The Day Our Promise Breaks

At the competition venue

Evelyn's brush moved with a graceful certainty, each stroke shaping the outline of "Rebirth❞ as inspiration poured through her, bright and boundless.

Then, out of nowhere-

"Ah!"

A stabbing pain, sharp as a knife, ripped through her chest. Her hand jerked violently, the brush cutting a harsh, ugly line across the pure white paper, leaving a deep black mark that marred her work.

"Ms. Josephine! Are you okay?"

Her assistant, startled and worried, rushed to catch her as she swayed unsteadily.

Evelyn's face was ghostly pale, cold sweat breaking out on her brow. She pressed her hand to her chest and forced a shaky smile. "I'm... I'm fine. Probably just a little tired."

But as soon as she said it, a wave of panic crashed over her, swallowing her whole. It was as if an icy hand had grabbed her heart, squeezing so tight she could hardly breathe.

One face filled her mind-Charlie.

The fear was crushing. There was no way she could keep painting, not like this.

The competition rules were strict: a whole week in total isolation, no contact with the outside world, all for the sake of fairness. Evelyn hated to break the rules, but her heart was in turmoil.

Charlie was all she could think about.

and smiling. But until she saw her child with her own

brush aside, Evelyn asked her assistant to find the coordinator so

She dialed Charles's number.

of agony. The concentrated toxins burned through his veins like a million hot needles, gnawing and burrowing into his bones. Every nerve felt torn and

blood soaked through the straps that

his gums splitting, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth as he fought to swallow

he felt

ringtone sounded in the lab,

open,

It was Eve!

bit of willpower he had left, he turned

quickly motioned

up the vibrating phone and gently held it to Charles's ear, adjusting it so

in a few

urge to cry out. Every breath was a battle, but he grit his teeth, swallowing the blood

was

"Charles, where's Charlie?"

worry for their daughter was so sharp, she

in

the call connected, it

"She's asleep."