RedNovelRegret 198 There wasn't enough evidence to prove attempted murder. Soon enough, the police station released them.
As Tricia stepped out into the sunlight, she spotted Evander standing by his car, a cigarette smoldering between his fingers. White smoke curled around his face, half-shrouding the stormy look he wore.
"Evander..." Tricia's eyes were red, shimmering with tears. “I never imagined something like this would happen. I'm so scared..." "What were you doing at Vandermere Private Hospital?" He flicked the ash from his cigarette, his gaze as sharp as a blade.
Her face stiffened. “I... I was just there for Genevieve. I wanted to talk to Mr. Rayburn about her. And I happened to run into a nurse friend, so we chatted for a while." He frowned. "Genevieve and Wesley's situation isn't something you should meddle in." "Evander, are you blaming me?" "Every single thing about Charlotte seems to involve you." Evander exhaled a long plof smoke, eyes dark and unreadable. "Tricia, sometimes I have to wonder-were you involved?" Tricia flinched, grabbing his arm in desperation. "Evander, I wasn't!" she cried. "Just because Hiram once kidnapped me, and I happened to be there when her father had the heart attack, now you think I'm responsible for her mother's death too?" "If I really wanted her dead, why would I make sure everyone knew I was there? I was trying to save her! We could've held on until help arrived, but-she let go of our hands." Tricia's voice broke. In that moment, her fear was real, her panic genuine.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtEvander's brow furrowed, but before he could reply, his phone rang. It was the hospital.
"Mr. Howard, your wife... she's not in her room." He flicked his cigarette into the gutter. "I'm coming back now." Sliding into the car, he gave Tricia a brief look. "You'll have to get a cab." 1/3 15:12 Chapter 198 Tricia watched the car pull away, her rigid expression finally easing, if only a little. But inside, resentment simmered.
Ten years they'd known each other, and now he suspected her.
He never used to be like this.
Rachel's body was moved to the cold storage at the funeral home. An attendant led Charlotte to her mother's side, gently peeling back the white sheet.
Charlotte stared at the obvious stitches along Rachel's face. Her nose prickled with grief. The fall had shattered her mother's skull-a face now incomplete.
The mortician had spent six painstaking hours restoring Rachel's features. She looked almost as she had in life.
"If she could see herself now, she'd be devastated. Thank you for what you've done," Charlotte murmured, reaching out to touch her mother's hand. It was soft, like cotton.
The mortician spoke quietly, "We do our best to help the departed leave with dignity. That's our duty." "I'd like to stay with her for a while. Just ten minutes." The mortician nodded. "Of course." Charlotte stayed by Rachel's side for the last time. When she finally stepped out of the funeral home, the sun was blazing, but she felt no warmth.
"Charlotte!" Jonathan hurried across the lot the moment he saw her. Since the news about Rachel, he'd dropped everything to come. "Your mother..." Charlotte stretched out her palm. Sunlight slipped through the gaps between buildings, landing in her hand- visible, but impossible to hold. "I barely had tto know what a mother's love was before she left me. Life is just like this light. You see it, but you can never hold onto it." Jonathan's chest tightened with guilt.
Yesterday...
If only he'd answered the phone...
"I'm sorry." In the end, those were the only words he managed.
Charlotte forced a faint smile and looked up at him. "Jonathan, thank you for 213 15:12 @ Chapter 198 everything these past few days." She stepped around him and walked away.
Jonathan clenched his fists. As she left, it felt like something permanent was ending between them.
On impulse, he rushed after her, catching her arm. "Charlotte, e.
Preally am sorry Yesterday, I didn't know-"
He never finished. A tall figure strode up out of nowhere, and before m Jonathan could react, a fist crashed into his face.
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