The Day Our Promise Breaks

Evelyn's pupils trembled visibly as she heard that it was Charles who had saved her and her mother that night.

The memory of that night's fire—the ferocity of the flames-remained vivid in her

mind.

Rushing into the blaze without protective gear, without so much as a fire extinguisher, just to save her and her mother... That kind of devotion was overwhelming.

If he didn't care deeply, how could he have risked his life for her and her mother?

It was precisely because she understood this that, back when she believed it was Brooks who'd rescued them, she'd been so moved.

A man who was so good to her, who was willing to risk everything for her-what reason did she have to turn him away?

But now, Brooks had told her the truth.

It wasn't him who'd saved her and her mother-it was Charles.

The man who had risked his life for them was Charles.

...

"His leg wasn't just accidentally injured," Brooks continued quietly. "That night, during the rescue, something went wrong."

"When things took a turn, he pushed you toward me, told me to get you out. He stayed behind in the fire."

"His left leg was severely burned as a result. He's been in the hospital for over a month now, but things aren't looking good. There's a real chance he might lose the leg..."

Brooks didn't hide anything.

He laid out everything he'd discovered for Evelyn.

He had no reason to hold back-telling her all of this would gain him nothing. But he told her anyway.

The words "might lose the leg" sent a wave of turmoil crashing through Evelyn's heart. Her hands, resting at her sides, clenched tightly.

"Evelyn," Brooks said softly, taking her hand in his, eyes brimming with emotion.

"Even though I wasn't the one who got there first that night, I want you to know: if I had been, I would have run into that fire for you, too. Without a moment's hesitation."

Telling her everything didn't mean Brooks was giving up.

His love for Evelyn was no less than Charles's.noveldrama

For her, he'd risk his life just as readily.

He'd only been a step too late-not unwilling.

Evelyn lifted her gaze to Brooks.

She saw the worry in his eyes.

Slowly, she reached out and pulled him into an embrace.

She didn't say anything-but that hug, in itself, was the answer Brooks needed.

In that instant, his eyes widened in shock-then, a wave of joy crashed over him.

He wrapped her tightly in his arms, holding her as if he could merge her into his very bones.

For the first time, he embraced Evelyn with all his strength, as if he would never let her go.

Leaning into Brooks's chest, listening to the frantic beat of his heart, Evelyn felt the storm inside her-stirred up by thoughts of Charles-begin to calm.

She knew Brooks loved her deeply.

She also knew that she and Charles had become impossible ever since Charlie died.

When she'd loved Charles, he hadn't loved her.

And when Charles finally loved her, she could no longer love him.

They had loved each other, but never at the same time.

At the Hospital

Charles left the ballroom but barely made it halfway before slipping into semi-consciousness. SWI

Aiden floored the gas pedal and rushed Charles back to the hospital.

The medical team was already waiting at the entrance.

As soon as Charles arrived, they whisked him into the ER.

He wasn't supposed to be out of bed for long periods, let alone stand for so long.

This was reckless.

Everything he'd worked for over the past month could be unraveled by this one night out.

The faces of the doctors on the team grew darker by the second.

They all wanted to ask what could possibly matter more than his own leg.

But they only dared to grumble in silence.

No one actually voiced it.

After hours of surgery, the doctors tended to Charles's ravaged left leg.

The injury had grown worse.

The wound was infected.

Within a short time, Charles developed a raging fever.

Soon, his temperature soared to 104°F.

Everyone wore grave expressions.

"Tonight is critical," one of the doctors said.

If the fever didn't break, they would

have

to choice but to e

WI

leg to save Charles's life. sw

...

Night deepened.

Charles was burning with fever, barely conscious.

He kept murmuring Evelyn's name.

Aiden didn't dare close his eyes.

He watched helplessly as Charles's fever climbed to 105°F, his suffering unbearable.

He knew that, at this moment, the person Charles most wanted to see was Evelyn.

She wasn't a doctor, but perhaps she could help more than any of them.

ет

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Unable to bear seeing Charles like this, Aiden disregarded Charles's earlier instructions. He stepped outside the hospital room, found

on's number, and dialed.