The Day Our Promise Breaks

Chapter 557

At that moment, she couldn't hold it in any longer. Overwhelmed, Evelyn slipped

into the kitchen, tears streaming down her face.

Charlie came looking for her.

He saw her crying.

"Mom, why are you crying?" he asked, his little voice full of concern.

Not wanting to shatter Charles's image in Charlie's heart, she forced herself to lie. "Mommy just accidentally pinched her hand, that's all."

Charlie believed her without question. He carefully took her hand in his, his brow furrowed with worry. "Here, Mommy, let me kiss it better. Then it won't hurt

anymore."

It was their special way-Evelyn and Charlie's-of showing they cared for each other.

Now, Evelyn found herself using the same gesture with Brooks.

"Mr. Brooks, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. Are you okay?" she asked, her voice gentle as she hovered beside him.

The nurse, startled, snapped out of her daze, flustered as she realized she'd been slow to react. Dealing with important people always made her nervous-one wrong move and she could get into serious trouble.

fault," Brooks replied to the nurse, but his eyes never left Evelyn. His gaze was intense, filled with

him with such concern made Brooks feel as if his heart had

was nothing compared to this

could only echo one thought: The pain

had been doing-blowing softly on his wound the way she'd comforted

Are you feeling alright?" Brooks's voice was warm, his eyes running over her, concern etched in every line

replied

lingered on his injured arm, worry clouding her features. "Is

sometimes lead to amputation if

as you take good care of it, keep it clean, and avoid infection, there shouldn't be any lasting damage," the nurse answered reassuringly

a quiet

nurse finished up quickly and excused

hospital gown, helping him slip his

softened even more as he watched her. This side of Evelyn -so

he caught Evelyn's hand in his, his gaze locking with hers, his voice low and

way she'd looked at him just now was

hesitate,

time, she didn't run

Brooks's deep, yearning eyes and gave the faintest, shyest

excitement. In that instant he pulled her

into his arms, his single uninjured arm

tightly around her.