The old matriarch rapped her knuckles sharply on the table, her voice ringing through the dining room. “Do you know what everyone in our circles is saying? The Howards have thrown away their dignity just to cozy up to the Rayburns! Is that what you call looking out for your daughter’s best interests? Besides resorting to cheap tricks and dirty schemes, do you even know any other way to get ahead?”

She took a deep breath, her gaze icy. “You really make your selfishness sound so noble. Ilse, I have to say, you never cease to surprise me.”

With that, the old woman slowly rose to her feet, herposure unshakeable. “You all enjoy your dinner.”

Lte immediately stepped forward to help her out of the room.

Miranda, appetite gone, followed soon after.

In a blink, only Ilse and her daughter Genevieve remained at the table.

Genevieve’s bravado finally cracked. She turned to her mother, voice trembling. “Mom, do you think Grandma’s really mad at us?”

Ilse’s hand clenched beneath the table, her expression darkening. “So what if she is? She’s old. She’ll be gone sooner orter. I can avoid her for now, but not forever. One day, I’ll have to deal with her–no matter

what.”

The dinner ended in icy silence, the tension thick in the air.

Meanwhile, across town, Charlotte was having the time of her life at a bustling street food stall, happily devouring skewers hot off the grill.

Ever since she married Evander, she’d sworn off street food–after all, “Mrs. Howard” had an image to uphold.

Natalie was driving past when the traffic slowed to a crawl near thete–night food stands. As she nced around, her eyesnded on a familiar figure sitting at a brightly lit table.

b13:00 /b

She blinked, surprised. “Isn’t that Mrs. Howard?”

Evander had just left the office, exhaustion written on his handsome features. But at the mention of Charlotte, a flicker of emotion crossed his eyes. He followed Natalie’s gaze out the window.

There she was–Charlotte, unmistakable even in a crowd. She always stood out, her beauty impossible to hide.

He spoke, voice low. “Pull over.”

Natalie did as told and parked by the curb. As Evander reached for the door handle, two college–aged, boys approached Charlotte. They exchanged a few words, one of them handing her his phone, clearly asking for her number.

Charlotte didn’t turn them down.

Whatever they said, it made herugh, her smile radiant and carefree.

Evander hadn’t seen herugh like that in ages. The realization twisted something in his chest–he was jealous, in and simple.

He pushed open the door and strode toward the food stall, gaze fixed on Charlotte.

iOne /iof the boys–a decent–looking kid–was just about to sit down beside her when Evander pulled the chair away. The boy spun around, startled, and stared up at him. “Uh, sir…who are you?”

Charlotte turned her head, barely suppressing augh.

Evander arched an eyebrow, “Who are you calling ‘sir‘? Didn’t anyone teach you to keep your hands off another man’s wife?”

The boy looked to Charlotte, flustered. “Sorry, miss. We didn’t know you were married.”

Charlotte choked back a retort. “It’s fine…”

Once the two boys had awkwardly said their goodbyes and left, Charlotte picked up another skewer, biting in with gusto. “What brings you to this

13.00

part of town?”

Evander tried to sit beside her, but his long legs didn’t fit under the tiny table. With an annoyed look, he pushed the chair back and nced at the greasy tabletop, grabbing a napkin to wipe it down. “Couldn’t you have just ordered room service at the hotel? Whye out here alone?”

She shot him a look. “Do you really have to monitor everything I do?”

“I’m just worried about you,” he said quietly.

Charlotte paused, meeting his gaze.

He looked back at her, eyes dark, saying everything he needed to without a single word.

bChapter /b341