Commissioner's own brother-in-law was under investigation for bribery 2/4 07:58 1 Chapter 112 and still in custody. With his own record tainted, he wasn't about to stick his neck out.

Evander closed his eyes, saying nothing more.

Natalie sensed he didn't want to discuss Tricia and wisely kept quiet.

Later, Charlotte parked her car outside the Howard Enterprises tower.

She rolled down the window, eyeing the imposing entrance.

This wasn't her first there.

Every tshe'd tried to bring Evander lunch, security had turned thedront her away at the front desk. Not once had she actually managed to see him, and the food never made it to his hands.

Eventually, she'd stopped coming.

Taking a deep breath, Charlotte got out and strode straight into the marble-floored lobby, heading for the reception desk. "Is Mr. Howard in today?" It had been so long since her last visit, all the receptionists were new faces.

"Do you have an appointment?" one of them asked.

"No." Charlotte considered, then said, "Could you please tell Natalie that Charlotte is here to see him? She'll know who I am." Before the receptionist could answer, a woman in heavy makeup and stilettos sauntered over, walkie-talkie in hand. "Who are you looking for?" "Miss Sabina," the receptionist explained, "this lady is here for Mr. Howard, but she doesn't have an appointment..."

Sabina gave Charlotte a slow, Mr.

disdainful once-over. Mr. Howard's e was practically a local Hancée, wa celebrity; yet here was another shameless woman trying to get his attention.

"Does everyone think they can just stroll in and see Mr. Howard? This is Howard Enterprises, not sstreet fair.

We don't just let anyone in." Charlotte didn't argue. She simply turned to leave.

But Sabina's voice rang out, sharp and mocking. "See that? Every pretty ve girl these days thinks her looks are a ticket to the big leagues. You'd better wise up-if Mr. Howard's fiancée gets wind of this, you'll be out of a job in no time!" Charlotte stopped in her tracks.

3/4 07:58 Chapter 112 She hadn't wanted to stoop to this level, but Sabina's words were just too much.

Charlotte spun back around, slammed her purse down on the counter, and stared Sabina straight in the eye. "Care to repeat that?"