The Day Our Promise Breaks

Charles stood his ground and took the slap right on the cheek.

Mrs. Robinson showing up was a total surprise.

But honestly, Charles was happy about it.

Eve was carrying his child.

There was no way he'd let her get engaged—or worse, married-to Brooks and have his own kid call another man "Dad."

Still, when he saw Evelyn's eyes blazing red, her whole body trembling with anger, Charles dropped his voice, trying to soothe her. "Eve, if you're mad, take it out on me. Hit me, yell at me, whatever you need. Just don't get yourself worked up and risk the baby."

He grabbed Evelyn's hand, guiding it to his face, encouraging her to let it out. Evelyn didn't hesitate. She slapped him, hard, again and again.

She didn't hold back. If she could, she'd have smacked him out of existence.

All she wanted was to start fresh, to have a normal life. Everything was finally going well, and then he showed up and threw her whole world into chaos again. A group of cyclists appeared down the street, most of them women.

Charles was too striking to go unnoticed.

Evelyn could already hear them whispering, gossipy excitement buzzing in the air. She glanced over and saw their phones come up, snapping photos.

There was no way she was getting caught on camera with Charles-it was messy enough already.

She turned away, sidestepping the cameras, yanked her hand out of his, and walked off without looking back.

"Eve."

Without thinking, Charles reached out and caught her hand.

Evelyn struggled even harder to break free.

She pulled too hard, and suddenly, the world spun.

After Charlie died, her health had crashed. No matter how much she tried to recover, she never really got back to normal.

behind Brooks' back,

no matter what Mrs.

hadn't gone through with the

handle it, insisting she get stronger before doing anything

and she stumbled

"Eve."

her waist, holding her up, his eyes searching her pale face. Without hesitation,

wanted to fight, but she felt too awful. The more she struggled,

to push herself past her

nerves and worry, carried her

hand to calm her. "Eve,

just pulled her hand away, silent and

her health was all that mattered. He started the car and headed straight for Andrew's hospital, calling ahead for an

arrived, Evelyn was

inside, careful

tests, checked on the baby and on

nutritionist to help her build her strength

arrange for the best OB-GYN

at her bedside, unable to stop

hand gently

time, when she was

Charlie, he'd been

and missed

whole pregnancy.

was determined not to miss

for Eve and for their child, every

when Evelyn

tone soft as he

made, asking

before Evelyn

I'm not having this