bChapter /b71

Tricia pressed her lips together and nced toward the bathroom before picking up her phone.

It was a message from Charlotte.

*I’m at your parents‘ ce. When are youing over?*

Tricia’s mind went nk for a second.

Had things between them really gone so far that they were meeting the family?

No. Absolutely not!

She heard footsteps in the hallway and hurriedly set her phone down. A momentter, Evander walked in.

She looked up and managed a small smile. “Evander, could you drive Hans and me hometer?”

Evander nced at his own phone, scanning the screen. Tricia watched him closely.

He didn’t reply to the message, just slipped his phone into his pocket. “I’ve got something to take care of in a bit. I’ll have the driver take you.”

Tricia’s face paled, her hand tightening into a fist beneath the table.

I SF Sus

Something to take care of? He’s probably running right back to that woman.

She lowered her eyes, masking the bitterness. “Or… I could just drive myself. I don’t want to bother the driver.”

Evander paused, then nodded coolly. “Fine.”

After lunch, Evander said a brief goodbye to Tricia and their son downstairs, then left on his own.

Tricia watched his car disappear down the drive, a cold, calcting smile tugging at her lips as a n suddenly formed in her mind.

Back at the Sterling estate, the family had all gathered.

In the living room, besides Xavier and Charlotte’s mother Rachel, there was Abigail, Aunt Darleen Sterling, and Charlotte’s uncle and aunt.

Darleen looked Charlotte up and down. “Well, it’s been years, but Lottie’s grown into a real beauty. The Sterlings finally have a stunner in the family.”

Rachel’s smile stiffened at this, but she said nothing, keeping up appearances.

Abigail sniffed, unimpressed. “Pretty girls are a dime a dozen. What matters is marrying well. Hiram, you make sure your future wife can help you get ahead in life. For a man, nothing’s more important than building a career and a family.”

Hiram smirked. “Maybe you’d rather I married into someone else’s family, then?”

“Don’t talk nonsense! That’s not how things work,” Abigail scolded.

Xavier chuckled to lighten the mood. “Mom, you know what Hiram’s like. Don’t mind

him.”

Charlotte’s aunt, now peeling an orange, piped up, “Jensen, where’s your son–inw? Dinner’s almost ready, and I hear he’s some high–profile guy. He’s not going to show upte, is he?”

Xavier’s expression darkened. He nced at Charlotte, impatient. “Lottie, call him

and ask.”

Charlotte replied calmly, “You have his number. Why don’t you call him yourself?”

Xavier’s face soured at her retort.

Her aunt snorted. “Lottie, he’s your husband. You’d really let your dad swallow his pride to chase after his son–inw?”

Darleen had always been brash, but she came from money, making her Abigail’s favorite daughter–inw. Even Rachel and Darleen had to tread carefully around

her.

Charlotte frowned, scrolling through her phone for messages. Evander had texted ten minutes ago saying he was on his way.

At that moment, Evander’s car was pulling up near the Sterling estate when his phone suddenly rang.

Tricia’s name shed on the screen.

He answered, but the voice on the other end wasn’t Tricia’s. “Is this Mr. Howard? Director Winthrop and her son were just in an ident. They’re at the hospital

now-”

Evander’s expression hardened as he hung up.

He nced at the Sterling house, silent for a moment, then turned to the driver. “Turn around. We’re going to the hospital.”

“But sir, your wife-”

“Go to the hospital,” Evander repeated, his tone leaving no room for argument.

The driver said nothing more, swinging the car around and speeding off.

By the time Evander reached the hospital room, Tricia’s left leg was in a cast, and Hans didn’t look much better–scrapes and bruises covered his arms, even worse than Tricia’s.

Tricia was sitting on the bed. As soon as she saw him, she grabbed her crutch and hobbled into his arms, her voice trembling. “Evander, I was so scared. I thought I’d never see you or Hans again!”

bChapter /b22