Cold Husband Burning Regret: The Divorce He Couldn't Handle novel Chapter 492

A dead silence filled the room. Leah and Elliot stood by, not daring to breathe. Sensing the escalating tension, they quietly slipped out of the room.

Evander looked at Miranda. "Do you even care about me?"

"It's because I care that I'm doing what's best for you!"

He gave a bitter smile. "Since I was a child, I've tried to live up to your standards, but you never told me what those standards were. Was I supposed to become the heir to the Howard family and then marry a suitable wife that you approved of?"

Miranda stared at him, stunned.

"You always say it's for my own good, but is it really about me? Or is it about Father? As long as I was outstanding enough, good enough, Father would at least come home, wouldn't he?"

The sharp sound of a slap cut through the silence. Evander's head snapped to the side.

Miranda was trembling with rage. The moment she realized what she'd done, regret flooded her. But before she could find the words to say anything, Evander took a few steps back, turned, and strode out of the room.

Miranda could no longer contain her emotions. She covered her mouth and began to sob quietly.

When Evander stepped out of the room, Elliot and Leah, who had been waiting in the hallway, looked at him expectantly.

"Cousin," Leah started, walking toward him, "Aunt Miranda didn't..."

Her words died in her throat as she saw the red mark on his cheek. It seemed her aunt had truly lost her temper.

Elliot sighed. "Your mother is just worried about you. You... you shouldn't hold it against her."

Evander let out a humorless laugh, touching his cheek. "I'm not holding it against her. I just told her some unpleasant truths."

His phone rang. It was Natalie. He answered.

After listening for a moment, Evander's expression grew serious. "Alright, I understand."

He hung up and turned his sharp gaze on Leah.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked, bewildered.

"I need you to go to Eldermere City for a while."

Leah scoffed and put her hands on her hips. "Seriously, you Howards! Do you really think I'm your perso—"

The manager at the front desk spotted Julian and hurried over. "Julian! It's been a while. Are you done with your work?"

"All done," Julian said with a wave. "The usual spot for our young miss."

"Young miss?" The manager looked at Charlotte, whom he had never seen before.

The manager had never heard that Mr. Rayburn had a sister, but since Julian was Mr. Rayburn's right-hand man, it had to be true.

But there was a problem.

"Well... today might not be a good day for that," the manager said apologetically.

"What do you mean? Are you giving us the cold shoulder just because Mr. Rayburn isn't with me?"

"Julian, you know I'm not like that. We go way back. It's just... Master Shane has booked the private room upstairs for the entire day. There's really nothing I can do."