Cold Husband Burning Regret: The Divorce He Couldn't Handle novel Chapter 657

Back at their own residence, Ilse still couldn’t swallow her anger. She glared at Jensen accusatorially. “Why didn’t you say anything back there? If you’d put in a good word, Jacques might have changed his mind out of brotherly affection! Now look, we’ve ended up with nothing!”

Jensen slumped onto the sofa, looking utterly fed up. Remembering his daughter was in the house, he softened his tone slightly. “Genevieve, go to your room for now.”

Once Genevieve was upstairs, Jensen ripped off his tie and threw it on the table, his face dark with displeasure. “Mom’s just passed, and you’re already that desperate to snatch up everything?!”

“What, now you’re blaming me?” Ilse shrieked. “You were the one who drugged her, waiting for this day to—”

The sharp crack of a slap echoed through the living room.

Upstairs, Genevieve froze, silently hiding behind a pillar to peer down below.

Ilse clutched her cheek. This was the second time he had hit her.

She laughed, a bitter and furious sound, as she turned to stare at the flushed, enraged Jensen. “Did I hit a nerve? What, now that she’s gone, you’re suddenly playing the part of the grieving, dutiful son? If you have any courage, why don’t you go tell your dear brother what really happened to his mother and his wife!”

“Shut your mouth!” Jensen’s chest heaved, his eyes churning with panic and rage. He couldn’t meet Ilse’s reckless gaze, couldn’t bear to think about who might have overheard her words.

He had regretted the slap the moment it landed, but Ilse’s words were like a red-hot poker, searing his conscience and leaving him unable to find peace. She was right. From the moment he had started swapping his mother’s medication, he had forfeited any right to speak of filial duty. But he couldn't stand being so nakedly exposed, couldn't tolerate having these dark secrets dragged into the light, shattering his carefully constructed facade.

His shouting seemed to calm Ilse. She wiped her lip, a cruel smile playing on her face. “Scared now? Evander is back. He and his father hold all the power now, and you’ll get nothing! You know that better than I do, so who are you putting on this respectable act for?”

“Enough,” Jensen said, taking a deep breath and forcing all his emotions down. “Are you trying to make a scene? Do you want your daughter to hear all this?”

Though still furious, Ilse had regained some of her composure.

“Mom was still thinking of Genevieve. Since Genevieve has a place in Howard Enterprises, we absolutely cannot drag her into our mess. Separating our branch of the family isn't necessarily a bad thing,” Jensen said, sinking back onto the sofa and unbuttoning his cuffs. “Even if my brother doesn’t suspect us, Evander has been wary of us for a long time. If we stay under their noses, how long do you think your temper will let you keep our secrets?”

Ilse gritted her teeth, unable to argue. She had seen for herself just how cunning Evander could be.

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