Let go of me.”

Sensing her resistance, Evander pressed his lips into a thin line. He couldn’t stand the way she looked at him–like she was bracing for execution–so he turned her

over.

She found herself pinned against the cold marble countertop, panic ring in her chest.

“Evander!”

“Be quiet.” His lips seared the nape of her neck, hot and burning.

Her body trembled. The more forceful he became, the more she recoiled, refusing to relent.

Evander grasped her chin, forcing her to face him. “What’s wrong? Jonathan Pembroke can touch you, but I can’t?”

His words cut her to the core.

Smack!

She pped him with all the strength she could muster.

His handsome face snapped to the side.

The air froze.

Charlotte’s palm tingled, her eyes rimmed red and brimming with angry tears. Her voice shook as she choked out, “Evander, why is it that you always assume the worst of me? Aren’t you tired of it?”

“I know you look down on me. You always have. But you could’ve just ignored me, like you used to! Why go out of your way to trample me?”

“If you’re so desperate for me to step aside, you don’t have to force me–I’ll leave when my time is up.”

She turned away.

Evander instinctively reached out to grab her.

She wrenched free, marched to the bedroom, and mmed the door behind her, locking it tight.

With only a single door between them, Charlotte still couldn’t hold back her emotions. She bit down on her hand, desperate to stifle her sobs.

Evander lit a cigarette, the pale smoke curling around his brooding face.

For a fleeting second, he’d actually wanted to exin himself.

When had she started getting under his skin?

Was it when Tricia suddenly transferred to the hospital? Or was it every time Charlotte’s eyes welled up with tears, and that tiny brown birthmark near hershes made his heart lurch?

He was certain he’d never met Charlotte before.

He’d been forced to marry her, back when he was drowning in self–destruction.

The bride wasn’t someone he’d chosen. At that point, it could’ve been anyone.

There’d been no wedding, no celebration. On their wedding night, the moment he saw her, he knew she wasn’t ordinary.

Not cunning–just… unexpected.

Because, Tricia aside, Charlotte was the only other woman who’d ever made his heart skip a beat.

He hated that feeling.

It made him feel like he was always on the verge of betraying himself, body and soul. ullihe /li/ul

The longer he spent around Charlotte, the more restless he became. So he kept her at arm’s length, kept things cold. But no matter how careful he was, he’d still betrayed his own body.

All the desire he’d suppressed during his time with Tricia–he lost control with Charlotte. It was almostughable.

Evander’s gaze darkened. He didn’t even flinch when the ash from his cigarette burned his hand.

She shouldn’t have this effect on him.

Charlotte heard the front door close. When she finally emerged from the bedroom, Evander was gone.

bChapter /b77

Only half a cigarette smoldered in the ashtray.

She looked down at her still–warm palm. Given his temperament, that p probably meant he wouldn’t being back anytime soon.

Good.

At least when these six weeks were up, she’d be able to leave in peace.

After the weekend, Charlotte returned to the hospital.

Passing by the supply closet, she overheard a group of nurses gossiping inside.

“No way–is Dr. Sterling really someone’s kept woman? So the whole ‘married‘ thing is just a cover for her sugar daddy?”

“Can’t be fake–people saw a guy in a luxury car drop her off at Tranquility Manor. Tranquility Manor, can you believe it? Those condos go for nearly a million apiece! There’s no way a doctor’s sry could cover that.‘”

Charlotte stood outside, frowning.

She did live in Tranquility Manor, but when had a man ever dropped her off in a uxury car?

Jnless… someone had seen her getting out of Evander’s car?