bChapter /bb58 /b

Charlotte stepped into the house with Evander trailing behind her. She ignored bthe /bman, kicked off her shoes, and headed straight for the bedroom.

She went into the walk–in closet, grabbed a change of clothes, and made her way bto /bthe guest room across the hall.

Evander was pouring himself a ss of water in the kitchen when he saw her pass by. He didn’t say a word.

A momentter, he heard the distinct sound of the guest room door locking.

His grip around the ss tightened, his expression unreadable.

When had she started feeling the need to keep her guard up against him?

Just then, his phone rang. It was Dean Chase calling.

Charlotte had taken the morning off and didn’t arrive at the hospital until the afternoon.

She’d barely stepped into the lobby when a middle–aged woman marched straight toward her and, without a word, pped her hard across the face.

Before Charlotte could react, the woman seized her by the cor and shouted, “You homewrecker! How dare you seduce my husband!”

“Ma’am, you must be mistaken,” Charlotte managed as she pushed the woman away. “I don’t even know your husband. Who told you toe here and nder me?”

The woman shoved a photo right up to Charlotte’s face. “Quentin Fontaine is my husband! You both work here at this hospital–don’t even try to deny you know him!”

Charlotte stared at the photo, stunned and confused. “Director Fontaine?”

“You tramp! No wonder my husband’s never home–turns out he’s been keeping ba /bwoman like you on the side!” The woman raised her hand again, but by now security had rushed over to restrain her.

Tricia and Director Fontaine arrived just in time.

“Honey!” Director Fontaine hurried to his wife’s side, trying to calm her down. She twisted around and yanked him by the ear. “What, are you going to defend byour /b

b09:42 /b

blittle /bmistress now?b” /b

b“/bNo, no, of course not!” Director Fontaine wrapped an arm around his bwife /bband /b

pointed at Charlotte. “She came on to me! If it weren’t for her, I never would bhave /beven looked at her twice!”

Charlotte’s mind went nk for a moment.

But she quickly realized this was all a setup, aimed straight at her.

Tricia put on a show of shock and turned toward Charlotte. “Dr. Sterling, aren’t you married? You and Director Fontaine… oh my god!”

A wave of whispers and gasps swept through the lobby.

“Is this for real? Is Dr. Sterling really that desperate?”

“Who’d want a guy like Director Fontaine–bald, oily, and always nitpicking?”

“Maybe her husband’s even worse. He’s nevere to visit her at work, has he?”

“If I’d known it was that easy, I might’ve tried my luck too.”

One nastyment after another wormed their way into Charlotte’s ears, each one sharper than thest, as if determined to break her down.

Her hands clenched tightly at her sides, her gaze cold and steady. “Director Fontaine, you say I seduced you. Why don’t you tell everyone exactly how I did that? Where did it happen, and when?”

“I-” Director Fontaine stammered, caught off guard by the question and nearly losing hisposure. “Do we really need to discuss something like this in public? Isn’t it embarrassing for everyone?”

Tricia, ever the picture of concern, chimed in, “This is about your reputation, Dr. Sterling. Whatever happened, we’re all here–maybe it’s better to handle this privately?”

She sounded sympathetic, but Charlotte knew better. Tricia was just trying to make her look guilty–if she agreed to take things behind closed doors, everyone would assume she had something to hide.

“Why should we settle this quietly?” Charlotte’s voice was calm but edged with steel. “If I’ve done nothing wrong, I have nothing to fear. Since everyone’s here, let’s clear things up right now. Otherwise, I’m being branded a homewrecker for i reason at all–and I deserve to know why.”