Evander’s face darkened. Just as he was about to let go of Tricia, she gripped his arm tightly. “Evander, I’m still not feeling well. Would youe with me to pick up my medicine?”

He frowned, ncing back in the direction where a figure had just disappeared, then gave a curt nod.

Evander apanied Tricia to the pharmacy to get her prescription. As they walked back, Tricia nced at him and noticed how distracted he seemed. Smiling, she stepped closer. “Evander, Hans wants to attend a private kindergarten, but he doesn’t have the right paperwork. I was thinking… maybe you could have him temporarily registered under your name?”

Afraid he’d refuse, Tricia quickly added, “Don’t worry–it’s only temporary. I promise, no one will ever know.”

Evander fixed her with an unreadable stare.

Tricia didn’t dare look away. Instead, she nervously clenched her fingers. “Evander, are you… upset with me?”

“It’s not appropriate for Hans to be registered under my name,” he said, his expression unchanged. “But I can have my mother officially recognize him as her stepson.”

Tricia froze.

A stepson to the Howards…

That would make Hans the same generation as Evander!

Her own son, turned into Evander’s “little brother“-what did that make

her?

Evander’s gaze sharpened. “Are you unhappy with this arrangement?”

Tricia buried her resentment beneath a polite facade. “No… whatever you

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think is best.”

He gave a nomittal grunt and said nothing more.

Tricia curled her fingers into her palm, bitterly dissatisfied. Still, she reminded herself–some things couldn’t be rushed. As long as her son made it into the Howards‘ circle and won over the family elders, she’d have her chance to rise again.

Evander didn’te home that night.

Charlotte used to leave a light on for him, but not anymore. Whether he came home or not, it simply didn’t matter.

She was about to head to the hospital when, unfortunately, she ran into Tricia and her son downstairs.

Charlotte tried to walk past them, but Tricia called out, “Dr. Sterling.”

She stopped and turned. “Is there something you need?”

Tricia looked at her. “Dr. Sterling, do you… not like me?”

“You’re overthinking,” Charlotte replied. It wasn’t a matter of liking or disliking–there simply wasn’t any need for it. They barely knew each

other.

Tricia led her son over, smiling. “That’s good to hear. Oh, you’re heading to the hospital, right? I’ll be going there too, just after I drop Hans off.”

“If we’re going the same way, I’ll have Evander give you a ride when he gets here.”

Charlotte’s expression tightened. So that’s where he’d spent the night–with Tricia.

Their divorce wasn’t even final, yet he couldn’t wait to crawl into another woman’s bed.

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Chapter b5 /b

She answered coldly, “No need. I have my own car.”

Tricia reached out as if to stop her. “Don’t be so polite–after all, we work at the same hospital. Evander will be here any minute.”

Charlotte forced herself to swallow the anger rising in her chest. She couldn’t help but wonder if Tricia was doing all this on purpose–had she always known about Charlotte and Evander’s rtionship? Was that why she kept showing off in front of her?

Charlotte yanked her arm free. “I said–no, thank you.”

Suddenly, Tricia stumbled and fell to the ground.

Seeing his mother on the floor, Hans rushed at Charlotte, shoving her. “You’re a meandy! How dare you push my mom!”

Charlotte’s phone ttered to the ground.

Hans, fuming, stomped on her phone several times.

“Do you have any manners?” Charlotte snapped, pulling him aside. He fell

on his backside and burst into tears.

Evander saw themotion as he pulled up. He parked, got out, and strode over, long legs eating up the distance. “Charlotte!”

In his urgency, he didn’t care if Tricia realized how he truly felt. He called Charlotte’s name out loud.

“Daddy! That meandy pushed me!” Hans wailed, tears streaming down

his cheeks.

Tricia turned to check Hans for injuries, her face dark with anger. “Dr. Sterling, if you have a problem, take it up with me. There’s no need to take it out on a child!”

Charlotte took a shaky breath, jaw clenched. “Funny how you don’t mention that your son deliberately stomped on my phone, Miss Winthrop.”

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Tricia avoided her gaze. “Hans… he didn’t mean it.”

“Once is an ident. Stomping on it over and over? That’s deliberate.”

“Charlotte.” Evander’s eyes shed with anger.