RedNovelRegret 254 Night had fallen by the tJonathan arranged to meet Judd at a bar. When Judd arrived, he spotted Jonathan brooding alone at the counter, nursing a drink. Normally the life of any party, Jonathan now wore a sullen expression, barely acknowledging the women who tried to strike up a conversation.
Judd ordered a glass of lemonade from the bartender before turning to lean against the high table, fixing Jonathan with a searching look. "What's eating at you?" Jonathan topped off his glass, the motion heavy with frustration. "Nothing much. Just restless, I guess. Can't seem to find anyone to talk to." Judd kept silent.
The bartender set down Judd's lemonade. He picked up the glass and clinked it against Jonathan's. "Out with it. We're friends-I know you." Jonathan froze for a second, then knocked back the rest of his drink.
After a moment, he slid a photograph across the table to Judd. Judd recognized the image instantly.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"You took this?" Jonathan avoided his gaze. "Honestly, I just meant to send it to Evander." Judd set down his glass, suddenly grabbing Jonathan by the collar. "When did you start letting a woman turn you into this?" Jonathan shot back, “And what about you? You promisedyou'd tellif you heard anything about her, but I just found out you'd already seen her. You know exactly what happened betweenand her... Don't tellyou want her too?" "I'm not like you." Judd let go, his voice calm. "At least I know she's still married. I have boundaries-do you? You used her, got close to her, and now you want her forgiveness. Did you ever stop to think about how she feels?" Jonathan was at a loss for words.
A heavy pressure settled in his chest.
He admitted to himself that, at first, he'd only gotten close to Charlotte to use her.
Later, there were moments when he hesitated, torn by guilt, not wanting to hurt her 1/3 12:53 Chapter 254 anymore. If it hadn't been for Charlotte's mother, Rachel, passing away, maybe he'd still be lying to himself. Truth was, he'd regretted it all for a long time.
After a while, Jonathan looked at Judd, searching his face. “We're not going to let a woman cbetween us, right?" Judd took a slow sip of his lemonade. "That's not my call. Look at yourself." He set down his glass, meeting Jonathan's eyes. "Of course, I don't want things to end up that way. At least for now, I won't let it." Jonathan fell silent, saying nothing more.
Two days later, Professor Aldridge's team arrived at the Riverspire Hotel. Old Mr. Carstairs and several leading medical experts were waiting in the lobby to greet them. Professor Aldridge and Old Mr. Carstairs had crossed paths in the international academic circuit before, and when they met again, they shook hands warmly, chatting like old friends.
"I heard you have an exceptionally talented student. Why haven't I seen her yet?" Aldridge asked.
Old Mr. Carstairs smiled. "She'll be here soon." His gaze shifted to the young woman standing beside Aldridge. "And this is...?" Before Aldridge could introduce her, Tricia stepped forward. "It's an honor to meet you, Mr. Carstairs. My nis Tricia. I've heard about your groundbreaking work in neurology during my tabroad." Tricia had done her homework. Not only was Old Mr. Carstairs a towering figure in the medical field, he was also the head of the Carstairs family-one of the four great houses in Riverspire. Just his presence alone commanded respect, enough so that even the city's most influential people deferred to him.
And he had a grandson.
Jonathan was a lost cause, and Evander now despised her. If it weren't for her being mistakenly credited as the gir girl who "rescued" him during the kidnapping. Evander would have gotten rid of her long ago. That meant, before anyone found out she'd taken someone else's place, she desperately needed protection.
And the only person who could give her that was Old Mr. Carstairs.
212 12.53 Chapter 254 He studied Tricia, and while her introduction was flawless, something about her struck him as shrewd-and just a bit too ambitious.
At that moment, Old Mr. Carstairs received a message from Charlotte. After reading it, he smiled at Aldridge. reading it, he "My student got held up on the way. Why don't we wait for her in the banquet hall?" Aldridge nodded readily. "Of course." The group followed Old Mr. Carstairs out of the lobby.
Tricia trailed behind, frowning.
Old Mr. Carstairs has a student? And apparently a student important m enough to keepall these bigwigs waiting. Who was this person, anyway?
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