bChapter /b382

    Jacques paused in the middle of straightening his jacket, his face. darkening with irritation. “What nonsense are you spouting now?”

    Miranda’s voice trembled with the force of emotions she’d kept buried for over a decade. “You know exactly what I mean, so don’t pretend otherwise. Ever since Evander was born, have you ever really looked at me as your wife? If I weren’t a Suthend, iyou /iwould’ve tossed me out years ago!”

    Jacques’s chest rose and fell rapidly, anger flickering in his eyes. He yanked his arm out of her grip. “Aren’t you a little old for this kind of childish tantrum?”

    A little old…

    That stabbed deeper than he could know. Miranda’s eyes reddened, herugh catching in her throat. “You’re right. I married you at twenty–six, gave birth to Evander at twenty–eight. Now I’m fifty–eight. I’ve spent half my life trapped here as Mrs. Howard, ying the dutiful wife and mother. My beauty faded, while you barely changed at all. Of course you’re tired

    of me.”

    She wiped at her tears, her voice cracking. “I’m not as pretty as Daphne, not as gentle, not as good at making you happy. No wonder you can’t forget her–she’s your perfect memory, isn’t she?”

    Jacques’s expression grew even colder, unmoved by her outburst. “Whatever happened with her is ancient history. Even if you’re angry with me, you don’t need to keep dragging her into this.”

    With that, he brushed past Miranda and walked out, leaving her standing

    alone.

    She looked up, hastily wiping her cheeks, and gave a bitter, brokenugh.

    Charlotte would never have guessed that a simple return trip to Riverspire

    124

    City would turn into a full–blown family affair, with both father and soning along.

    With the private medical team in tow, the Howards had chartered an entire ne. Charlotte’s ticket was rendered useless–she had to cancel olliit. /li/ol

    Their flight, which took off at ten in the morning,nded around twelve–thirty. The Howard family, surrounded by their entourage, swept into the city’s grandest international hotel. They even covered all the amodations for the doctors and nurses.

    Their suite was the penthouse: six bedrooms, enough for the three of them, the lead physician, and Secretary Holden.

    Secretary Holden had worked for Jacques for over a decade–he was the right–hand man, the one Jacques trusted most.

    Once everyone was settled, the attending physician drew Evander’s blood and sent it off with an assistant to a hospital where he had connections, ensuring the tests would be handled quickly.

    Evander took his medicine, and after the doctor left, Jacques turned to Charlotte, who had been silent the whole time. “If you’re worried about your foster parents‘ son, I can have him brought here as well.”

    She froze.

    Bringing Hiram here–that would be the real threat.

    Her face remained calm. “Thank you, Dad, but there’s no need. My brother can pick him up.”

    That was when Jacques remembered she’d been taken back by the Rayburns.

    The daughter of Sean/capital of Eldermere City.

    He didn’t press the issue.

    After Jacques stepped out to take a call, Charlotte finally let her guard down a little.

    12:45

    But Evander noticed.

    He gave a faint smile. “Are you afraid we’ll use Hiram to threaten you?”

    She didn’t hesitate. “It wouldn’t be the first time.”

    “When are you going to visit him?”

    “Now.”

    “I’ll go with you-”

    “No, you can’t—” As Evander tried to get up, Charlotte pushed him back onto the bed. In her hurry, she stepped on his foot and lost her bnce, tumbling down with him.

    Evander stared, momentarily stunned, at the woman sprawled across his chest. A strange heat flickered to life inside him.

    Charlottey there, frozen for a long moment, then abruptly scrambled off him and turned away, her cheeks burning. “You need to rest. Don’t overdo it, or the whole Howard family will me me.”

    Evander pressed his lips together, silent.

    But he seemed to be savoring the lingering warmth where she’d touched

    him.

    “I promised your mother I’d stay with you through all your treatment. It’s not like I’m leaving for good,” Charlotte muttered, already heading for the

    door before he could answer.

    Evander stared after her, then allowed the faintest smile to tug at his lips.

    She said she wasn’t leaving for good.