The Day Our Promise Breaks

If he didn't have some leverage, he'd never manage to keep her close. As long as she was with him, she wouldn't be anyone else's. In the end, she was meant to be his. His eyes, heavy with possessiveness, were unmasked by his lowered eyelids. He picked up the hairdryer and started drying Evelyn's hair. This wasn't new, but the roles were swapped.

Back when he stayed over at Oakwood Manor, it was Evelyn who'd take care of him, drying his hair. This was his first time drying Evelyn's hair-or any woman's hair for that matter.

Evelyn wasn't too keen on Charles helping her, but the look he gave her when she tried to protest said it all: "Do you really have a choice?" She gave in, pretending he was just another stylist at the salon, and let him dry her hair. It was easier to handle than having him touch her in other ways.

She closed her eyes, trying to clear her mind, but she couldn't ignore how deftly Charles handled her long hair. The ease in his movements suggested he'd done this plenty of times before, likely for someone else with long hair. The only person she could think of was Dahlia. That thought only made Evelyn more uneasy.

"Did I hurt you?" He noticed her frown and paused, asking gently. Evelyn couldn't be bothered to answer. Charles was baffled by her worsening temper but continued with a sigh. Once he finished, he swapped out the sheets that her hair had dampened and left the room.

Evelyn settled back onto the bed. Charles soon returned, a glass of milk in hand. He passed it to her, and she silently drank it before lying back down, preparing for the mental torment she expected. But instead of Charles, sleep quickly took over.

Evelyn tried to fight it, but sleep was too inviting and she slipped away into dreams. It was only after she was sound asleep that Charles. came back in. He carefully slipped under the covers and drew Evelyn into his arms. Even though he knew she wouldn't stir until morning, he was extra gentle.

Once she nestled into his embrace, a part of him that had felt hollow for two years felt whole again. His thumb gently traced her cheek, noting the shadows under her eyes. From the moment she arrived, he knew she hadn't been sleeping well.

"Goodnight," he whispered, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. Just as he was about to drift off with her, Evelyn's phone lit up. A message from Brooks.

Without a second thought, Charles picked up the phone. He tried her birthday as the password-no luck He tried his own birthday too, even though he knew it was unlikely. Her passwords used to revolve around him, but not anymore. A sharp pang of disappointment hit him.

After a moment, he tried Charlie's birthday. Each number felt like a punch to his heart. Charlie was a painful memory, one he couldn't touch without feeling hurt. But the phone unlocked.

Charles opened Brooks' messages.

There were a bunch of missed callsnoveldrama

and messages asking where she was, pleading for her not to do anything reckless, not to overdo it. A wave of irritation washed over Charles. He snapped a photo of Evelyn sleeping peacefully in his arms and sent it to Brooks.