Charlotte’s smile froze, and she turned her face away. “Why bring him up

    out of nowhere?”

    He was calm, his voice even. “The man in the mask that night–it was him,

    wasn’t it?”

    A flicker of surprise shed through her eyes.

    He knows?

    Judd could tell from her expression that his guess hadnded right on

    target.

    Without betraying any emotion, he looked away and said coolly, “He sure knows how to stay devoted.” With that, Judd stepped around her and strode into the hotel lobby.

    Charlotte stood rooted to the spot, confusion written all over her face as she watched him disappear into the elevator.

    What was that all about?

    The next day, Judd headed back to Riverspire City, saying he had business to take care of. He left so suddenly, it caught her off guard.

    Charlotte stayed in The Capital a couple more days, spending time with her family. But her annual leave had run its course, ande morning, she’d head back to Riverspire City as well.

    She had breakfast at the vi with the Rayburn men. Sean, ever the thoughtful father, served her some food. “We’ll be returning to Eldermere City in a few days. Are youing with us, or heading back to Riverspire City first?”

    Charlotte thought for a moment. “I’ll go back to Riverspire City first. I’ve been away from work too long, and my supervisor just put me in charge of the nanotherapy project. I really need to check in.”

    12.42

    Sean didn’t press her, just smiled. “It’s good to see you so dedicated, but don’t wear yourself out. And if you need anything, your brother’s always a call away–he’s got plenty of time on his hands.”

    “Dad, now that you’ve found your daughter, am I just the spare part at home?” Wesley piped up with mock offense.

    Sean shot him a look. “When have you ever been useful around here? I asked you to help with the family business, but you wouldn’t hear of it. Or do you expect your sister to run it for you?”

    Wesley turned to Charlotte, raising an eyebrow. “If Lottie wants to take over, I’m fine with it.”

    Charlotte bit her fork,ughing. “No thanks. I can handle a scalpel, not apany.”

    The father and son both burst outughing.

    That night, Charlotte stayed at the vi. She packed her things and booked her flight for the next morning.

    Meanwhile, in a suite at Vandermere Private Hospital-

    Evander’s coughing fits were worsening. Painkillers, anti–inmmatories, immunotherapy–none of it was slowing the disease anymore.

    With lymph node involvement and high–risk factors, the doctors said the only option was ito /itry four cycles of chemotherapy, but they needed Mr. Howard’s cooperation.

    Miranda stood outside the hospital room, watching her son torture himself, heart aching.

    “I’ve tried talking sense into him, but he just…”

    “Mrs. Howard, your son is still young, and his lung cancer was caught early. That gives him a real advantage. If you keep dying treatment, though, and the cancer spreads, it’ll be toote.”

    Jacques and Rosemary approached just in time to overhear the doctor. Jacques frowned. “Whether he wants it or not, he’s going through with

    b213 /b

    1242

    the treatment.”

    Miranda looked at him helplessly.

    Jacques stopped in front of the doctor. “If he’s got a death wish, I’m not about to grant it.”

    Miranda gave a bitter smile. “Easy for you to say. How do you n to convince him? You know how stubborn he is.”

    “It’s because of Charlotte, isn’t it?”

    Miranda fell silent, stung.

    Jacques called for Natalie. “Bring Charlotte to Evander. Use whatever means you have to.”

    The olddy hesitated. “Shouldn’t you ask Lottie how she feels about that?”

    “Mom, at this point, does it matter?” Miranda agreed with her husband for once–nothing mattered more than her son now. “Charlotte was in that ident with Evander. If not for him, she wouldn’t have made it out

    unscathed. We’re not asking her to pay us back, but she’s still Evander’s wife–she should be here with him!”

    b3/3 /b