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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would turn into a full–blown family affair, with both

had chartered an entire plane. Charlotte’s ticket

it.

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

suite was the penthouse: six bedrooms, enough for the three of them, the lead

over a decade–he was the right–hand

and sent it off with an assistant to a hospital where he had connections, ensuring the tests

left, Jacques turned to Charlotte, who had been silent the whole time. “If you’re worried about your foster parents‘ son, I can have

She froze.

here–that would

calm. “Thank you, Dad, but there’s no

was when Jacques remembered she’d been taken

Sean/capital of Eldermere

press

take a call, Charlotte finally let her

2/3

12:45

Chapter 382

But Evander noticed.

faint smile. “Are you afraid we’ll use Hiram