The Day Our Promise Breaks

\"Well, she sure got off easy.\"\nJosephine's voice was dripping with anger.\nAfter all the chaos Dahlia caused Adam, she only faced a couple of days of online backlash.\nThe little she went through couldn't hold a candle to what Eve and Adam suffered.\n\"Mom, your top priority right now is to focus on your health. Stop overthinking and get some rest.\"\nEvelyn gently took the phone from Josephine's hand, nudging her to relax.\nWithout the drama of Dahlia's downfall to keep her entertained, Josephine lost interest in celebrity gossip and obediently went to rest.\nOnce Josephine was asleep, a steely resolve settled in Evelyn's eyes.\nShe knew relying on Charles was pointless.\nSeeing him easily show sympathy and let Dahlia off the hook made her feel it was unfair to Adam and her mom.\nThinking back to the day Charles knelt before her mother only made it seem more laughable.\nEvelyn refused to let Charles occupy her thoughts for too long.\nInstead, her mind drifted to Wesley.\nWesley took the blame for Dahlia and ended up in jail. He couldn't have taken any evidence with him.\nBrooks had bought the house Wesley rented after his release, and even though he was abroad, he had people helping Evelyn with the investigation.\n They meticulously combed through every place linked to Wesley, but it was like searching for a needle in a haystack without knowing where he might have stashed the evidence.\nBrooks' team mentioned that another group was also searching, but so far, no leads had emerged.\nEvelyn had even confronted Wesley, but he remained tight-lipped, insisting he was bluffing and there was no evidence.\nGetting answers from him seemed impossible.\nThey were on their own.\nEvelyn personally searched Wesley's old place once more but came up empty-handed.\nShe left the run-down apartment.\nWesley's rental was in a shabby area, and her car was parked outside.\nAs she approached her car, she noticed someone sitting in the shadow in front of it.\nThe figure was bundled up in a hat and mask, but Evelyn instantly recognized Dahlia.\nUpon seeing her, Dahlia wheeled her chair to block Evelyn.\n\"Evelyn, do you really think that just because Charles knows you're the real Debbie, he'll favor you unconditionally like he did with me?\"\n\"Don't be naive. Charles and I have a decade of history. How could he just walk away from me?\"\n\"Plus, there's Sandy between us.\"\n\"You just weren't as lucky as me. Your child was too fragile and passed away too soon.\"\n\"Look at how much Charles dotes on Sandy.\"\nDahlia, cautious after Evelyn recorded her previously, came prepared with a jamming device.\nSince the old matriarch revealed she wasn't the 'white moonlight', Dahlia's feelings toward Evelyn had turned to pure hatred. Everything she prided herself on actually belonged to Evelyn. How could she not despise her?\nCharles even endured online backlash to please Evelyn.\nThinking about her humiliation only fueled Dahlia's desire to see Evelyn suffer.\nRight in front of Evelyn, Dahlia played videos on her phone of Charles spending time with Sandy.\n\"Even though Sandy isn't Charles's biological child, he cherishes Sandy more than he ever did your own child.\"\n\"These are the things Charlie always wanted, right? It's such a pity she never got to experience them.\"\n\"I wonder if she'll refuse to reincarnate out of spite and become a restless spirit. Do you think she watches over Charles every day, seeing how he loves Sandy? Maybe then she'd reflect on how much of a nuisance she must have been, for Charles to never even spare her a glance!\"\nEvelyn refused to let Dahlia get under her skin.\nShe knew Dahlia was deliberately trying to provoke her.\nWith a stoic expression, Evelyn watched Dahlia's performance and, at the height of her gloating, stepped forward and slapped her.\nThe slap left Dahlia's mouth bleeding.\n\"Dahlia, if you ever dare to show your face and act vile in front of me again, I'll make sure you regret it each time.\"\nWith that, she dragged Dahlia and tossed her aside, then drove away.\n...\nEvelyn spent the drive convincing herself not to be upset over Charles.\nBut the scenes from earlier kept replaying in her mind.\nCharles's tenderness toward Sandy was real, his affectionate gaze undeniable.\nThe intimate interactions between Charles and Sandy were everything Charlie had longed for in life.\nEven knowing Dahlia wasn't Debbie, he still cherished Sandy like a precious gem.\nEvelyn didn't care about Charles's feelings for Dahlia, but she couldn't ignore his affection for Sandy.\nThose feelings, those moments, should have belonged to Charlie.\nEvelyn drove back to the hospital.\nDownstairs, she took a moment to compose herself, suppressing the pain in her heart until she looked normal enough to step out of the car.\n...\nHospital Room\nAs Evelyn approached the room, the door swung open from the inside.\nA tall, commanding figure stood in the doorway, his gaze soft as he looked at her. \"Evelyn, I'm back.\"\n\"Brooks, why are you back two days early?\"\nEvelyn was momentarily taken aback to see Brooks back ahead of schedule.\nBrooks didn't answer, but his eyes spoke volumes.\nHe missed her.\nEvelyn understood and found it hard to endure the unguarded emotion in his gaze, so she looked away, feeling a slight warmth creeping up behind her ears.noveldrama