Cold husband burning regret

Tricia masked her discomfort with a nonchalant hum. “Heard you went back to The Capital to find your birth family. Didn’t expect you back so soon.”

Nearby, one of the lab assistants cast a wary glance their way. Rumors of a rivalry between these two women had been circulating for months–it looked like they were

true.

Charlotte stopped right in front of Tricia, her expression cool and unreadable. “You seem to know a lot about my business. Must’ve put in quite a bit of effort digging around, huh?”

Tricia caught the edge in her tone, but just smiled with feigned innocence. “I’m afraid I have no idea what you’re talking about, Ms. Sterling.”

Charlotte turned to the assistant. “You can get back to work.”

Snapped out of her curiosity, the assistant nodded. “Of course.”

Once she’d left, Charlotte let her polite façade drop. “Whether you actually understand me or not doesn’t matter anymore. Sooner or later, the truth always catches up to you.”

Tricia’s smile faltered for a split second, but she quickly regained her composure, giving a soft laugh. “Are you here to threaten me?”

Charlotte stayed silent.

Tricia stepped closer, lowering her voice so only Charlotte could hear. “How unfortunate for you. Even if you’re the Rayburn family’s darling, you can’t touch me. We’ll see which of us comes out on top in the end.”

Charlotte clenched her fists, knowing full well Tricia was goading her. If she took the bait and started a scene under the security cameras, she’d only give Tricia ammunition to use against her.

Taking a slow breath, Charlotte forced herself to relax. As Tricia turned to leave, Charlotte called out with a faint smile, “Aren’t you even a little curious about your real parents?”

Tricia froze mid–step.

read Charlotte’s intentions, then sneered, “I’m an orphan. What parents? Even if they do exist, they

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17:14

Chapter 399

just smiled, saying

her lips. Whether Tricia cared or not,

the research report on her desk, and she

silence.

her own office, her expression was stormy. She blamed Charlotte for ruining her chance

last

Her biological parents?

Could Charlotte know something?

lip. She’d never even met her so–called parents–what did they matter? She’d be damned if she

at her desk, reviewing data when Old Mr.

Tricia from Group B give any reason for coming

“She said Professor Aldridge sent her

research results.”

on the nanomedicine results–he’d

problem?” Heath asked,

the report back on the desk. “Nothing important. I

drawer for an old, discarded report from a previous failed trial.

couldn’t have

interrupted her before she could do anything more. No matter how sharp Tricia’s memory was, she couldn’t possibly recall

headed toward the database