NovelBookTricia walked into the records room, files in hand, and passed them to the manager on duty. The man looked up,
a bit surprised to see her. “I thought Assistant Heath usually delivers these?”
“Assistant Heath had something cup, so he askedto drop them off for him.” Tricia offered a polite,
almost distant smile. “Is Professor Aldridge in? | was hoping to speak with him.”
“He’s been out the past few days.”
Satisfied the man was none the wiser, Tricia feigned a look of realization. “Oh, | see......"”
She let her gaze sweep over the busy staff around her, lips curling into a cool, measured smile before turning
and making her way out.
At the hospital, Charlotte had just finished surgery and was walking a patient's family through post-op
instructions in the hallway.
Once the family returned to the room, she checked her phone-Assistant Heath had sent her a message.
On her way back to her office, Charlotte passed by Judd’s office door. She paused when she heard Mrs.
Carstairs’s voice from inside. “No matter what, Charlotte is the Howard family’s daughter-in-law. You're not
actually interested in a married woman, are you?”
Charlotte stopped short in the corridor, lips pressed tight.
She heard Judd set his paperwork aside. “Who | care for isn’t up for the Carstairs family’s approval.”
“You can like whoever you want, that’s your business. But Charlotte is off-limits,” Daphne said, her voice growing
shrill. “Our family wants a daughter-in-law with a clean background. Charlotte's already been married, and-"
She caught herself, swallowing the rest of her sentence and quickly changing tack. “Your father would never
agree to this. People would laugh at us!”
Judd barely glanced up. “You and Evander’s father had history. Of course he’d have strong opinions.”
Daphne bristled. “This is about your future, Judd!”
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17:14
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtChapter 400
Judd’s patience ran thin. “I have work to do. You should head home.”
Charlotte stood rooted outside the door, stunned. Only when she heard movement inside did she snap out of it
and hurry away.
Back in her office, she sat distractedly at her desk, the conversation replaying in her mind.
Judd had feelings for her?
That couldn't be right...
Maybe Mrs. Carstairs was just imagining things?
Elsewhere, at the Apex Hotel:
Tricia followed a foreign bodyguard up to the rooftop pool. Finnick Vinterberg had booked the whole place-his
people were stationed everywhere, half of them from
overseas.
The bodyguard approached Finnick at the pool's edge and said in English, “Boss, | brought her.”
Finnick was half-submerged in the water, a sun tattoo sprawled across his bare chest. Reclining against the
pool's edge, he propped his arm on the tiles. “Punctual, |
see.”
Tricia stopped by the pool, pulled a freshly copied report from her bag, and held it out
to him.
But just as he reached for it, she pulled it back.
Finnick’s expression darkened, his smile more threat than warmth as he drew his hand away. “What gare
you playing?”
“Ill give you the report,” Tricia said evenly, “but only if you agree to my terms.”
Finnick was silent for a few seconds, then suddenly laughed and stood up in the pool.
A bodyguard stepped forward and draped a robe over his shoulders.
Finnick lifted his chin, his stare sharp and cold. “What are your terms?”
Tricia drew a steadying breath. “Helpget rid of Charlotte, and from now on, I'll follow your orders-no
questions asked.”
“Charlotte, Finnick repeated, moving behind her and stopping close. “You mean Evander’s hidden wife?”
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Chapter 400
“That's right!”
Finnick gave a short, sharp laugh, turning to face her, his eyes hard as ice. “Do you think I'm an idiot?”
Tricia stiffened.
He wrapped a hand around her
throat, tightening just enough to
make her gasp. “I may have just
gotten back to the Yrgry bay fi!
ho 50 cllelrss Apa know
at's going on. She's not just
Evander's wife—she's also the
Rayburn family’s long-lost daughter.
And you wantto take her out for
you? What's to stop you from running
straight to the police the moment you
get what you want?” The content is
on novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
Tricia struggled for air, her face flushing with panic. “I-I wouldn't... You have to believe me...”
He released her suddenly.
She collapsed to the ground, shoulders shaking, struggling to catch her breath.
Finnick settled into a deck chair. His
bodyguard poured him a drink.
“You've been withcoved year!
_ I )
Tyicia. Dar? pretend I don't know you.
You swore you wouldn't betray me
before—then ran off anyway. What
changed?” The content is on
novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
Tricia’s face went pale, her teeth digging into her lip as she avoided his eyes.
She’d only left because she couldn't take the torment anymore.
“| won't betray you again. You have to
believe me,” she said, cradling en
stll-weak sightdnd ander
destroyed my hand. Right now, I'd
give anything to see him suffer.” The
content is on novelenglish.net! Read
the latest chapter there!
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