Cold husband burning regret

Chapter 269 Abner stiffened. At the mention of the Howard family, Chrystal's expression soured as well.

Abner hesitated, torn, then muttered, "Of course I'll see justice done. I'll- I'll go speak to Rosemary myself." Chrystal scoffed, clenching her fists. “And what good will that do? Rosemary's always doted on her grandson. She's not about to take our side." "Rosemary's always been fair-she'll listen to reason- "Reason? You really think the Howards are going to humble themselves for our sake?" Abner glanced at his wife, remembering the awkward history between her and the Howard family.

"If you're going to argue, take it outside. I'm exhausted,” Jonathan said, rolling onto his side and closing his eyes. Abner grabbed Chrystal's hand and steered her into the corridor, then hissed, "Why do you have to make things harder in front of him? You want our son to suffer for nothing?" Chrystal glared at him. "I'm not going to beg the Howards for anything." "Fine. If you won't, I will." "You-" A woman's voice interrupted them. "Mr. Pembroke? Mrs. Pembroke?" Chrystal turned to see a well-dressed woman approaching. "And you are...?" Tricia offered a polite smile. “I'm a friend of your son's. When I heard he was in the hospital, I wanted to stop by. And-well, I don't know if I should mention this, but the reason he and Mr. Howard fought was over a woman named Charlotte." Abner blinked. "You're saying my son and the Howard boy had a falling 2/3 14-10 Chapter 268 out over a woman?" Chrystal snorted. "That's impossible. I know my son-he doesn't care about women like that." Tricia just smiled, unhurried. "If you don't believe me, you can look into who your son helped during his tin the capital. And as it happens, that woman is here in Riverspire City. Jonathan chere for her." Before Abner could respond, Chrystal's face turned cold. "Where is she?" "I heard she works at District General Hospital." The next morning, Charlotte finally returned to the hospital. Noreen, who hadn't seen her for several days, greeted her with a teasing grin. "I thought you'd quit and gone back hto be a lady of leisure!" Charlotte blinked. "Who said I'd do that?" "Well, rumor has it your ex-husband made quite the scene at the auction. Who would have thought he's that Howard from the famous family?" Noreen nudged her. "Con, most women would kill to be a society wife- who'd still bother coming to work?" Charlotte just shrugged. "I like working." Noreen gaped. "But the Howards are loaded! You really don't have to-" Charlotte headed for the front desk and clocked in. "Their money isn't mine." Before Noreen could respond, a commanding voice echoed down the hallway. "Which one of you is Charlotte?" A formidable, impeccably dressed middle-aged woman strode out of the elevator, her presence sending a wave of tension through the corridor.

3/3 14:11 Chapter 269 Chapter 269 "I am," Charlotte replied calmly, turning to face the woman. "And you are?" Chrystal looked her up and down, her expression icy. "I'm Jonathan's mother. He was hospitalized because of you. I wanted to see what sort of woman could make my son act so recklessly. Well, I'll admit, you do have a certain appeal." Jonathan's in the hospital? Charlotte's brows knit together. "Mrs. Pembroke, I had no idea about any of this." Chrystal scoffed. "Of course you didn't. My son ended up fighting with Evander because of you. Don't tellyou're not at the root of all this?" "If it was a fight with Evander, why bring this to me? Why not take it up with him?" That shut Chrystal up for a moment; her face darkened. “Oh, don't worry, I'll deal with Evander in due time. But as for you, I suggest you stay away from my son. I don't want to see you anywhere near him again.” "I haven't been chasing after him," Charlotte shot back. "Maybe you should get your facts straight."/ She had no interest in arguing further and moved to walk away.

But Chrystal wasn't finished. She grabbed Charlotte's arm, unwilling to let her go. "If you're so innocent, why are you running? There are plenty of better things a young woman could do with her life besides seducing men. Did your mother never teach you any decency?" Charlotte ripped her hand free, her face hardening. "My mother's dead. Are you offering to take her place?" Chrystal froze, caught completely off guard.

All her life, she'd never been put in her place by someone so unremarkable. The more she thought about it, the more it stung.

1/2 14.11 Chapter 269 Just then, as a nurse wheeled a cart past them, Chrystal reached out and snatched something from it, hurling it at Charlotte in a fit of rage.

It happened so fast that the nurse couldn't stop her, and even Noreen didn't react in time-let alone Charlotte.

There was a wet smack as a used blood bag struck, then slid to the floor.

But Charlotte didn't feel any pain.

She looked up in surprise to see someone standing protectively in front of her-a man in a white lab coat, now streaked with blood, his handsface clouded with disgust and anger.

"Professor Carstairs?" Charlotte blurted out.

Judd didn't answer her. He shrugged off his ruined coat, his voice cold as he turned to Chrystal. Mrs. Pembroke, causing a scene in a hospital-are you so eager to embarrass your own family?” Chrystal stared at him, momentarily at a loss. "Judd, you-this is betweenand her!" "If Evander's the one who started the fight, take it up with the Howards. This is a hospital, not your personal battleground." In the past, Judd had always shown her sdeference, given that their children had grown up together.

But now...

Chrystal glanced at Charlotte, her wariness only deepening.

This woman is trouble.

"Fine. For your sake, I'll let it go. Today." She shot Charlotte a glare. "Don't forget this." With that, Chrystal turned on her heel and swept away.

Judd eyed the bloody lab coat in his hand as though it were a live grenade-reluctant to hold it, but unwilling to drop it either, his face 2/3 14:11 Chapter 269 twisted in disgust.

Noticing a cluster of nurses and orderlies still gawking from the hallway, he snapped, "Don't you all have work to do?" Startled, the staff scattered.

Suppressing the crawling sensation of filth on his skin, Judd said nothing more and strode off down the corridor. Noreen watched him go, then turned to Charlotte. After what she'd just witnessed, everything suddenly made sense...

Judd headed to an empty VIP suite and scrubbed himself clean-three times over. Gentry arrived with fresh clothes, knocking before entering. He gave the soiled lab coat in the trash by the door a disapproving look and called out, "Con, man, that's hospital property. Show srespect!" Judd had just finished toweling off, sniffing his arm as if to check for lingering odors.

Gentry handed him the clothes, shaking his head. "Relax, you smell fine. Honestly, you should feel lucky you don't work in infectious diseases. You wouldn't last a day.” 3/3 14:11 Share to your friends