RedNovelRegret 65 Outside the window, neon lights flickered across the city, every apartment glowing with its own story.
Charlotte sat cross-legged on her bed, laptop balanced in her lap as she worked through tomorrow's surgical plan.
Her phone buzzed-it was Hiram.
She answered, not even getting a word in before Hiram's boisterous voice burst through the line. "Sis! Did you forget my birthday's the day after tomorrow? Are you and Evander coming or not?" Charlotte froze for a second, then glanced at the date.
June 10th.
Treally did slip by.
"I haven't forgotten," she replied, lowering her gaze with a faint smile. After a moment's hesitation, she added, "But I can't promise your brother-in-law will make it." Hiram was about to say something when, suddenly, their father's voice cut in-he must have snatched the phone. "Lottie, your mom and I want to throw your brother a proper birthday dinner. You and Evander have to come-no excuses! He needs you both there!" "Dad, you're putting her on the spot," Hiram protested.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"What do you know, you little rascal?" their father barked.
Hiram reclaimed the phone and retreated to the hallway, the commotion fading behind him. "Ignore Dad, sis. If Evander's busy, it's fine-really. I just want you there." "Okay," Charlotte said softly, her voice rougher than she intended.
The call ended. Staring at her screen, Charlotte fell into a long, pensive silence.
Birthdays...
OR She hadn't celebrated her own since she turned eight.
But for her little brother, she couldn't bear to let him down.
1/3 09:48 She picked up her phone to text Evander.
She typed, deleted, rewrote-several times-until the message looked casual enough. Only then did she finally hit send.
But once it was gone, it was as if she'd thrown a stone into a bottomless well.
Charlotte didn't wait for a reply. She tossed her phone aside and buried herself in work.
The next morning, Charlotte dressed and stepped into the living room-only to freeze at the sight of Evander. Lana had the day off, of all days.
Charlotte pressed her lips together and approached. "When did you get back?" "After midnight," Evander replied, seated at the breakfast table, leafing through a magazine. A plate of pastries and eggs sat untouched in front of him.
"I texted you last night-" "I saw it." "...So are you coming?" Evander looked up, eyes locking on hers. "Do you wantto?" Charlotte drew a slow breath, tossing the question back at him. "Would you cif I did?" He turned a page. "Depends." Charlotte fell silent.
Which, of course, meant he probably wouldn't come.
She hadn't expected much from him anyway.
She was about to leave when Evander stopped her.
She paused. “Is there something else?" He nudged the breakfast toward her. “Eat before you go." He closed his magazine and headed to his study.
Charlotte glanced at the plate, then at his retreating of Something "SUE Plazlement of something else tangled inside her. flicker 09:48 She couldn't figure him out lately She left the breakfast untouched and walked out the door.
When Evander returned from his study later, his eyes fell on the cold, untouched food. His expression immediately darkened. Ungrateful woman.
He dumped the breakfast straight into the trash.
Charlotte spent the entire morning in the operating room, only emerging at noon.
Families who'd been waiting outside for hours gathered around her as soon as she appeared.
She pulled off her mask and smiled. "The surgery was a success." Relief washed over the family's anxious faces, and they thanked her over and over.
After giving them a few instructions, Charlotte headed back to hero m office-only to run into Genevieve and Tricia at the nurses' station.
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