After the commotion died down, neighbors gradually drifted away, leaving the courtyard quiet once more.
Charlotte pulled free from Evander’s grasp and hurried to Rachel’s side. “Everyone’s gone. There’s no need to keep up appearances. Evander, you’re not welcome here.”
Evander stared down at his fingertips, as if still feeling the warmth left on them. His expression clouded over, and after a long pause, he spoke. “Fine, I’ll leave. But he has to go too.”
Jonathan just smiled, offering no reply.
“Jonathan is a guest of the Sterling family. You have no right to tell him to leave,” Charlotte shot back.
Evander lifted his eyes, gaze burning as he looked at her. “Charlotte.” He said her name, then nothing more.
Rachel stepped in front of Charlotte, shielding her from Evander’s line of sight. Her face was a mix of sorrow and bitterness. “Mr. Howard, I invited Jonathan. During Lottie’s father’s funeral, Jonathan was the one who helped us with everything. I asked him to join us for lunch as a small token of thanks.”
She drew herself up, her voice trembling but resolute. “Mr. Howard, for Lottie’s father’s sake, please don’t make things harder for us. The Sterling family is down to just me—do you really want to take even that away?”
Evander’s chest tightened, jaw clenched so hard it hurt.
After a long silence, something in his expression eased. His tone softened. “Mother-in-law, I’m sorry about your husband. I’ll look into what happened—personally.”
“Suit yourself,” Rachel replied, turning away.
Without another glance at him, she walked into the house, Charlotte following close behind.
Jonathan passed Evander, meeting his eyes with a faint, mocking smile.
Evander’s gaze turned icy cold.
…
Inside, Rachel busied herself in the kitchen.
Charlotte joined her, helping with the preparations.

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