NovelGoldCharlotte turned her gaze to the window. "You don't need to explain. Whoever she is, I'm not interested." He responded with a quiet hum, as if he wanted to say more, but the metallic taste of blood rose in his mouth. Turning away, he covered his lips with a handkerchief and coughed.
Charlotte noticed, her brows knitting together, but she didn't ask anything. Evander soon composed himself. "Where do you live? I'll have Natalie drop you off on her way." "...That's not necessary. I live nearby," Charlotte replied, her eyes fixed on the handkerchief clenched in his hand before she looked away and stepped out of the car.
Glancing back, she saw Evander watching her, a light, indifferent smile on his face.
Charlotte pressed her lips together and walked off without another word.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtNatalie climbed into the car, just in tto see Evander pulling out a few pills. She quickly handed him a bottle of water.
He swallowed the tablets and took a long drink.
Natalie hesitated, then said, "Mr. Howard, are you sure you don't want to tell your wife about your condition?" "There's no need," Evander replied, his gaze drifting to the window. His reflection in the glass was pale as paper. "Even if I died, she wouldn't care. Telling her would only make things harder for myself." Natalie fell silent, Distracted, Charlotte returned to the hotel. Downstairs, she ran into Stevenson and Judd. "Dr. Sterling!" Stevenson hurried over the moment he saw her, falling to his knees.
Startled, Charlotte reached out to help him up. "Mr. Donovan, what are you doing?" "Please, I'm begging you. I only have one daughter-this is all my fault. I failed to raise her right, and that's why she went astray!" Tears welled up in Stevenson's eyes. "It was greed-mine-that set all this in motion. Of the eight hundred thousand, there's still seven hundred left; I haven't touched a cent. I'll return it all to Mr. Howard, and even if it takes the rest of my days, I'll pay back the other hundred thousand too." "Please, don't press charges against my daughter. She's only twenty-her whole life is still ahead of her!" Watching Stevenson sob and kneel, begging for his daughter's sake and throwing aside his pride, Charlotte's feelings grew complicated.
She had to admit, in sways, he really was a good father.
After a moment, she spoke softly. "I'm not concerned about her taking my place, but bribing someone to orchestrate a car accident-that's a crime, even if she was pushed into it." Stevenson froze, lost for words.
Charlotte went on, "The law will decide her fate-it's out of my hands. She's an adult now; she has to answer for her choices. If you truly care about her, you'll let her learn there are no shortcuts in life." Stevenson stood there, dazed, seeming to age several years in an instant. Judd stepped forward. "Mr. Donovan, your daughter was an accomplice, not the mastermind. Even if she's convicted, it'll just be a few years. To be honest, prison might be the safest place for her right now." Stevenson's expression shifted, "You mean..." "If your daughter returns to Riverspire City now, do you really think the person behind all this will let her go? Would you rather bury your own child, or let her lose a few years of freedom?" 9/2 1212 Chapter 366 Stevenson fell silent.
Not long after, he left the hotel with his suitcase in tow, looking as if he'd finally made up his mind.
Charlotte looked up at Judd. “Didn't think you'd be so persuasive. She wasn't the crash cold but she knew a someone and went through with it anyway. That's attempted murder, isn't it? Who knows how many years she'll get."
Judd smiled. "If the choice is between your daughter er going tom I prison or being silenced forever, think any father would choose the first." Charlotte lowered her eyes, lost in thought.
"What's wrong?" Judd asked.
She shook her head. "Nothing. I was just thinking-it's sad. Loretta has a father who'd do anything for her, and yet she's always convinced he doesn't care." Judd studied her. "Thinking about your foster parents again?" Charlotte hesitated but said nothing.
Judd folded his arms. "But now, you have people who love you. Why dwell on the past?" Charlotte's lips curled in a faint smile, her expression softening. "You're right. There's no point holding on to old hurts." A pause.
"That goes for Evander too, doesn't it?" 12 42
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