The Day Our Promise Breaks

Charles moved so fast that Evelyn barely had a chance to react before he pulled her firmly into his arms from behind.

Her back met his solid chest, and with every sharp breath he took, she could feel his heart pounding against her. He was practically buzzing with energy-so much that it felt like he wanted to absorb her into himself.

But Evelyn didn't catch even a spark of his excitement. Her voice was ice-cold as she snapped, "Charles, let go of me!"

There was no mistaking the rejection in her tone. She reached up, trying to pry his arms away.

...

Charles only held her tighter, his arms locking around her, pressing her even

closer until there was no space left between them. His big hand slid carefully from her waist to rest over her lower stomach, as if every movement needed to be

gentle.

His palm was hot against her. His fingertips trembled as they grazed her.

The touch made Evelyn freeze, her body going stiff as her mind blanked. For a moment, all thought of struggling slipped away.

From a distance, they could have been mistaken for lovers, lost in a secret embrace.

Evelyn's face turned grim, her expression dark and stormy.

Charles's actions made his message painfully clear: he knew. He knew the baby was his.

This was the last thing she wanted.

She'd lied at the hospital, hoping to avoid giving Charles any reason to chase after her. She knew all too well how impossible it was to shake him off once he set his mind to something.

The problem would only get bigger.

She wanted to believe she was overthinking it, but Charles quickly destroyed that hope, his voice rough and low as he breathed into her ear, "Eve, I know everything. You never slept with Brooks. You lied to me. This baby isn't his—it's mine."

Evelyn's denial died on her lips.

she could say a word, a furious voice, trembling with

It was Mrs. Robinson.

siblings, she wouldn't have thought twice. But after learning they'd been together for five years-and even had a daughter-seeing their

to hide, why sneak around behind her

know if she was just being paranoid, or if

up in

it out loud: the

baby wasn't even two

with Charles while she

pregnant, but this? Even after getting

she think Brooks was, some kind of

Mrs. Robinson's voice, Evelyn felt a

turned around, her heart pounding, and saw Mrs. Robinson's face twisted

at Evelyn, her voice sharp and full of

baby you're carrying isn't Brooks's, but

face went

never made it out. In the end, she barely whispered,

already rooted in Mrs. Robinson's heart-no denial

a paternity test, the truth would be impossible to hide. "Evelyn,

trembled with rage, words failing her. She raised her

stood still, not even

Smack.

echoed, sharp and

any pain. She opened

her, taking the slap in her

Robinson hadn't held back. Charles's face was already marked with

Seeing Charles shielding Evelyn

made

what he do? Charles's

S. Robinson angrier, I

too high to ignore.