The Day Our Promise Breaks

Chapter 382

At that moment, her tears, once her most powerful weapon, went unnoticed by Charles. He was focused squarely on Wesley, his doubts clear as day. He was listening to Wesley instead of her. Dahlia lowered her gaze, trying to hide the panic and unease in her eyes. What was she going to do now?

"She's not the sweet, innocent person you believe her to be. From the start, she couldn't stand your daughter with Evelyn. She pretended to like Charlie just to pull the wool over your eyes," Wesley declared.

"She brought up Charlie to me so many times, and it was always with disdain," he continued. "When she came back, she suggested that Sandy and Charlie bond, but it was just to turn you against Charlie. Everything she did was calculated. You're the only one who thought she'd treat Charlie like her own."

"She's the reason Charlie died. John threatened her, and, terrified you'd find out, she hired someone to kill him to keep it under wraps."

Charles's throat tightened. The mention of Charlie brought a pain to his eyes he couldn't hide. He had urged Evelyn to move forward, but he himself was stuck in the past, unable to let go of Charlie's death. He fought to keep his emotions in check and said, "Words aren't enough. Where's your proof?"

He stepped forward, inwardly rejecting Wesley's claims. Without solid evidence, he couldn't reconcile this version of Dahlia with the one he knew. But people do change.

"I have proof," Wesley finally managed, the words heavy on his tongue. He couldn't even look at Dahlia, fearful his resolve might crumble. Between protecting the woman he loved and his daughter, he chose the latter, a decision he'd never regret.

but didn't dodge the issue. "Show it to me,"

with me right now..." Wesley admitted. He had anticipated needing to protect it when he met with Dahlia, so he'd hidden it away safely. Today, he only planned to expose his connection

loved Dahlia deeply, wouldn't be able to handle the betrayal and would surely leave her. Without Charles, Dahlia would lose her support. She didn't love Sandy and would let him have her. But Charles's reaction was nothing

panic. Seizing the moment, she raised her head and, with tears in her eyes, looked

say anything to get at me! I know you think I'm to blame for Charlie's

freed Wesley and orchestrated this scene just to drive a wedge between me

gone through all this trouble because you know Charles is my

my life for Charlie, I'll do it. Just stop tarnishing

die, but I won't confess to something I didn't

from the coffee table and, without hesitating, slashed her wrist. Her face was set with determination, ready to prove her innocence with

blood rushed out

of color as he rushed to her side, catching her before she hit the ground. "Dahlia!" he shouted, pressing on her wound to stem the