FakeNovelGenevieve brought Hans over to Charlotte. When Hans immediately ducked behind her, she chuckled. "Hans, you haven't seen your aunt in so long. Aren't you going to say hello?" Hans shook his head and pressed himself further behind Genevieve, his face etched with resistance. "I don't want to." Charlotte watched the scene, but Genevieve just patted the boy's head, her tone almost sincere as she explained, "Don't take it personally, Charlotte. My brother's spoiled him rotten. Apart fromand a few people in the Howard family, Hans ignores everyone else." Charlotte caught the underlying meaning in her words but didn't let it bother her. “And what does that have to do with me?" "Why wouldn't it?" Genevieve blinked innocently. "If my brother decides to adopt Hans, wouldn't that make you... his stepmom?" She looked down at Hans, her lips curling mischievously. "Hans, would you like this lady to be your mom?" Hans went pale, biting his lip so hard it almost hurt. "I already have a mom!" Genevieve had expected that answer. Hans had been content enough staying with the Howards, but whenever anyone mentioned his mother, Tricia, he'd always ask about her.
Whether Tricia had really abandoned him or not, Genevieve couldn't care less. After learning what kind of person Tricia was, she'd given up on the idea of her ever marrying her brother.
As for Charlotte, she'd been at odds with her brother and had left the city-Genevieve had assumed they were truly finished.
She'd even considered introducing her brother to the Rayburn family's heiress. Her mother had insisted: if their family could claim both the matriarch's favor and the new daughter-in-law, they'd be in a strong 13:00 Chapter 338 position when the Howard estate was eventually split.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtAs for Charlotte... even if she and her brother weren't officially divorced, Genevieve had plenty of ways to make her life miserable.
Genevieve's face twitched through a kaleidoscope of expressions, but Charlotte saw right through her little games. "You don't need to use a kid to get under my skin. Do I look like your brother-so naïve I'd want to raise someone else's child out of the goodness of my heart?" Genevieve bristled. "Why do you have to say that about him-" "Did I say anything wrong?" Charlotte's gaze sharpened, a faint smirk at her lips. “Evander likes playing daddy to other people's kids, but you blme? Pick on someone your own size." She brushed past Genevieve, ready to leave.
Genevieve shot her a glare. "You keep talking about divorcing my brother, but you're always hanging around him. Isn't that just playing hard to get?" Charlotte stopped, took a steadying breath, and looked back over her shoulder. "Why don't you ask your brother yourself whether it'swho won't sign the papers, or him?" Not waiting for a reply, she strode off, as if another second in Genevieve's presence would drive her mad./ Genevieve found Evander in his study. She pushed open the door. "Evander, is it true what Charlotte said-that you're the one who won't agree to the divorce?" The housekeeper outside quietly slipped away.
Evander stood by the window, smoking, his gaze fixed on the lawn below, ignoring her.
"Evander!" Genevieve marched up, about to argue, but then followed his gaze outside.
213 13.00 Chapter 338 A chill ran down her spine.
He'd been watching the very spot where she'd just confronted Charlotte.
Genevieve bit her lip, guilt written all over her face. "I... I didn't mean anything by it..." Evander exhaled a lazy cloud of smoke. "You brought Hans to her on purpose, but you say it was an accident?"
"Evander, what's so great about Charlotte, anyway? Sure, she's pretty, but her background is nothing special-she's not even a good match ¡eveng for your Genevieve tugged at his sleeve, pitching her voice low. "The Rayburns just found their long-lost daughter. If the Howards and Rayburns join forces, that's the best possible outcome. Miss Rayburn is a much better prospect than Charlotte!"
"Reserve your judgment until you've actually met her," Evander said flatly, crushing his cigarette in the ashtray before striding out of the room. Just then, his phone buzzed with a text from Charlotte.
It was the first message she'd sent him in months.
Let your grandmother know I'm not feeling well. I'm heading back.
Evander's thumb lingered on the screen. When he scrolled up, he saw that her last string of messages had petered out months ago. Meanwhile, Charlotte had just returned to her hotel room when her phone lit up with a Whatnotification.
She glanced down.
It was Judd.
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