The Day Our Promise Breaks

Chapter 664

Her eyes wandered, unfocused, lingering on the ceiling for a moment.

Then, as if pulled by some invisible thread, her gaze drifted slowly to the side.

The first thing she saw was Evelyn, sitting at the edge of the bed-exhausted, worn down, but with hope shining bright in her eyes.

Their eyes met.

In an instant, tears spilled over in Evelyn's eyes, blurring everything.

She bit down hard on her lower lip, fighting not to sob out loud. Her hand trembled as she reached out, wanting to touch, but too afraid to break the fragile moment.

"Mom... Mom?"

Charlie's voice, weak but unmistakably clear, escaped her parched lips. It was soaked in doubt and raw emotion, as if she herself couldn't believe it.

Just those two syllables swept away every shadow and hurt in Evelyn's heart.

"Charlie! My Charlie!"

Evelyn couldn't hold back anymore. She rushed to the bed, hands shaking as she cradled her daughter's face, tears streaming down. "It's me, darling! Mommy's here! I'm right here!"

Her voice trembled, overflowing with wild relief and the terror of almost losing her.

Charlie gazed at Evelyn's familiar face—suddenly, all the memories she'd been forced to forget came rushing back.

Her mother's gentle touch.

Her mother's warm embrace.

Every little bit of care and love and comfort she'd ever known.

"Mommy!"

down, wailing as she threw herself into Evelyn's arms, wrapping her little arms tightly around her mother's neck, sobbing so hard it

again!"

turning red, as if she could pour out every ounce of fear,

healed all at once

warmth and trust in

frantic kisses to Charlie's damp forehead and soft hair, whispering over and over, “I'm here! I'm not going anywhere! Mommy will always be here! My baby,

two of them, mother

the love and

happy for them, he

was in

He was anxious. Afraid.

her memories

her mother's love and she would remember how he'd failed her, all the

stood frozen,

to go to her, to say

was

soothed by her mother's

finally

she could feel Charles'

s

on

her head and

She saw Charles.

still rimmed red from crying,

was making sure

second, her heart jumped her eyes

right there, on the tip of her tongue-until

like that, the light in her

flashed across her mind: her fifth birthday.