“That’s none of your business. The only daughter the Rayburn family will ever have is me.”

Loretta hung up without giving Tricia’s words a second thought.

Her DNA results proved she was the Rayburns‘ biological daughter. Who cared who that other woman looked like?

Tricia nearlyughed out loud at Loretta’s arrogance.

What an idiot. Not a single thought in her head.

From the moment she had Loretta take Charlotte’s ce as Evander’s so–called “savior,” and then watched Loretta move into the Rayburn family as their heiress, she’d had her suspicions.

How could it all be such a coincidence?

But as long as it wasn’t Charlotte, Loretta ying the Rayburn heiress only benefited her. Not a single downside.

Tricia was certain–Loretta woulde crawling to her soon enough.

The next day.

Law Office.

Charlotte sat on the sofa, waiting. After a moment, the attorney strode in, a briefcase in hand. “Mrs. Howard, I’m terribly sorry to keep you waiting.”

“Evander won’t sign the papers. I want to file for divorce on my own.” Charlotte slid an envelope of cash toward him. “I can pay you more.”

Thewyer hesitated, looking ufortable. “Actually, Mrs. Howard, I was hoping to speak with you about that. I’m afraid I can’t take your

case.”

She frowned. “You can’t?”

He sighed. “To be honest, it’s not just me. There isn’t a singlewyer in the city willing to go up against Mr. Howard right now.”

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He pushed the envelope back to her. “The retainer you paid–I’ll refund it. You might want to find someone outside the city, or… just wait out the separation for two years.”

Charlotte stared at the returned cash. “Evander threatened iyou/i?”

Thewyer didn’t answer, but his uneasy expression said it all.

She didn’t press further. She quietly put the cash away and stood to leave. Outside, Charlotte contacted another divorce attorney. As isoon /ias she mentioned Evander’s name, the call was politely declined.

She descended the courthouse steps. A silver Mercedes was idling by the curb, half–hidden by the hedges. The man who stepped out was Jonathan–someone she hadn’t seen in ages.

He looked thinner, a shadow of the man he used to be.

The Sleep Disorder Clinic was just a few blocks away. When he spotted Charlotte, surprise flickered across his face.

He stopped in front of her. “When did you get back?”

“I’m just here for a few days,” she said.

“I see…” Jonathan clearly wanted to say more, but he knew he’d forfeited any right to ask about her life.

He was about to leave when Charlotte suddenly spoke. “That night in the lounge, when I was nearly assaulted and you just happened to show up–was that part of your n too?”

She’d always wanted to ask him this.

Jonathan froze, silent for a long moment. “Not those guys, no.”

“What do you mean?”

He turned back, his eyes bleak. “I gave Tricia the real room number. The people in the lounge were supposed to be my guys. I nned to swoop in and y your hero if they gave you trouble. But I didn’t expect Tricia to

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switch out the room–and bring in her own people.”

When Charlotte didn’t respond, he continued, “I know you probably don’t believe a word I say anymore. But I’m not lying now. I let you down.”

“This all started as a contest between me and Evander. I never meant to drag you into it. If I hadn’t teamed up with Tricia, if none of this had happened, we’d probably still be best friends, right?”

Charlotte turned away, her voice cool. “Too bad…”

A sad smile twisted his lips, regret clouding his pale eyes.

Yeah. Too bad.

Riverspire Medical Center.

Before taking his days off, Judd reassigned all his patient consults to

Gentry.

Gentry eyed him suspiciously. “You’re not nning to hunt down Charlotte, are you?”

Judd shot him a look, expression unreadable. “I’ve worked overtime every year. I’m allowed a few days off.”

Gentry grunted. “Fine, fine. You’re the boss. Whatever you say.”

Judd shrugged iout /iof his white coat and left the office.

In the hallway, he caught sight of Stevenson hobbling toward the nurses‘ station with a cane. Judd called out, “Is Dr. Sterling in?”