The Day Our Promise Breaks

Chapter 547

Evelyn watched Charles coldly, her eyes indifferent to his pain and despair.

Standing before the eternal flame lit for Charlie in St. Mary's Chapel, she never brought up how Charles had once mistreated Charlie.

Those wounds could certainly cut deep into Charles now, but they would also tear open Charlie's scars.

If Charlie's spirit was watching from above, Evelyn didn't want her to be hurt again.

With a final look at Charles, Evelyn pressed her hands together in a silent prayer, nodded farewell to the priest, and left the chapel with Brooks, leaving Charles alone, kneeling beneath the stubbornly unlit memorial candle.

[Why? Tell me, why? Charles, isn't it obvious? Charlie hated you. That's why she won't accept the candle you lit for her, why she refuses to forgive you!]

Evelyn's words echoed relentlessly in his mind.

Before long, two dark patches bloomed on the marble floor beneath Charles' knees.

After a long time, Charles finally looked up.

His eyes were swollen and red as he gazed at the eternal flame. He reached out

a trembling hand and gently caressed the glass, his voice hoarse and tender. "Charlie, it's okay if you can't forgive Dad now. I'll keep trying, I'll do anything for your forgiveness."

But Charlie was gone.

No matter how hard he tried to make amends, it was too late.

There was so little he could do.

But he could still try with Eve.

He could put everything he had into winning Eve back, proving his sincerity, making her happy.

Charlie had adored Eve. Maybe, if she saw his efforts, Charlie would forgive him too.

Maybe she would want to come back, to be their daughter once more.

For the first time in a long while, Charles felt a sliver of hope.

He stood up, his movements heavy and stiff, and walked out of the chapel, one step at a time.

...

Ever since returning from St. Mary's, Charles appeared outside Evelyn's apartment every morning, right on time.

He always held her favorite bouquet-white lilies and blush peonies-waiting for her to come down.

spared him a

night, Charles came again, sometimes bringing unfinished

or in the lobby, often staying until the early hours of the

for Evelyn to sit down and truly listen,

once.

waited like this for

Finally, Evelyn responded.

Eve: [Time, place.]

in the middle of a meeting when the message came

his heart leapt

from her

take over, and stepped out to call

rang once before she

tell me the time and

moment later, another message popped

again. He y typed out the name of

the

this okay

reply was

pick you up

MS

declined flatly: [No need. I'll drive myself

didn't dare insist the way he used

bet

her:

to meet him-that was all that mattered. He had to seize this

Seven o'clock. I'll wait for you at

Evelyn didn't respond again.

restaurant manager himself-booked the entire third

to drive him over early so he could prepare the

Charles returned home, showered, and then spent nearly an

schoolboy on his first date,

was packed, but

running out, Charles might have kept changing

waited at the closet door, unable

first, Charles even looked up for his

was honest-Mr. Jenkins could make anything

were concerned, but Charles Jenkins' face and

genuine, not just the flattery of

him, full