Cold husband burning regret

Regret Novel 20

Tricia unzipped Charlotte’s purse, and sure enough, pulled out a sparkling diamond bracelet. Gasps swept through the small crowd that had

gathered, everyone staring in shock.

The way they looked at Charlotte changed instantly.

“I can’t believe Dr. Sterling would do something like this.”

“My God, I really misjudged her.”

“If she’s got this kind of character, how is she even allowed to practice medicine?”

“Stealing a bracelet? How desperate must she be for money?”

Every scathing word sliced into Charlotte, and she felt as if she’d fallen into a frozen lake–numb, breathless, utterly alone. Her face turned even paler, but gradually a strange calm settled over her, icy and unwavering.

She knew exactly what had happened. Tricia had planted the bracelet in her purse–there was no other explanation for Tricia’s certainty. Again and again, Tricia had tried to set her up, but why? Was it because of Evander?

But their marriage wasn’t public knowledge. How could Tricia possibly know?

Tricia’s expression was the very picture of disappointment as she turned to the crowd. “Dr. Sterling, even if you did admire my bracelet, you can’t just take it when I’m not looking, can you?” She sighed, shaking her head. “It’s not the most expensive piece I own, but it’s my favorite. Even if you liked it, you shouldn’t have done this.”

The whispers, the accusations, the sneers–every bit of it reached Charlotte’s ears. She clenched her fists, her gaze hollow and cold.

Evander noticed the color draining from Charlotte’s face. His chest

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Chapter 20

a sudden sense of dread. He swept a hard look over the crowd. “Enough. That’s

he tried to disperse the onlookers, Tricia stared at him in

her bracelet, is that it?” Charlotte’s voice rang out, steady

brow furrowed even deeper, his

and strode right up to Tricia, who looked caught

Charlotte

crowd recoiled in

knew Tricia was backed by Mr. Howard, the hospital’s director. No one dared lay a finger on her, especially with Mr. Howard standing right

stood rooted to the spot, stunned.

have such a fiery streak. Damn, he thought, she’s got guts. Just my

seen it coming either. He grabbed Charlotte’s wrist. “What are

away, her eyes blazing with suppressed fury. “What am I doing? I

clutching her cheek in disbelief, and chuckled coldly. “If I’ve got the nerve to slap you in front of Mr. Howard, do you really think I’d stoop to stealing your bracelet? If

said it yourself–this bracelet is your favorite, a gift

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did I swipe it from your wrist without you noticing? Did you not feel a thing? Or is the skin on your wrist as thick as your

hadn’t expected Charlotte to flip the script so

made sense–how would someone steal a

turned a

scrambled for an explanation. “No, that’s not it… I wasn’t

Howard. If you weren’t wearing it, how would I even know you had it with you? Did you take it out just

wrist again. “Are you going to keep

him in disbelief, her heart turning to stone. “I’m defending