The Day Our Promise Breaks

Only Evelyn knew he was in the hospital. But when Charles looked up, there was Rory, pushing the door open and walking right in. Charles's grip on his pen tightened visibly. Seeing Rory made him think about Charlie's kidney donor. He hadn't gone to confront Rory; Rory had come right to him.

Rory, unaware of the storm brewing, noticed how worn-out Charles looked. He stepped forward and tried to offer some comfort, saying, "Let the dead rest." The words weren't just about Rosa; they were about Charles's daughter too. Rory had only just heard about the loss of Charles's other daughter.

The words hit Charles like a punch. His heart clenched painfully. Mentioning Charlie's death was like ripping open a fresh wound. Overcome with emotion, he suddenly threw off the hospital covers and got out of bed. He marched up to Rory, grabbed him by the collar, eyes blazing with anger, and demanded, "Rory, how could you say that?"

Rory met Charles's furious gaze, completely puzzled. "What do you mean? What did I do?"

"What did you do? Don't you know who was supposed to donate a kidney to Sandy?"

Charles had asked Rory to keep an eye out for a kidney donor for Sandy. If a match was found, Rory was supposed to make sure Sandy got it first. Rory had agreed, and he was the one handling everything.

"Yeah, I know. It was a little girl named Charlie. I didn't mean to keep it from you..."noveldrama

"Charlie was my daughter!" Charles's voice was a mix of grief and anger. "Rory, why on earth did you decide to give Charlie's kidney to Sandy without telling me? Why?!"

If Rory had told him, even if he had his issues with Charlie, she was still his daughter. He would never have let Charlie die for Sandy's sake!

"What are you saying? Charlie was your daughter? I didn't know! Dahlia didn't tell me either!" Rory was stunned, completely taken aback by Charles's revelation.

They all knew Charles had a

daughter, but in five years, he had never mentioned her or brought her around to

tthem. Whene

and Sandy returned, Charles

introduced them to his friends right away. They'd been to Greenrose more than once. In their eyes, Dahlia and Sandy were who mattered to Charles. As for the other daughter, if Charles didn't seem to care, why would they?

Rory had no clue that the little girl named Charlie was Charles's other daughter. If

he had known, he never would have listened to Dahlia. He would've called Charles.

Rory felt awful too. When Charles asked him for help, he had agreed. As luck would have it, a donor compatible with Sandy was found. Dahlia was there at the time. When she heard, she pleaded with Rory to give the kidney to Sandy. Rory told her it wasn't possible; it was already promised to another child. Dahlia checked the details and argued that Charlie wasn't in immediate danger and could wait, but Sandy couldn't. She said Charles's principles would stop him from letting Rory give Sandy the kidney if he knew it was promised to someone else. He'd only find another way for Sandy. But she was scared Sandy wouldn't make it in time. She begged him,

saying Sandy was their only

daughter, to do it for Charles's sake.

Charles was Rory's best friend. He knew how much Charles adored his daughter.

He couldn't stand by and watch his friend's daughter die. So, he agreed. Little did

he know it was such a tragic coincidence.

Charles felt like he'd been struck by

lightning. Rory's admission cut deep. Indeed! How bitterly ironic. His daughter, so unknown to his friends that they didn't even remember her name det alone meet her. And it was all because of him. If only he had talked about her, they wouldn't have been ignorant of who Charlie was. Who could he blame? Only himself.

Charles let go of Rory's collar, his body slumping back as he fell onto the hospital bed.

"Charles, I'm really sorry." Rory knew Charlie was Charles's daughter now, and he felt genuine remorse.

Charles stayed silent. Suddenly, he realized something Rory had said earlier. Charles shot up, grabbing Rory's arm tightly. "What did you just say? What do you mean Dahlia didn't say anything? Are you telling me Dahlia was there? She knew Sandy's kidney was supposed to be Charlie's?"

If that was true, then was Dahlia really as Eve had said, deliberately taking Charlie's kidney and causing her death?