The Day Our Promise Breaks

Chapter 403

Evelyn's kick landed squarely on Dahlia's face, drawing a sharp yelp of pain from her. Clutching her mouth, tears welled up as she turned to Charles. "Charles, help me." She expected him to do what he always did-push Evelyn away and comfort her. But instead...

"Eve!" Charles snapped to attention, rushing over to wrap his arms around

Evelyn, pulling her back. "Calm down." Evelyn's eyes burned with anger as she glared at Dahlia sprawled on the floor.

"Calm down? Dahlia's the reason Charlie and Grandma are gone, and now she's put my mom in the operating room, clinging to life. Charles, how can you expect me to be calm?"

"Let me go!" Evelyn struggled fiercely, but Charles's grip held firm. Her upper body was yanked back, pinned by his strength. She stopped struggling, but her fury hadn't burned out. She raised her leg again, kicking Dahlia with unrelenting force. Dahlia couldn't dodge and took a few more hits before Charles managed to pull Evelyn away.

escape. Her chest heaved with rage, hatred simmering beneath the surface. Over Charles's shoulder, Dahlia's defiant eyes met hers, full of malice that Charles

reason Dahlia kept getting away with it. Her long-buried resentment cracked open wide. The deaths of Charlie and Grandma, two years past. Her mother now fighting for her life in surgery. All of it fueled the

venting her fury. He didn't flinch, his eyes steady and

Debbie, his care for Evelyn was growing maybe even outweighing his feelings for her. Despite everything, Charles's heart was drawn to the real

realize that Charles

me to feel better, let her. Don't protect me. It breaks my heart. She cried, trying to

dodge her blows. She wished she could truly make him feel her pain. Until Aiden's voice echoed

abruptly. Her mother's critical condition

calmed

grip, looking at her