Cold husband burning regret

Chapter 382

Jacques paused in the middle of straightening his jacket, his face. darkening with irritation. “What nonsense are you spouting now?”

Miranda’s voice trembled with the force of emotions she’d kept buried for over a decade. “You know exactly what I mean, so don’t pretend otherwise. Ever since Evander was born, have you ever really looked at me as your wife? If I weren’t a Sutherland, you would’ve tossed me out years ago!”

Jacques’s chest rose and fell rapidly, anger flickering in his eyes. He yanked his arm out of her grip. “Aren’t you a little old for this kind of childish tantrum?”

A little old…

That stabbed deeper than he could know. Miranda’s eyes reddened, her laugh catching in her throat. “You’re right. I married you at twenty–six, gave birth to Evander at twenty–eight. Now I’m fifty–eight. I’ve spent half my life trapped here as Mrs. Howard, playing the dutiful wife and mother. My beauty faded, while you barely changed at all. Of course you’re tired

of me.”

She wiped at her tears, her voice cracking. “I’m not as pretty as Daphne, not as gentle, not as good at making you happy. No wonder you can’t forget her–she’s your perfect memory, isn’t she?”

Jacques’s expression grew even colder, unmoved by her outburst. “Whatever happened with her is ancient history. Even if you’re angry with me, you don’t need to keep dragging her into this.”

With that, he brushed past Miranda and walked out, leaving her standing

alone.

She looked up, hastily wiping her cheeks, and gave a bitter, broken laugh.

Charlotte would never have guessed that a simple return trip to Riverspire

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into a full–blown family affair,

tow, the Howards had chartered an entire plane. Charlotte’s ticket was rendered useless–she

it.

the morning, landed around twelve–thirty. The Howard family, surrounded by their entourage, swept into the city’s

was the penthouse: six bedrooms, enough for the three of them, the lead physician, and Secretary

worked for Jacques for over a decade–he was the right–hand man, the one

an

had been silent the whole time. “If you’re worried about

She froze.

would

you, Dad, but there’s no need. My brother

when Jacques remembered she’d been taken

of Sean/capital

press

out to take a call, Charlotte

2/3

12:45

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But Evander noticed.

“Are you