The Day Our Promise Breaks

Chapter 427

Dahlia gagged, expelling the filthy rag from her mouth along with whatever she'd just thrown up, splattering herself in the process.

"Aaah!"

Her scream was full of pure desperation. But just as her mouth opened, the woman shoved the soiled rag back in, muffling her cries and stopping her from calling for help.

The revulsion was too much for Dahlia to bear. Her face turned a sickly shade of green, then pale. She gagged again, shaking her head frantically, trying to spit the disgusting rag out. This time, the woman shoved it further down. The vomit stayed put, forcing Dahlia to swallow it back. Her body convulsed with revulsion, almost passing out from the overwhelming nausea, feeling trapped in a nightmare.

By now, her earlier bravado had vanished. Her tearful eyes begged the woman, her muffled apologies barely audible.

But it was too late. That pitiful, manipulative gaze might work on men, but to the woman, it was simply irritating. She glared at Dahlia with pure disdain, kicked her to the ground, and spat, "Who do you think you're disgusting? Look at me like that again, and I'll gouge your eyes out."

Terrified, Dahlia clamped her eyes shut. The woman sneered at Dahlia's cowardice and spat at her. "Pathetic!"

filthy corner, she couldn't move the toilet aside. She could only huddle there miserably, engulfed by the

had no clue how she endured. Whenever they woke up, they carelessly spilled on her. The stench of

---

police station, holding her mother Josephine's hand, keeping vigil by her bed. Dahlia hadn't been convicted yet, and Evelyn was worried she might

fell asleep, resting her head on Josephine's bed. She'd barely dozed off when the door creaked

like a

the

apprehension.

up

other side of the room, Adam stirred

that was within reach.

"Evelyn, it's me."

Brooks quickly announced himself.