"Are you out of your mind?"
"Not as much as you are," Charlotte shot back, her laugh airy and careless. "Aren't you the one locking me up? I'm just cooperating with Mr. Howard."
The moment she reached for him, Evander's muscles tensed into rigid lines beneath her touch.
Her trembling only grew more intense, her body tightening, while Evander, who had been cold and indifferent at first, suddenly resisted her advances. He caught both her wrists, pinning her against his chest. "Enough. Please, can we stop this?"
Charlotte's voice was weak. "You’re the one who locked me up without asking a single question, treating me like some kind of animal—didn’t even let me have my own clothes. And now you want to talk about ‘acting out’?”
Evander’s chest heaved with emotion.
He released her, his voice rough. "I’ll have someone bring you some soup."
Charlotte turned her face away, refusing to answer or even look at him.
Evander left and didn’t come back. Instead, Natalie showed up with a steaming bowl of soup, quietly urging her to eat.
Charlotte closed her eyes, unmoving.
Natalie set the bowl on the table with a gentle sigh. "Ma’am, Mr. Howard just wants to see you be compliant. Whether you mean it or not, at least don’t make yourself miserable."
"The more you put your guard up, the more stubborn he'll get. But if you act like you used to, maybe things will turn out in your favor, hmm?"
Charlotte’s eyes snapped open.
She looked at Natalie, but Natalie, having said her piece, simply walked away.
Charlotte sat in silence for a long time, gaze lingering on the untouched bowl of soup.
…
Three days passed without Charlotte returning to the hospital.
No one seemed to know exactly why.
Gentry hadn’t seen her in days either, and marched straight into Judd’s office. "Why hasn’t Charlotte come in? Is she sick?"
Judd’s hands stilled for a brief moment, but he didn’t reply.
But Gentry had already guessed the reason.
"Professor Carstairs, say something! Weren’t you the one who carried her into the hospital a few days ago?"
Judd lifted his eyes. "You’re asking me? Who am I supposed to ask?"

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