Charlotte made her way to the hospital to check on her patient. When the patient’s family learned she was the lead surgeon, the mother, ovee with gratitude, almost fell to her knees.

Startled, Charlotte and the nurses hurried to steady her, helping the elderly woman back to her feet. “Please, there’s no need for that,” Charlotte said gently. “It’s our duty to save lives and care for our patients.”

“If it weren’t for you, my son wouldn’t have survived. You gave him a second chance. I truly can’t thank you enough,” the mother sobbed, her tears a bittersweet mix of relief and lingering fear.

Doctors witness life and death every day, but to snatch someone back from the brink always felt like a small miracle.

Now, after the operation, the patient was out of danger, with noplications–a blessing amid so much misfortune.

Charlotte steadied the older woman and offered a few words offort. After repeating her instructions to the nurse, she quietly left the room

with her team.

Back in her office, her phone rang. Xavier’s name shed on the screen.

She hesitated, then picked up.

“Lottie, can iyou /iand Evandere home for a bit?” Xavier’s voice was gruff but familiar.

Charlotte had a sinking feeling she knew what this was about. Her voice cooled. “If you have something to say, just say it.”

i“/iCome ion /iinow/i, can’t iyour /iparents ask you home unless there’s some big reason? Just make sure you’re both here this afternoon.”

Before Charlotte could protest, he hung up.

20

Evander was in the middle of a meeting when his phone buzzed with a message from Tricia: [Evander, Hans is at preschool now. Thank you. If it weren’t for you, he wouldn’t have been able to start.]

He nced at it, tapped out a quick, [No problem,] and sent it off.

When he opened WhatsApp, his gazended on Charlotte’s chat window.

He realized thest message she’d sent him was dated the eighth ofst

month.

She’d asked, Are youing over this weekend?

He hadn’t replied.

And since then, she hadn’t messaged him again.

She really could keep her distance.

That afternoon.

Charlotte stood outside the Sterling house for a long time before finally mustering the courage to go in. Her mother, Rachel, greeted her at the door with a bright smile. “Lottie, you’re home.”

Rachel peered past her, searching the driveway.

There was a flicker of disappointment in her eyes.

Charlotte noticed, as she always did, and said quietly, “You don’t have to look. I’m the only oneing back.”

Rachel’s smile stiffened.

Just then, Xavier came downstairs. When he saw Evander wasn’t with her, irritation creased his face. “Didn’t I tell you to bring Evander with you?b” /b

“He’s busy.”

“What do you mean, busy? He’s your husband! Every couple argues but

i213 /i

20141

still sits down together at the end of the day. Can’t you even get him home for one meal? How pathetic is that!”

A coldness settled in Charlotte’s chest.

No one ever tried to understand her. Not even her own family.

He didn’t ask what happened–he just started ming her, like he always had. Six years, and nothing had changed.

She remembered how happy her parents had been when she married Evander. The dowry hadn’t mattered to them.

The Sterling family might not have been as wealthy as the Howards, butpared to most, they were stillfortable. Back then, she’d believed her parents were open–minded, that they truly wanted her happiness.

But after the wedding, everything changed. Her parents started pressing her to ask the Howards for money–first to buy her brother a bigger house and a new car, then to cover her father’s business losses.

To them, their son always came first.

And Charlotte? She was just their ticket to the Howard family’s fortune.

“Well, I’m sorry to disappoint you,” Charlotte said, voice icy and calm as she returned to the present. “Evander and I are getting a divorce.”

The word had barely left her lips when Xavier’s face turned crimson with rage. He pped her hard across the face.

23

bChapter /bb8 /b