Chapter b64 /b

“I btold /bbyou/bb, /bbI /bbdon’t /bcare babout /bbbeing /bMrs. bHoward /bbanymore/bb./bb” /b

bCharlotte’s /btone bwas /bcalm as she slid the stack of bdocuments /bbneatly /bbback /bbonto /bbthe /bbshelf/bb. /bb“/bbIf /banyone wants that title so badly, you can just give it to themb./bb” /b

Evander’s dark eyes held a shadowy glint. “Charlotte, don’t be ungratefulb./bb” /b

She didn’t even bother to reply.

He looked like he wanted to say something more, but his words were cut off bby /bbthe /bshrill ring of his phone. ncing at the screen, he saw it was Tricia.

Evander shot Charlotte a look and, not even bothering to step away, answered the call with a gentle tone. “What’s up?”

Charlotte’s hand paused mid–motion, but she didn’t turn around.

That voice of his… it could only be Tricia on the other end.

“Evanderi, /iDr. Sterling… for some reason, he reported Director Fontaine. But Director Fontaine has always been kind to me, and I’m sure there’s some misunderstanding. Could you help him out?”

Evander tapped his fingers idly on the desk, his expression indifferent. “You’d be better off staying away from people who only look out for themselves. I won’t get involved in his mess.”

He hung up.

That surprised Charlotte.

2

She’d more or less guessed why Tricia was calling Evander–most likely to plead on Director Fontaine’s behalf.

She’d just assumed Evander would agree. After all, he’d never turned Tricia down before.

Evander’s gaze lingered on Charlotte’s back for a moment before he finally stood. “From now on, I don’t want to hear you talk like that again.”

With that, he left the office.

Charlotte watched him go, even more confused than before.

What had she said? Or was he just being difficult again?

b09:48 /b

bRejected /bbby /bbEvander/bb, /bTricia bhad /bbno /bbchoice /bbbut /bbto /bbturn /bbto /bbGenevieve/bb, /bGenevieve. bagreed /bbright /bbaway/bb, /bbno /bbquestions /bbasked/b.

bOver /blunch bat /ba cozy bistro, Genevieve noticed Tricia barely btouched /bbher /bbfood/bbi, /i/blooking as though she’d been wronged. Finally, Genevieve broke bthe /bsilenceb. /bbTricia /bwhat’s the matter?”

Tricia hesitated, as if struggling to say it. “It’s nothing, really… I just feel blike /bbthings /bbetween me and Evander can never go back to the way they were.”

At the mention of Evander, Genevieve looked guilty.

She wanted so badly to tell Tricia the truth: that her cousin had been forced to marry a woman he didn’t love–and that woman was hopelessly obsessed with him.

But if Tricia ever found out about the marriage, Evander would never forgive her.

“Don’t overthink it, Tricia. My cousin loves you. He’s waited for you for years.”

“Really?” Tricia fixed her with a steady gaze. “Genevieve, stop hiding things from me. I already know there’s a woman named Charlotte in Evander’s life, isn’t there?”

“How did you-” Genevieve’s hand flew to her mouth, then she quickly changed tack. “Did my cousin tell you?”

Tricia caught the slip and a hard glint shed in her eyes.

So it was true.

She lowered her gaze, forcing a tear to appear. “No, I saw it with my own eyes.”

Genevieve visibly rxed, reaching over to squeeze Tricia’s shoulder. “Don’t get the wrong idea. My cousin only has feelings for you. Charlotte’s just… well, she’s the one chasing after him.”

“Chasing after him?” Tricia echoed, caught off guard by the word.

She hadn’t expected Genevieve to react like this.

“Yeah, she’spletely hung up on him. Back then, Evander barely spared her a nce.”

Tricia pressed her lips together. Judging by Genevieve’s attitude, she was probably telling the truth–maybe Evander really had ignored Charlotte at first.

But now, it didn’t seem that way at all.

b09:48 /b

Six years together, even living under the same roof… Maybe Evander had bstarted /bbto /bfall for Charlotte after all.

Tricia’s grip tightened around her knife and fork.

She’d originally nned to wait until Evander helped Hans settle down before making her next move. But it had already been a month and Evander hadn’t brought it up again.

And with Charlotte’s threats hanging over her head, she was starting to feel the

pressure.

She needed to find a solution that would give her everything she wanted–before time ran out.