Cold husband burning regret

Regret Novel 203

When Evander lifted Charlotte into the car and softly closed the door behind them, the outside world faded away. All that remained in view was Abigail Sterling throwing a tantrum on the pavement and her aunt standing frozen in shock.

The rest of the onlookers whispered and gossiped about the Sterling family duo, but their words were now just a silent backdrop–Charlotte couldn’t hear any of it

anymore.

Evander gently traced his fingers over her slightly swollen cheek. Instinctively, she flinched away, but as if expecting it, he pulled her firmly into his arms. “Why didn’t you come home?” he asked.

She looked exhausted. “Do I even have a home to go back to?”

“Tranquility Manor is your home,” he said, plucking the cheap hair clip from her hair and tossing it out the window. “Even their pearls are plastic. I have to wonder–just how much money did it take for Abigail to sell her own granddaughter?”

Charlotte clenched her hands tightly in her lap, saying nothing.

Evander caught her chin between his fingers, turning her face to look directly at him. “You’re making it harder and harder for me to stop worrying about you.”

“I never asked you to worry, Mr. Howard.”

He frowned. “If I’m not supposed to worry about you, then who is? Jonathan Pembroke?”

Charlotte tried to pull away from his embrace, but his arms only tightened, holding her close. Even beneath the gaudy, second–rate wedding dress, her beauty was impossible to hide; today’s makeup made her look both innocent and beguiling.

thought of her being handed over to a fool made his

that steel

at Tranquility Manor, Evander took her straight to the bathroom. Without

the bathtub, wrapping her arms around

lips into a thin line. After a moment, he averted his gaze. “Just change your clothes. I won’t touch

7/2

Chapter 203

then did Charlotte begin to calm down. Even if Evander

trust

later, the steel factory was shut down. Her aunt’s family lost millions. When her father learned it was because his

each time.

the Sterling home to look for Charlotte,

mother, Rachel, was cremated

She buried Rachel beside Xavier in the cemetery, the process as simple and

he got a call from Natalie. He told

at him, hesitating, unable

stayed with her. Was it pity because she’d lost both her parents? Or had some pang of conscience finally caught up with him? Evander hung up the phone

her eyes away. “No.

for a long moment before turning away. “Let’s

Charlotte followed behind him.