Charlotte’s memory was abruptly triggered by his words.

That chapter of her life–sealed away for eleven years–unfolded in the early spring of Old Fernhill, during a notorious child abduction case.

Among the six kidnapped children were both her and him.

She had never forgotten.

But he had long since erased her from his mind.

Her grip on the nket tightened, then released. She turned her head away. “No, haven’t seen him.”

“Are you sure?” The man’s brow knitted even tighter.

“I’m sure.”

No sooner had she spoken than his fingers pressed against her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. “Really? Not at all?”

She faced him, feigningposure. “Mr. Howard, if I had, wouldn’t you remember

too?”

He froze, momentarily speechless.

“I’d like to get some sleep now.” Charlotte brushed his hand away. “If you want to stay, Mr. Howard, grab yourself a cot.”

Evander simplyid down beside her. “I can’t sleep on those hospital cots.”

Charlotte almostughed out loud. She threw back the covers, ready to get up, but Evander’s arm shot out, pulling her back against him.

Instinctively, she grabbed at his shirt as she toppled, and he was dragged down with her,nding above her on the bed.

Their faces were mere inches apart. His breath enveloped her, tangling around her

senses.

She nervously licked her dry lips.

The look in his eyes darkened; his fingertips traced lightly over her mouth.

Just then, a nurse making her rounds nced in and caught a glimpse of the

08:44

intimate scene unfolding inside the room.

Her first impulse was to barge in and stop them–after all, this was a public hospital room–but she suddenly remembered: this was Dr. Sterling’s room!

And the man who’d just visited Dr. Sterling…

Was Mr. Howard!

Oh my God!

Hand trembling, the nurse snapped a photo with her phone and sent it to her best friend over in neurology, before hurrying back to the nurses‘ station to gossip.

Meanwhile, inside the room-

Charlotte snapped out of the haze in an instant, shoving Evander away, her face white as a sheet. “I… I’m a patient. This isn’t appropriate.”

Evander’s thumb still tingled with the memory of her warmth. For a fleeting moment, he’d truly wanted to…

“I’ll take the cot.”

He was back to his usual cool demeanor, climbing off the bed.

Charlotte quicklyy down, turning her back to him. She could hear the frantic pounding of her own pulse, and it refused to calm.

What had Evander meant by all that just now?

Had he wanted to kiss her?

If she hadn’t pushed him away–would he have?

Her thoughts tangled into a hopeless knot, ying the scene over and over in her mind, wrestling with hermon sense, tormenting her all night long.

But Charlotte wasn’t the only one who couldn’t sleep.

Tricia, too,y awake–staring at the photo she’d just received.

Her hands shook. The picture was grainy and dark, but she recognized E suit instantly.

der’s

She was supposed to be Evander’s first love. Yet in the end, it was someone else who had him!

She’d schemed for so long after returning home–only to end up with nothing. How could she possibly ept it?

b2/2 /b

08:44

Crash!

Tricia swept a vase off the dresser, losing control in a fit of rage.

Hans, curled up in the corner of his bedroom, pressed his hands to his ears, trembling at the shrill, furious sounds from outside, itoo /iterrified even ito /icry.

The next morning, Charlotte woke to find Evander already gone. Thinking back tost night, it still felt more like a dream than reality.

“Director Fontaine really took the fall for this one, huh?” the nurses igossiped /ias they passed by. “Turns out Dr. Sterling was the other woman for Mr. Howard all along–and to keep it a secret, she staged the whole thing and let Director Fontaine take the me!”