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

she still cared, that he still had a place

"It was Mr. Brooks."

knew what Charles wanted to hear

soon as the words were spoken, Charles's hope flickered

watched Charles, wishing he could ask why he

the hospital, but he chose to seek

Charlie's death, he still put himself in the

only served to

Jenkins was a

when it came to

"Daddy."

clutching her clothes with nervous little hands, timidly calling out

brought her, urging her to apologize and seek his

last night fresh. She had poured

claimed she was the one who

a point of no return with Eve, he wasn't in

his sour mood, but the thought that Sandy might have been unknowingly

attribute

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

subtle warning to Dahlia not to use

the first time Charles had been so distant with Sandy.

approach,

needs to rest. If you care for him, listen to what he's asking, don't

in her eyes as she stood at the doorway, gazing at Charles with a look that could

closed his eyes, offering no

but to leave, glancing back

her daddy truly upset with

her, would her mommy follow suit? What would she

to a car parked at the hospital entrance, climbed in, and shut the door behind

face and knew she