Cold husband burning regret

Tricia walked into the records room, files in hand, and passed them to the manager on duty. The man looked up, a bit surprised to see her. “I thought Assistant Heath usually delivers these?”

“Assistant Heath had something come up, so he asked me to drop them off for him.” Tricia offered a polite, almost distant smile. “Is Professor Aldridge in? I was hoping to speak with him.”

“He’s been out the past few days.”

Satisfied the man was none the wiser, Tricia feigned a look of realization. “Oh, I see……”

She let her gaze sweep over the busy staff around her, lips curling into a cool, measured smile before turning and making her way out.

At the hospital, Charlotte had just finished surgery and was walking a patient’s family through post–op instructions in the hallway.

Once the family returned to the room, she checked her phone–Assistant Heath had sent her a message.

On her way back to her office, Charlotte passed by Judd’s office door. She paused when she heard Mrs. Carstairs’s voice from inside. “No matter what, Charlotte is the Howard family’s daughter–in–law. You’re not actually interested in a married woman, are you?”

Charlotte stopped short in the corridor, lips pressed tight.

She heard Judd set his paperwork aside. “Who I care for isn’t up for the Carstairs family’s approval.”

“You can like whoever you want, that’s your business. But Charlotte is off–limits,” Daphne said, her voice growing shrill. “Our family wants a daughter–in–law with a clean background. Charlotte’s already been married, and-”

She caught herself, swallowing the rest of her sentence and quickly changing tack. “Your father would never agree to this. People would laugh at us!”

Judd barely glanced up. “You and Evander’s father had history. Of course he’d have strong opinions.”

Daphne bristled. “This is about your future, Judd!”

1/3

17:14

Chapter 400

have work

outside the door, stunned. Only when she heard movement inside did she snap

she sat distractedly at her desk, the conversation replaying in

feelings

That couldn’t be right…

Carstairs was just imagining

at the

Finnick Vinterberg had booked the whole place–his people were stationed everywhere, half

overseas.

Finnick at the pool’s edge and said in English, “Boss, I brought

across his bare chest. Reclining against the pool’s edge, he

see.”

pool, pulled a freshly copied report from her bag, and held

to him.

just as he reached for

more threat than warmth as he drew his

you the report,” Tricia said evenly, “but only if you agree

for a few seconds, then

draped a

his stare sharp and cold. “What

rid of Charlotte, and from now on, I’ll follow your orders–no