Cold husband burning regret

The old matriarch rapped her knuckles sharply on the table, her voice ringing through the dining room. “Do you know what everyone in our circles is saying? The Howards have thrown away their dignity just to cozy up to the Rayburns! Is that what you call looking out for your daughter’s best interests? Besides resorting to cheap tricks and dirty schemes, do you even know any other way to get ahead?”

She took a deep breath, her gaze icy. “You really make your selfishness sound so noble. Ilse, I have to say, you never cease to surprise me.”

With that, the old woman slowly rose to her feet, her composure unshakeable. “You all enjoy your dinner.”

Linette immediately stepped forward to help her out of the room.

Miranda, appetite gone, followed soon after.

In a blink, only Ilse and her daughter Genevieve remained at the table.

Genevieve’s bravado finally cracked. She turned to her mother, voice trembling. “Mom, do you think Grandma’s really mad at us?”

Ilse’s hand clenched beneath the table, her expression darkening. “So what if she is? She’s old. She’ll be gone sooner or later. I can avoid her for now, but not forever. One day, I’ll have to deal with her–no matter

what.”

The dinner ended in icy silence, the tension thick in the air.

Meanwhile, across town, Charlotte was having the time of her life at a bustling street food stall, happily devouring skewers hot off the grill.

Ever since she married Evander, she’d sworn off street food–after all, “Mrs. Howard” had an image to uphold.

the late–night food stands. As she glanced around, her eyes landed on a familiar figure sitting at a

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Chapter 34

blinked, surprised. “Isn’t that Mrs.

office, exhaustion written on his handsome features. But at the mention of Charlotte, a

even in a crowd. She

voice low. “Pull

did as told and parked by the curb. As Evander reached for the door handle, two college–aged, boys approached Charlotte. They exchanged a few words, one of them handing her his phone, clearly asking

didn’t turn them

made her laugh, her smile radiant and

her laugh like that in ages. The realization twisted something

and strode toward the

to sit down beside her when Evander pulled the chair away. The boy spun around, startled, and stared up at

her head, barely

anyone teach you to keep your hands off

looked to Charlotte, flustered. “Sorry,

a