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

Charles came again, sometimes

or in the lobby, often staying until

a chance. A chance for

once.

waited like this for a whole

Finally, Evelyn responded.

Eve: [Time, place.]

middle of a meeting when the message

his heart

from her

over, and stepped out to call Evelyn from

barely rang once before she declined

Just tell me the time

later, another

y typed

and the time,

this okay for

was concise:

pick you

MS

declined flatly: [No need. I'll

insist the way

bet

her:

He had

[Okay. Seven o'clock. I'll wait for you

Evelyn didn't respond again.

manager

to drive him over early so he could

in place, Charles returned home, showered, and then spent nearly an hour in

schoolboy on his first

was packed, but none seemed

time wasn't running out, Charles might

at the closet door, unable to

looked up for

make anything look good. Every suit

be hopelessly blind where his feelings were concerned,

were genuine, not just the flattery

only glanced at him,