The Day Our Promise Breaks

Chapter 496

Evelyn slipped into a fresh set of pajamas, feeling the comforting embrace of cleanliness.

"Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

Exhaustion weighed heavily on her.

Brooks lit a soothing lavender candle in the bedroom, its gentle aroma wafting through the air as Evelyn snuggled into the warm sheets.

Outside, the rain began to patter softly against the window, growing heavier by the minute.

She thought sleep would evade her after the day's turmoil, but the rhythmic dance of raindrops lulled her into an unexpected slumber.

Brooks stood on the balcony, his gaze fixed on a man who seemed like a ghost lingering in the rain.

He stood there, drenched, staring up at the glowing window.

Brooks kept Evelyn in the dark about it, silently watching Charles get soaked.

It wasn't until Charles succumbed to an infection, a fever raging through him, that

his body finally gave way, collapsing into the rain-soaked street.

Only then did Brooks call Aiden to come and collect Charles.

Charles battled through the feverish night, finally waking the next afternoon as it broke.

Finding himself in a hospital room, hope flickered in his eyes, a fragile ember.

His last memory was of standing outside Brooks' place, fading into unconsciousness in the rain, while Eve was safely upstairs.

Charles scanned the room for Evelyn, but only found Aiden, and the hope dimmed a bit.

Yet, he clung to a thread of optimism and asked Aiden, who approached upon seeing him awake,

Eve who called

it meant she still cared, that he

"It was Mr. Brooks."

Charles wanted to hear

soon as the words were spoken, Charles's hope flickered out like a candle in the

he kept making

to the hospital, but

she harbored only resentment for him over Charlie's death, he still put himself in the line

served to

see it? Mr. Jenkins was a savvy businessman, never making

stumbled when it came to matters

"Daddy."

clutching her clothes with nervous little

brought her, urging her to apologize and

looked at Sandy, the memory of last night fresh.

one who instructed Sandy, that Sandy

of no return with Eve, he wasn't

Sandy might have been unknowingly involved flickered through his mind, quickly

attribute

up soon. Go

warning to Dahlia not

had been so distant with Sandy.

trembled, wanting to approach, but Aiden

care for him, listen to what he's asking, don't add to his

as she stood at the doorway, gazing at Charles with a look that could melt

eyes, offering no

glancing back with every step, her heart

daddy truly upset

daddy stopped loving her, would her mommy follow suit? What would she

car parked at the hospital entrance, climbed in, and shut

face and knew she hadn't managed to patch things