The Day Our Promise Breaks

Staring at what was unfolding before her, listening to her daughter's words, Evelyn felt as if her heart was being shredded.

Tears welled up, blurring everything around her.

Luna was twisting the knife in her soul.

The dizzying joy of getting her daughter back-

Turns out, it was just fate playing a crueler joke.

Her Charlie was alive again.

But she didn't recognize her as "Mom" anymore.

Worse-she looked at Evelyn as if she was the scariest villain in the world.

Charles hugged his daughter close, his big hand gently rubbing her back, trying to soothe her.

He'd dreamed of feeling her lean on him like this again.

But there was no happiness in his heart.

It was obvious-whatever happened to Charlie had Luna's fingerprints all over it. She did this to hurt Eve.

To make Charlie turn away from her real mother, to drive a wedge between them, and to have Charlie call the one person Eve despised most "Mom."

It was pure poison.

Seeing the heartbreak on Evelyn's face, Charles felt something in him crack.

She'd raised her on her own, pouring every ounce

more to her than

could one

back Charlie's sweaty hair, his voice as soft as a whisper. “Charlie, sweetheart, you don't have to be scared. She's not a bad person—she's your mom. She loves

her head, refusing

not! She's NOT! I only have one mommy and

tried to tell her otherwise, the

...

her

just survived a

was weak, barely able to handle

It tore Evelyn apart.

her baby-her heart, her

pain she couldn't

wished Charlie would remember she

stand the thought of letting Charlie out of her

how much her

flicker of recognition or

for her to gamble

was the reason Charlie was suffering right

I.ne

Mommy will go, okay?" Evelyn's voice trembled as she forced herself

barely made it off the bed before stumbling straight into Andrew,

any sleep, but as soon as he heard Charlie was in trouble, he rushed

took in the scene, momentarily

"Dr. Nelson..."

his arm like it was the