The Day Our Promise Breaks

"No, I got held up with something."

Charles responded in a subdued voice, carrying Sandy into the house.

Under the bright lights, Dahlia, whose attention had been fixed on Charles, noticed his lower lip was cut. It looked like someone had bitten it. Dahlia's smile froze for a moment.

Was Evelyn the "something" that held Charles up? Was she using her charms to keep him by her side?

...

Eight-thirty was Sandy's bedtime every night. After bathing her, Dahlia carried her to bed.

Charles picked up a bedtime storybook and sat by the bed, ready to lull her to sleep.

Sandy snuggled into his embrace, hugged his neck, and cooed softly, "Daddy, please don't go tonight. Stay and sleep with me and Mommy, okay?"

Dahlia had just finished tidying up the bathroom and stepped out. She frowned upon hearing this and scolded her daughter, "Sandy, don't make a fuss."

for being scolded by her mom. Tears quickly filled her eyes, and she watched Dahlia with a whimpering cry. "I'm not making a fuss. I just want to sleep with you and Daddy." As she

"Other kids can sleep with their Mommy and Daddy, so why

like this, Dahlia felt a pang of heartache. Wearing the clothes that got wet from bathing Sandy, Dahlia quickly walked to the bed and bent

from his position. She was curvaceous and perfectly shaped. Her figure could drive a man to

have all her attention

Stop crying, okay? The doctor just told you yesterday not to

Charles to stay. Her small hands clutched Charles' sleeve. She shook it and pleaded pitifully, "Daddy, please?" For the first

gaze dimmed. She suddenly forcefully pulled Sandy into her embrace and forced a smile at Charles. "Charles, don't mind her. She'll stop crying soon. It's getting late. You should head back and rest." Without Charles' embrace, Sandy

her look even more pitiful as if she had been abandoned. She cried softly, "Daddy, just for one night, please?

cried intermittently, looking extremely

rest well. Getting too worked up

the end, Charles nodded,

...

a call from Dahlia early in the morning, asking to meet at

refuse and