The Day Our Promise Breaks

With a bold claim of ownership, Charles texted, "Brooks, Eve is mine. Always has been, always will be. Keep your distance."

After hitting send, he didn't bother waiting for Brooks' reaction. He swiftly blocked Brooks, turned off Evelyn's phone, and set it aside.

With that done, Charles looked down at Evelyn nestled in his arms, his thumb gently tracing her face, pausing at her slightly parted lips. Following his heart, he leaned in and placed a soft kiss on her tender lips, resisting the urge to deepen it. Not because he didn't want to, but because it just wasn't the right moment. So, he kept it light.

Then, with the utmost care, he adjusted Evelyn to make her more comfortable. She was right there in his arms, her scent enveloping him, filling him with deep contentment. He instinctively tightened his hold on her. His Eve was still there. He could hold her close, drift off with her in his arms, and it felt like a slice of heaven.

Charles closed his eyes, content, and was asleep in no time. It had been ages since he'd slept so well. The two years she was gone felt like being lost in a fog, like the time he couldn't find Debbie. Sleep was a rare commodity back then.

As the night wore on, just as he had settled into a deep sleep, his phone's ringtone startled him awake. It was a familiar tune, one his sleepy brain quickly identified as Dahlia's call.

Slowly opening his eyes, he saw Evelyn frown slightly in her sleep, disturbed by the noise. The phone was outside, so the sound was muffled, but still enough to wake someone who slept lightly.

He pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, then carefully slipped his arm out from under her, getting up quietly and tiptoeing out of the room. Shutting the door softly behind him, he picked up the phone and answered, "Dahlia, what's up?"

Even though he was annoyed at being woken up, his tone softened instinctively for Dahlia.

"Daddy... sob..."

It was Sandy's voice on the other end, and she burst into tears as soon as she heard him.

"Sandy, sweetheart, don't cry. Tell Daddy what's wrong?"

Hearing her distressed, Charles immediately shifted to full-on dad mode. With a little reassurance, Sandy managed to calm down a bit and sniffled, "Daddy, Mommy's really sick. Her head's burning up, and she feels so hot all over."

"I called Mommy, but she wouldn't wake up."

"Daddy, I'm scared. Is Mommy going to die? Please, Daddy, save her. I don't want to lose Mommy. I don't want to be without her..."

Her fears spilled out in sobs.

"Sandy, darling, don't cry. Daddy's on his way right now."

Charles assured her, already moving into the closet to get dressed. He kept the call connected, soothing Sandy as he quickly changed band headed out. noveldrama

...

At Greenrose Estate

In under thirty minutes, Charles was there. He parked and rushed inside. With the housekeeper off for the day, the house was eerily quiet.

Charles made his way upstairs, heading straight for Dahlia's bedroom. The door was half-open.

He spotted Sandy emerging from

the bathroom, clutching a towel that was still a bit too wet, awkwardly placing it on Dahlia's forehead. Her voice quivered with worry, "Mommy..."

"Sandy."

Charles called out softly.

Sandy's face lit up, relief washing over her as she ran to him, clutching his hand with tears streaming down her cheeks, "Daddy, please help Mommy, sob..."