The Day Our Promise Breaks

"Charles, are you even human?!"

Evelyn was livid. Without thinking, she slapped Charles hard across the face.

How could he have the nerve to use Adam's injury as leverage against her? Didn't he know exactly why Adam's hand was hurt in the first place?

"Eve, take it easy. Getting upset isn't good for you," Charles said, his voice calm, his expression unfazed by the sting of her slap. He reached out, meaning to smooth the deep line between her brows.

Before he could touch her, Evelyn knocked his hand away with a sharp smack.

The sound cracked through the car.

She hadn't held back.

Charles's skin was tough-he barely felt it—but Evelyn's palm was left stinging and bright red.

He caught her hand, concern flickering across his face. He brought her hand closer and gently blew on her reddened skin.

His eyes lowered, overflowing with helplessness.

He just never knew what to do when it came to Eve.

He knew bringing up Adam's injury would push her over the edge, make her furious enough to want to strangle him. But he was desperate.

He needed her to keep their baby.

If Eve wasn't so sure, so determined to end the pregnancy-if there had been even the smallest sliver of hope he never would have done something so cruel.

pull

tight enough to hurt her, just enough so she couldn't escape. He pressed her hand, warm and trembling, to

at all. Charles's eyes turned red as he

was his salvation, the one chance left for him

anything-anything-to keep our child," he

couldn't lose another. He wouldn't survive

back pressed to the seat, his solid frame

Evelyn couldn't break free.

she could do was glare at him, her eyes

face, trying to

had told

to fix his hand, spending months and

for

knew Charles had

to such

He understood how much Adam meant to her, how guilty she felt

planned to thank Charles once Adam was

had turned around and used Adam's pain

her.

emotions twisted into

Her mind flashed with

memories Charles's threats,

long months