The Day Our Promise Breaks

Chapter 162

Charles came down the stairs.

The man, already roughed up by the bodyguards, was on his knees, pleading for mercy. He felt like the unluckiest guy around. He saw Charles and spilled the beans. "I was just after some cash. I didn't mean to hurt her. That woman... she's got issues..."

Before he could finish, Charles swiftly kicked him in the mouth. The man let out a yelp, crumpling to the ground. He clutched his mouth, tasting the metallic tang of blood. Unable to hold back, he spat out a mouthful of blood and a few teeth. His eyes, wide with terror, fixed on Charles. He couldn't fathom what he'd done to tick off this force of nature. "Keep talking, and watch your mouth." Aiden gave him another hard kick. Was he insulting Evelyn? Not on his watch.

Swallowing the pain, the man fished out the necklace he'd swiped from Evelyn. Just looking at it made his blood boil. He'd gotten it checked out. It wasn't worth as much as her coat. He spoke with obvious bitterness.

"She guarded it like it was something precious. I figured it was worth a lot, so I tried to take it.

"But she went berserk protecting it. She made me think it was really valuable..."

He didn't mention Evelyn's claim about her daughter's ashes being inside and keeping it as a memento. To him, that was ridiculous nonsense. Where he came from, daughters weren't held in high regard. Why would anyone make a necklace from their daughter's ashes and wear it? Absurd. "I only got rough with her because I had no choice... Ah!"

His scream echoed as Charles snapped his arm. The necklace dropped into Charles' hand. He glanced at it, then looked up, his voice icy, "She really cared about this necklace?"

"Yes!"

The man didn't know why Charles asked, but desperate to prove he hadn't meant any harm, he blurted, "It's true. She really cares about this necklace. No matter how much I hit or kicked her, she wouldn't let go..." "Hit and kicked?"

Charles' voice was like ice, his presence even colder. The man realized he'd crossed a line and clamped his mouth shut.

him back

as he headed for the elevator. Once inside, he hit the

the doors closed, the man was surrounded by Charles' bodyguards. They were trained and relentless, returning to him what Evelyn had endured a

...

hospital room, Evelyn lay back on the bed, looking at Brooks beside her. After a moment's hesitation, she spoke

me. Just tell me what

find the guy who robbed me today? He took a

"Of course."

of the necklace, and she

is too

was too much trouble. Her eyes were teary, and her voice

necklace is incredibly important to me...

you get it back," Brooks assured her,

at the door, watching Brooks and Evelyn, his sharp gaze locking onto their clasped hands. His presence

noticed him

Charles' and her expression

rejection.

you

block Charles. The tension between the two men was palpable, ready to