Cold husband burning regret

The room fell silent in an instant.

Evander sat on the sofa, unmoving, saying nothing. The tension was suffocating. Vera clung to Charlotte's sleeve, hardly daring to breathe, her nerves shot from the heavy atmosphere.

For a long moment, no one moved. Then, unhurried and composed, Evander finally stood and walked toward them.

Charlotte braced herself and met his eyes. "Evander, you said you wanted to make things right between us. So, if I have a request, does that mean you'll-?” Before she could finish, he caught her wrist and drew her into his arms.

Vera froze, awkward and out of place, then quietly shuffled back to her room, leaving them alone..

"Evander, you-" "Of course I'll agree to what you want," he said, holding her close. His eyes were shadowed and unreadable. "But I don't want you avoiding me." She turned her face away. "...I'm not avoiding you." He gave a low laugh. "You asked her to move in with you, didn't you? Wasn't that just to keepat a distance?" Charlotte's gaze dropped, guilt flickering across her face. She couldn't meet his eyes.

Evander's embrace tightened, his chin resting gently atop her head. "Charlotte, I know you may not be ready to acceptyet. But please don't pushaway." She found herself pressed against his chest, his heartbeat steady and warm. The scent of him was achingly familiar.

Her clenched fists slowly relaxed. She bit her lip. "Evander, I... I am trying 1/A 14:17 Chapter ZYD to avoid you. You makeuneasy. I'm scared..." He felt her words like a blow, his own voice dropping to a hush. "You're afraid of me?" Charlotte's eyes shimmered with tears, but she forced a smile. "How could I not be? In my memories, you were never this kind to me. You never heldand said these things. You wantto trust you, but every tI did before, all I got in return was disappointment." She drew a trembling breath. "Evander, your kindness now can't erase the hurt from before. I'm afraid that if I let myself believe you, it'll all turn out to be just another dream-something beautiful, but gone the moment I wake up." Evander cupped her face in his hands, forcing her to look at him. "It won't be," he promised quietly. "Charlotte, I mean it." She stared back at him.

His eyes were clear, unwavering. "I promise you." Charlotte said nothing.

He bent his head and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead.

Charlotte slowly closed her eyes.

Vera ended up staying with Charlotte that night. The next morning, as they rode to the hospital together, Vera was still shaken. "Charlotte, I swear, I nearly died of fright last night. I thought Mr. Howard was going to throwout for sure..." Charlotte managed a small smile. "Relax. He won't do that now." Step by step, with enough testing, Evander's patience for her probably even surpassed what he once had for Tricia.

After all, Tricia would have made things easier for him, given him a way out and a show of respect. Charlotte, on the other hand, just kept pushing back.

274 14:17 Chapter 295 Swould call that ungrateful.

Whether Evander's willingness to yield was out of love or out of guilt, she still couldn't say.

But either way, she'd figured out at least one thing.

Getting him to agree to a divorce willingly was probably out of the question. She'd have to find a way for him to sign the papers without realizing what he was doing.

At the hospital, Vera went off to her interview and entrance exam.

Charlotte returned to her office. Today she was on duty with Gentry.

A knock sounded at the door. Charlotte turned to see Judd standing outside.

He glanced at her, then called Gentry out into the hallway.

No one knew what they discussed, but when Gentry cback, he announced that he and Judd had switched shifts.

Marlene looked just as baffled. "That's odd. Since when does Judd ever take extra shifts?" Charlotte watched Gentry happily gather his things and leave early, but didn't ask any questions.

The morning was a blur of chaos. Patients lined up out the door and there were several cases of acute strokes among them. Charlotte darted from one task to the next until finally, she was called in to assist Judd.

When she entered the exam room, Judd was still consulting with am patient. She slipped quietly to a desk, reviewing charts and making notes.

The patient's wife asked anxiously, "Dr. Carstairs, is this surgery dangerous?" Judd signed a form, his tone calm but firm. "Every surgery carries s3/4 14 170 Chapter 295

risk. But you can't let fear of risk stop you from doing what's necessary. Your husband has symptoms of a blood clot in his brain. If we don't operate to clear it, and he has a sudden stroke, it could be fatal in an instant." The couple exchanged frightened glances, but finally agreed to the procedure.

After a stream of patients, things finally quieted down near noon.

Judd packed up his things, but as he headed for the door, he suddenly stopped in the doorway.

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