bSince /bbthat /bbnight /bwhen Evander had left in anger, he hadn’t be /bbback/b. bA /bbweek /bter bit /bwas time for Rosemary’s birthday celebration.

Lte messaged Charlotte to let her know that Rosemary wanted her band /bbEvander /bto attend together.

Charlotte understood her ce–she and Evander weren’t officially divorced yetb, /bbso /bshe was still the Howard family’s daughter–inw. Naturally, she couldn’t refuse bto /battend a family matriarch’s birthday party.

After replying to Lte, Charlotte hesitated before finally sending a message to Evander: *Grandma’s birthday. I’m going with you.*

Ten minutes passed with no reply.

She locked her phone and decided not to wait around for an answer.

Meanwhile, Tricia was at the mall shopping for a birthday gift for the olddy with

Genevieve.

“Tricia, you really have great taste. Anything you choose, my grandmother is bound to love!” Genevieve beamed, looping her arm through Tricia’s.

The two had known each other for nearly a decade. And since Tricia was her cousin’s first love–the one he’d never gotten over–Genevieve had always held her in the highest regard, practically idolizing her.

Tricia lowered her gaze with a gentle smile. “You think so? But…if your grandmother finds out the gift is from me, I doubt she’ll be pleased,”

After all, it was the old woman who tore her and Evander apart in the first ce.

Otherwise, by now, she would have been Mrs. Howard.

“That’s only because Grand–uh, my grandmother misunderstood you. She listened to some nonsense and forced you and my cousin to break up!” Genevieve nearly said the wrong name, but caught herself. She patted her chest, full of conviction. “But you’re the only one I’ll ever ept as my cousin’s wife. As long as I’m around, I’ll convince her to change her mind!”

Tricia could only smile helplessly.

She turned away, her smile vanishing the moment Genevieve couldn’t see her bface/bb. /b

What had Genevieve almost said? Char…? Did she mean Charlotte?

b1/3 /b

b09:39 /b

bAfter /bbhelping /bbGenevieve /bbpick /bbout /bba /bgift, bTri /bbheaded /bbback /bto the hospital Par bby /bbCharlotte’s /bboffice/bb, /bbshe /bbpaused/b.

bSomething /bburred /bbto /bbher/bb, /bband /bshe bwalked /bbover /bbto /bbthe /bbnurses/bb‘ /bbstation/bb, /bbasking /bone bof /bbthe /bbnurses /bbfor /bCharlotte’s employment file.

The nurse seemed a little surprised but didn’t ask questions and handed bover /bbthe /bfile.

Tricia double–checked–Charlotte’s marital status was indeed listed bas /bbmarried/b.

“Have any of you ever seen Dr. Sterling’s husband?” Tricia asked suddenly.-

The two nurses at the station exchanged nces and shook their heads. “Actually, no, we haven’t…”

“So she really is married?”

“We don’t know,” one of them replied. “None of us have ever met Dr. Sterling’s

husband.”

Tricia stared thoughtfully at Charlotte’s file.

Charlotte only found out that Tricia had been looking into her backgroundter that afternoon, when the nurse on duty, Vera, mentioned it to her.

Charlotte slipped her file back into the cab. “Did she ask about anything in particr?”

“She wanted to know if any of us had met your husband.”

Charlotte paused mid–motion.

She’d suspected before that Tricia was trying to figure out her rtionship with Evander–maybe she’d guessed something ahead of time and that was why she’d always seemed so antagonistic.

But now it seemed she was only just beginning to suspect.

“It’s fine. If she wants to check, let her check.” Charlotte smiled faintly, unconcerned. Even if Tricia found out, there was no guarantee that certain people would ever let

her know the truth.

So Charlotte wasn’t worried about Tricia discovering her connection to Evander.

A weekter, Howard Manor was buzzing with activity.

b09:39 /b

Chapter

Guests arrived as expected–every influential figure in the city was there.

Rosemary’s reputation preceded her. Even in old age, long retired from business, she was still remembered as the formidable woman who once dominated the corporate world–a role model for independent women everywhere.

In the living room, Miranda and Charlotte greeted the distinguished guests, gracious andposed.