Cold Husband Burning Regret: The Divorce He Couldn't Handle novel Chapter 488

Six months later, the nanomedicine project achieved its first successful trial and was set to launch the following week.

A gala was held to celebrate, drawing industry giants and major investors from the business world. Professor Aldridge was abroad and couldn't attend, leaving Old Mr. Carstairs to host the event.

As Old Mr. Carstairs took the stage to give a speech, Charlotte stood among the audience. After the speech concluded, the cocktail reception began.

Charlotte was clinking glasses and chatting with colleagues from her lab team when one of them glanced toward a group of people and smiled. "Mr. Carstairs is over there. Aren't you going to say hello, Ms. Sterling?"

The other colleagues shot the speaker an awkward look. While there were rumors circulating internally about Mr. Carstairs and Ms. Sterling, and some had even bet they would end up together, six months had passed without any news.

Charlotte turned to look in Judd Carstairs' direction, just as he happened to look her way. He raised his glass in a silent toast, and she returned the gesture with a smile.

To her colleagues, their interaction looked purely platonic. They couldn't understand how the vicious online rumors—that she was a black widow trying to latch onto the Carstairs family—had even started.

"Still, why is everyone over there only toasting Mr. Carstairs? Ms. Sterling contributed just as much, didn't she?" another team member asked.

Charlotte smiled and explained, "It doesn't matter who gets the credit. Besides, I wasn't very involved in the research during the first half of the year, so I can't really take the credit for this success."

"What a shame..."

After finishing a round of toasts, Judd started to make his way toward Charlotte, but his mother, Mrs. Carstairs—Daphne—stopped him. After a brief exchange, Daphne and Judd joined another group to clink glasses.

Charlotte didn't notice the look Daphne shot her way as she stepped out of the banquet hall to take a call.

She found a quiet spot by a floor-to-ceiling window. "Big brother, you finally have time to call me back?"

"I know, it's been a crazy few days. I heard your research project was completed?"

"It was. I'm at the celebration gala right now."

Wesley Rayburn chuckled. "That's a shame. I couldn't be there to support my little sister. I guess I'll just have to give you a proper welcome-home party when you get back."

Charlotte laughed. "I'll be back for my annual leave in a little while."

Her words caused an uproar.

Old Mr. Carstairs frowned, looking at Miranda. "Mrs. Howard, what is the meaning of this?"

"If you are sincere about wanting to continue our partnership, Old Mr. Carstairs, then the Howard family has only one condition."

"And what is that?"

"Remove Charlotte from this project."

All eyes in the room immediately turned to Charlotte. Those who didn't know the history wondered if she had somehow offended the Howard family. Those who did knew she was their former daughter-in-law.

Old Mr. Carstairs' brow furrowed. It was clear that even he was caught in a difficult position.

Judd started to step forward, but Daphne held him back.