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."

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 spoke, tears fell down her face. She

"Other kids can sleep with their Mommy and

Dahlia felt a pang of heartache. Wearing the clothes that got wet from

that Charles could clearly see everything from his position. She was curvaceous and perfectly shaped.

this, seemed to have all

"Be a good girl, Sandy. Stop crying, okay? The doctor just told you yesterday not

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

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 cried

at Charles. Her tears made her look even more pitiful as if she had been abandoned. She cried softly,

cried intermittently, looking

to rest well. Getting

the end, Charles

...

in the morning, asking

and arrived