When Charlotte let herself into the apartment with the spare key, the living room was dark. She closed the door quietly, careful not to make a sound, and started toward her bedroom. But then, the lights behind the ss bar cab flickered on.

    She stopped in her tracks. Evander stepped out from behind the bar, wearing a robe and holding a ss of whiskey.

    “Couldn’t sleep?” she asked.

    He set his ss down on the marble countertop, his eyes lingering on her. “Couldn’t get any rest,” he replied. “You’re home prettyte.”

    “Work rante.” Her gaze drifted to the drink in his hand. Without thinking, she added, “You really shouldn’t be drinking, not with your health like this.”

    He paused, a faint ripple passing through his otherwise calm eyes before vanishing. “Rx. It’s not going to kill me. You won’t be a widow just yet–sorry to disappoint.”

    His tone was sharp, almost mocking.

    Charlotte had no patience for his sarcasm. She turned to go to her room, but he

    called her back.

    “Charlotte.”

    She nced over her shoulder. “What now?i” /i

    He looked at her for a long moment, as if searching for words, but in the end, all he managed was, “Get some rest.”

    She didn’t bother replying and disappeared into her room.

    Evander stared after her, gripping the ss so tightly the veins stood out on the back

    of his hand.

    Genevieve’s words from earlier that day echoed in his mind:

    *Brother, do you really think Charlotte wants to stay with you? I heard Mr. Rayburn say it himself–she only agreed to be with you because your mother promised her a

    divorce once iyou /igot better. She’s not here because of you!*

    Evander sat at the bar, pressing his thumb and fingers to his forehead, struggling to catch his breath as a dull ache tightened in his chest.

    b1/3 /b

    17:14

    The next day, The Capital.

    “I don’t want to go abroad, Grandma!”

    The Howard family’s old manor was filled with Genevieve’s pleading as she stood before Rosemary Howard. “Why is my brother doing this to me? Just because of Charlotte? He’s the one who ignored her in the first ce! How is it my fault?”

    “And now, he’s using me of stirring up trouble and wants to send me away? Why? I’m still part of this family, your granddaughter!”

    “My mother was right–if I had known he’d turn on me like this, I should’ve listened to her and fought for my share of the inheritance-b” /b

    Rosemary massaged her temples, already developing a headache from Genevieve’s whining, but thatstment caught her attention. “What did you say?”

    Genevieve froze. She hadn’t meant to say that out loud.

    “N–nothing.”

    “Your mother wants you to fight Evander for the inheritance?” Rosemary stared at her,

    incredulous.

    Genevieve panicked. “Grandma, that’s not what I meant!”

    “It doesn’t surprise me that Ilse has these ideas. But I didn’t expect you to go along with them.” Rosemary took a deep breath, her disappointment clear. “There’s a reason your brother wants you to study overseas. If you keep staying by your mother’s side, who knows what she’ll turn you into!”

    “Grandma-”

    “That’s enough!” Rosemary’s voice was firm. She called for Lte, the housekeeper. “Make arrangements–Genevieve is to leave for the States within the next few days, no exceptions.”

    Lte hesitated. “And Mr. Jensen?”

    “I’ll speak to Jensen myself.”

    Outside the door, Natalie lingered, listening to themotion inside.

    She turned away, stepped outside into the courtyard, and dialed Evander’s number to let him know that Rosemary had agreed to send Genevieve abroad.

    Evander flipped listlessly through a magazine, barely interested. “Anything else?” he asked.

    17:14

    “Yes. Neely’s son just came back from overseas.‘

    His hand paused on the page, eyes narrowing in thought.

    Meanwhile, at the research center-

    Tricia slipped into theb to check thetest test results. As she tried to secretly snap

    a photo with her phone, someone called out from behind her.

    “Ms. Sterling, is that you?”

    Tricia quickly hid her phone and turned around.

    Charlotte was watching her, too.