The Day Our Promise Breaks

Chapter 565

Evelyn's pupils trembled visibly as she heard that it was Charles who had saved her and her mother that night.

The memory of that night's fire—the ferocity of the flames-remained vivid in her

mind.

Rushing into the blaze without protective gear, without so much as a fire extinguisher, just to save her and her mother... That kind of devotion was overwhelming.

If he didn't care deeply, how could he have risked his life for her and her mother?

It was precisely because she understood this that, back when she believed it was Brooks who'd rescued them, she'd been so moved.

A man who was so good to her, who was willing to risk everything for her-what reason did she have to turn him away?

But now, Brooks had told her the truth.

It wasn't him who'd saved her and her mother-it was Charles.

The man who had risked his life for them was Charles.

...

"His leg wasn't just accidentally injured," Brooks continued quietly. "That night, during the rescue, something went wrong."

"When things took a turn, he pushed you toward me, told me to get you out. He stayed behind in the fire."

"His left leg was severely burned as a result. He's been in the hospital for over a month now, but things aren't looking good. There's a real chance he might lose the leg..."

Brooks didn't hide anything.

He laid out everything he'd discovered for Evelyn.

He had no reason to hold back-telling her all of this would gain him nothing. But he told her anyway.

The words "might lose the leg" sent a wave of turmoil crashing through Evelyn's heart. Her hands, resting at her sides, clenched tightly.

"Evelyn," Brooks said softly, taking her hand in his, eyes brimming with emotion.

night, I want you to know: if I

her everything didn't mean Brooks

was no less than

he'd risk his life

been a step too

lifted her gaze

saw the worry in his

and pulled him into an

anything-but that hug, in itself, was the answer

instant, his eyes widened in shock-then,

tightly in his arms, holding her as if he could merge her

first time, he embraced Evelyn with all his

beat of his heart, Evelyn felt the storm inside her-stirred up by thoughts of Charles-begin to

knew Brooks loved

also knew that she and Charles had become impossible ever

Charles,

loved her, she could no longer love

loved each other, but never at

At the Hospital

the ballroom but barely made it halfway before

pedal and rushed Charles

team was already waiting

they whisked him

of bed for

This was reckless.

the past month could be unraveled by this one

on the team grew

to ask what could possibly matter

dared

one actually voiced

doctors tended to Charles's ravaged left

had

The wound was infected.