She stared at the message on her screen, hesitating before replying.

Her phone started ringing.

On the disy, the contact name still read “Husband“-she’d never changed it. Seeing those letters made her lose her focus for a moment.

Evander had never reached out to her first, not in the old days.

But somewhere along the line, that changed. Now he not only messaged her, he actually called.

Charlotte answered, holding the phone to her ear. Her tone was distant, almost formal. “Mr. Howard, is there something you need?”

She heard the flick of a lighter on the other end; he must have been smoking. His voice was low,zy, edged with impatience. “I told you to meet me at the parking garage. Didn’t you see my message?”

“Miss Winthrop is here with you. If you need something, you can ask her,” Charlotte said, ready to hang up.

He let out a short, humorlessugh. “Now that you’ve got Jonathan backing you, you’re feeling pretty bold, aren’t you?”

Her brow furrowed. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means exactly what it sounds like.” Evander leaned against his car, cigarette between his fingers, absently ying with a metal lighter. “My patience isn’t endless.”

Charlotte didn’t bother replying. She ended the call.

She made her way to the underground garage, and the first thing she saw was Evander–perfectly put–together, handsome as ever.

He’d always looked impable. wless.

She used ito /ilove that face so much.

20213

Now, all she felt was resentment.

She stopped in front of him, her expression carefully neutral. She got straight to the point. “You fired Hiram’s defense attorney. Why?”

Evander crushed his cigarette underfoot, lifting his gaze to her. “I told you to stay away from Tricia.”

Charlotte’s heart was cold, unmoved.

She’d already guessed the reason.

She just never thought-

“You’re going back on your promise to me, just because of Tricia? I’ve never gone out of my way to provoke her. She’s the one who keepsing after me!”

“Let’s not talk about her right now.” His eyes darkened; he paused for half a beat before continuing, “Stay away from Jonathan. The Howard family doesn’t tolerate scandal–not from its future daughter–inw.”

The words hit her like shards of ss, slicing into her heart.

All he cared about was the Howard family’s reputation–and Tricia’s.

And as for her? She was just expected to follow his rules.

Her nose stung; she let out a bitterugh. “And what about your scandals, Mr. Howard?”

Evander’s movements stilled, a faint frown creasing his brow. “There

won’t be any.”

Yeah, right.

Charlotte felt a chill settle inside her.

She’d seen enough–illegitimate children, affairs–and he still had the nerve to say that.

“What if it’s you and Tricia? And her son-”

b214 /b

20:21

“Charlotte,” Evander interrupted coldly. “Whatever’s going on between us, don’t drag other people into it.”

Drag people into it?

He was just worried about his precious white knight getting called a

homewrecker before the divorce was even finalized.

Charlotte unclenched her fists, her voice icy. “Don’t worry, Mr. Howard. I won’t be in your way much longer. Congrattions in advance–I hope you and Tricia have a wonderful life together.”

She turned to leave.

Suddenly, someone grabbed her arm.

She looked back at Evander, and for a moment–maybe she imagined it—there was a flicker of something almost desperate beneath his usual

“What you just said-”

“Uncle!”

running straight for Evander,tching onto his leg.

seemed to snap back to himself, letting go of Charlotte and ing /ihis palm on Hans’s head, voice warm with affection. “What are you idoing /idown here?”

Hans grinned. “Mom and I have been waiting for you forever! We got worried, so we came to find you!”

Tricia joined them, standing beside Evander. She nced at Charlotte, her gaze sharp as a knife. “Dr. Sterling, you’re here too? Where’s Mr.

Pembroke? Didn’t hee with you?”

She’d seen Evander grab Charlotte’s arm just now, every detail burned into her memory.

The look in her eyes was pure venom.

20.21

The man who used to love her with everything he had, snatched away by some woman–how could she allow that?

She would never let Evander slip out of her grasp.

Charlotte met her gaze, face expressionless. “Is it any of your business?”

“Dr. Sterling, I know you’re still upset about the other day. If you’re angry that I was the reason you got suspended, I can talk to the board for you, help you get back to the hospital sooner.”

20:21