The Day Our Promise Breaks

Chapter 617

Just then, a car screeched to a stop right in front of Charlie, blocking Evelyn's view completely.

Evelyn couldn't see her daughter.

Her eyes darted frantically across the street, searching for any sign of Charlie. She was sure absolutely sure-she'd just heard Charlie's voice. This wasn't her imagination. She wasn't dreaming. She had really, truly heard Charlie calling, "Mom."

"Charlie..."

Evelyn whispered her daughter's name, and before she knew it, her legs were carrying her straight into the street. The car that had been blocking her view suddenly swung around, heading right for her as she reached the middle of the

road.

Evelyn was so focused on finding Charlie, she didn't even notice the danger.

The car was almost on her.

At the last possible second-

"Evelyn, watch out!"

A girl nearby shouted, then lunged forward and yanked Evelyn back to safety.

The car sped off.

"Evelyn, are you okay? Did you get hurt?" The two girls hovered around her, their faces tight with worry. They were assigned to stay close to Evelyn, making sure nothing happened to her. Mr. Jenkins had given strict instructions-Evelyn couldn't get so much as a scratch.

not noticing how

was.

steadied herself, her eyes stayed locked on the other side of the street. The car was gone. But where Charlie's voice

been three years, but Charlie was her own flesh

could pick her out of any crowd, anywhere, without a

"Charlie!"

around

Where was her Charlie?

knew

stepped off the curb again, intent on crossing the street to look for her daughter. The two girls couldn't stop her; all

are you, sweetheart? Charlie! I know it's you- please, come out. Mommy misses you so much! Won't you come see me, even just for

after her daughter like a mother bird

matter how desperately she called, there was

Evelyn wouldn't give up. She knew—she just knew that was

girls watched as

shattered and she plunged into frantic desperation. She ran up to strangers, showing them her phone's lock

were quickly spinning out of

the girls stepped aside and pulled out her

the

all too well, that she didn't want to see hims So he'd arranged for two women she didn't know to keep an eye on

His phone rang.

Charles immediately paused the meeting and answered. As

handed the meeting off to Aiden, then bolted

tore through the hotel lobby. Evelyn wasn't