Cold husband burning regret

Mrs. Rivers sighed. “Before Zoe was disfigured, she looked almost identical to your mother. They are twins, after all, and people who don’t know them well could easily mix them up. Your father had no idea The Donovan Group had two daughters, and at the charity gala where your parents first met, Zoe hadn’t even returned to the country yet.”

“At the time, your grandfather planned to marry your mother off to the eldest son of the Sutcliffe real estate family, and Zoe was meant to marry into the Rayburns. That’s actually when Zoe first met your father. He mistook her for the woman who’d stolen his heart that night, but it didn’t take long for him to realize there were two Donovan sisters. Just as he tried to explain the mix–up to Zoe, that terrible fire happened.”

Charlotte frowned. “So, before the accident, my aunt didn’t realize that my father had mistaken her for my mother all along…”

Mrs. Rivers let out a long breath. “That’s right. Sometimes, fate does have a cruel sense of humor.”

Charlotte fell silent.

No wonder Zoe resented her sister. No wonder she hated Sean Rayburn too.

From Zoe’s perspective, it made sense: she thought Sean cared for her, that they were a perfect match, and then a fire ruined her life. The man she’d set her heart on ended up marrying her sister…

Still, no matter how tragic Zoe’s story was, the sympathy wore thin. She’d

orchestrated the switch, driven her own sister to madness, and even colluded with a

murderer like Tricia. Whatever pity Charlotte might’ve felt for her vanished in the face of such cruelty.

…

The next day, Charlotte went to the hospital to help Hiram pack his things. He was ready to be discharged, suitcase in hand, when he turned to her. “Sis, will you come back to the city?”

paused, then ruffled his hair and smiled. “Of course I will. As long as

she could see the reluctance

at Julian. “I’m trusting you to look after

1/3

17:13

Chapter 396

“You can count on me,

as Hiram and Julian left the room. The parting tugged

ease knowing Hiram was in good

her phone rang. It was Old

picked up

ages. Ready to get back to

hint of guilt flashed across her face. “I’m sorry to keep

Mr. Carstairs snorted. “If you know that, then get yourself back here. If you delay any longer, I won’t be able to cover

understand. I’ll come by as soon as I’m

then headed to the

the afternoon.

researcher for Group B’s project. While Charlotte was away, Professor Aldridge had

had secured major sponsorship from

wasn’t surprised in