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,

who called you

it was her, maybe it meant she still cared, that he still had

"It was Mr. Brooks."

knew what Charles wanted to hear but couldn't bring himself

the words were spoken, Charles's hope flickered out like

ask why he kept making choices that

he could've gone straight to the hospital, but he chose to seek

only resentment for him over Charlie's death, he still

served to deepen Ms. Evelyn's

couldn't he see it? Mr. Jenkins was a savvy businessman, never

came to matters of

"Daddy."

doorway, clutching her clothes with nervous little hands, timidly

urging her to apologize and

at Sandy, the memory of last

though Dahlia claimed she was the one who

drink almost led him to a point of no return with Eve, he wasn't in the mood

sour mood, but the thought that Sandy might have been unknowingly involved flickered through

bear to attribute any

rest. We'll catch up soon. Go home and

voice was colder than usual, a subtle warning to Dahlia not to use

had

approach,

needs to rest. If you care for him, listen to what

she stood at the doorway, gazing at Charles

closed his eyes, offering no

to leave, glancing back with every step, her heart

daddy truly upset

would her mommy

made her way to a car parked at the hospital entrance, climbed

one look at Sandy's face and knew she hadn't managed to