Cold Husband Burning Regret: The Divorce He Couldn't Handle novel Chapter 471

A cold sweat soaked through Charlotte’s blouse the moment he finished speaking. He had recognized her.

But she couldn’t afford to lose her composure now. Forcing a calm she didn't feel, she asked, "You have Norene?"

"She's my daughter-in-law. You can rest assured I won't mistreat her."

"And by 'not mistreating her,' you're referring to the Lennoxes being in prison, aren't you?"

At her words, the smile vanished from Neely’s face.

Charlotte pressed on, her voice even. "You arranged the marriage with the Lennox family so they could take the fall for you, didn't you? But the Lennoxes don't care that much about their daughter. Even if you have her, they won't just roll over."

Her guess must have hit the mark, because his expression darkened slightly. "You are a sharp one. No wonder you managed to escape them all those years ago. But…" He toyed with the rosary beads wrapped around his wrist, pausing for a few seconds before continuing, "being too smart isn't always a good thing."

Charlotte met his gaze directly. "You're not going to let me go anyway. For us, it's either you or me."

Neely stared at her, a strange depth in his eyes. Just then, Marlene pushed the door open, and the grim cloud over his face instantly lifted. He rose slowly. "Well, Dr. Sterling, I'll see you again soon."

He left without another word.

Marlene returned to her desk and noticed Charlotte’s pale face. "Charlotte, are you feeling alright?"

Charlotte snapped back to the present. "I'm… I'm fine. I just skipped breakfast and was feeling a little light-headed."

"You should really eat on time. You don't want to develop stomach problems."

"I will."

Judd remained silent.

"If I were really dead, you might have had your chance."

"I admit, a part of me wished you were," Judd confessed. "But to win her over like that would be no different than taking advantage of the situation."

He pulled out a chair and sat down. "If I had found her sooner, I might have earned the right to compete with you."

Evander’s lips tightened. After a long silence, he said, "My decision on the ship wasn't entirely a ruse. I thought that if my gamble failed, I would die. At least then, she would have you by her side."