The Day Our Promise Breaks

Evelyn just couldn't bring herself to head over to Charles's place. Instead, she drove straight to his office to confront him. After being with him for five years, this wasn't her first rodeo at his workplace. The first time she showed up there was when she was desperate to cover Charlie's medical bills. She'd called Charles, and as soon as she mentioned needing money, he hung up on her. With time ticking away, she had no choice but to head to his office. It was pouring rain that day, too.

At the entrance, the receptionist stopped her, saying she couldn't see Charles without an appointment. She tried calling him over and over, but he didn't pick up. In desperation, she sent him a text: "Charles, I'm downstairs at your office. I urgently need $20,000." But no reply came.

After waiting in vain, she approached the receptionist again, trying to assert her identity. Hesitantly, she claimed to be Charles's girlfriend. The receptionist sneered, "Girlfriend? Everyone here knows Mr. Jenkins's girlfriend is Ms. Dahlia. You're really flattering yourself, aren't you?"

Evelyn, worried sick about Charlie's health, brushed off the receptionist's sarcasm and the sting of "everyone knows." All she wanted was to find Charles. Skipping any further drama with the receptionist, she made a dash for it.

Security got called. "This woman's causing a scene. Please escort her out," the receptionist said. The guard, upon hearing "scene," quickly blocked her way. "Miss, you need to leave now."

"I really need to talk to Charles about something important, please let me

through," Evelyn pleaded, refusing to back down. But the guards weren't having it and forcibly escorted her out. They handed her an umbrella and told her to leave.

Standing outside, dazed, the wind

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whipped the umbrella from her hands, and the rain soaked her clothes. The chilly autumn rain left her shivering and pale. With hands, she sent another text Charles: "Charles, if you give me the $20,000, I'll do anything. I'm begging you." Yet again, no response.

She thought maybe he hadn't seen her messages because he was in a meeting. But then she spotted Aiden. He approached her with an umbrella and led her inside. Evelyn still remembers that gut-wrenching moment. Charles hadn't missed her messages; he had just been waiting for her to beg the way he wanted.

That day, drenched and cold, she was led into Charles's office. When Charles saw her, his expression turned somber. He quietly told her to go shower in the restroom. Halfway through her shower, the door swung open. Charles walked in. What should have been a quick shower stretched into over an hour.

Her efforts to please Charles seemed to satisfy him, and he left the bathroom first. It took her ages to pull herself together and leave the restroom. Charles was gone by then. On the bed, she found a clean set of clothes, and on her phone screen was a notification of a $20,000 transfer. Seeing the money in her account, she ignored her discomfort, quickly changed, and left.

Downstairs, she caught the receptionist's look-a look that screamed disdain, as

if she were someone of ill repute. She practically ran out of there. Back then, she

vowed never to return to Charles's office again.

Years later, here she was again. But

this time, her heart was steady. Standing at thenoveldrama

Aiden. Aiden door, she called

was in Charles's office as Charles was instructing him to add another dessert to the delivery from Debbie's Garden, scheduled to arrive at his house in half an hour. Hearing that Evelyn was at the office, Charles immediately knew she didn't want to go to his house.