The Day Our Promise Breaks

"Eve, please, don't give Brooks a shot. Don't be with him. Just give me one more chance, okay?" Charles pleaded, his voice softer than she'd ever heard it before.

Once, he was the proud and untouchable man in Evelyn's life. But now, knowing she was really Debbie, his bravado had vanished. He'd do anything for another chance with her, even if it meant lowering himself to beg.

"You can be mad, hit me, yell at me—just don't leave me!" he implored, guiding Evelyn's hand to his face, practically begging her to slap him.

He couldn't stand the thought of her not wanting him anymore. Evelyn didn't hesitate; she slapped him hard, just like he asked, until her palm was red.

Ignoring the stinging pain on his cheek, Charles tenderly blew on her hand, feeling a pang in his heart. But Evelyn pulled away, her hand clenched into a fist, sidestepping his attempt at affection.

Charles was crushed. He wrapped her in a tight embrace, as if wanting to fuse their beings together. "Eve, you're mine, and I won't let go!" he declared.noveldrama

She was his. Only his.

His grip was so strong that Evelyn couldn't break free. She stood there stiffly in his hold, unresponsive, like a still pond. Her love for him had died the day Charlie did.

Noticing this, Charles's arms trembled as they encircled her. Yet, he couldn't bring himself to let her go. They were locked in the closest embrace possible.

He could even feel Evelyn's steady heartbeat, so close yet so unreachable. Time seemed to stretch on forever.

Then, Charles's phone rang. Both recognized the ringtone immediately. It was Sandy.

Charles didn't break the embrace, simply silencing the call. But after it rang three times, he picked up, worried something might be wrong.

He didn't shy away from Evelyn and answered on speaker, "Sandy, what's going on?"

But it wasn't Sandy on the line-it was Dahlia, sobbing as soon as the call connected. "Charles, I don't know what's up with Sandy. You brought her back, and she wanted to sleep, but now she's trapped in a nightmare. She keeps crying and calling for her dad, and I can't wake her."

"Charles, I hate to bother you, but I really don't know what to do."

Fearing he wouldn't believe her,

Dahlia switched to a video call,

showing Sandy lying in bed, jul

as

she'@said-caught in a nightmare, tears streaming down her face.

Sandy was murmuring something, but it was impossible to make out through the

phone. Dahlia kept calling her name, trying to wake her, but Sandy was

unresponsive.

"Charles, when Sandy was

discharged, the doctor stressed that she's still recovering from her second surgery. She can't handle. emotional stress or get sick. I'm afraid she'll have a high feve if this keeps up. Please, come see her."

"She's so important to her. She'll listen to you," Dahlia pleaded, holding Sandy

and crying, clearly out of options.

"Alright," Charles replied, his voice steady, but his face showed his worry.

Evelyn scoffed, a cold laugh escaping her lips.

The call ended, and Charles tried to explain, "Eve, Sandy's still recovering. Once she's better..."

Evelyn didn't want to hear his excuses. His care for Sandy was a betrayal to Charlie, and he didn't even realize it.

He couldn't see how many lies Sandy, the girl he thought incapable of deceit, had spun to hurt Charlie.

"Get out!" Evelyn snapped, not wanting to see him any longer.

With Sandy on his mind, Charles left. Evelyn slammed the door shut and locked it.

She touched the necklace around her neck, Silently promising Charlie that a lie remains a lie. You can play the part for a while, but Evelyn was determined to see if Sandy could keep up the act forever.

One day, Charles would find out that Sandy, the girl he thought never lied, was actually crafting her schemes from a young age.

The debt he owed Charlie was far more than he imagined. How could he even dare to ask for reconciliation?

Dahlia was deeply at fault, and Charles was just as unforgivable. Those who should atone included not just Dahlia, but Charles too.