The Day Our Promise Breaks

Evelyn's breathing came in sharp, uneven bursts.

There was nothing left to say to Charles.

She kept her face cold and unreadable, pushed him away, and reached for the door to leave.

But Charles caught her hand.

With a quiet, stubborn pull, he drew her back as the car door clicked shut.

"Charles, I already agreed to keep the baby. What else do you want from me?!”

Evelyn glared, her eyes burning with anger.

"Eve, when you were pregnant with Charlie, I failed you. I missed everything. I won't do that again—not this time."

"I'll take care of you. And the baby."

Charlie was the regret that would haunt Charles for the rest of his life.

This time, he was determined to get it right.

"I don't need you to."

Evelyn understood what he was really saying he wanted her to move in with him.

She didn't even have to think before refusing.

"Charles, I said I'd keep this baby. I never agreed to move into your house."

Once, that was all she'd ever wanted.

Now, she couldn't get away fast enough.

She didn't want to live under the same roof as him.

"Eve, I need this. This is my child, too. I have a responsibility, and I'm not walking away from it."noveldrama

Charles's words were soft, but his tone left no room for argument.

He wasn't going to repeat his past mistakes.

This time, he was staying.

"Charles, don't you think it's a little late to start acting like a father? Where were you when I needed you before?!"

She couldn't stand hearing him talk about responsibility. It just made her think of Charlie.

Charles's eyes filled with pain as he met her furious gaze. "Eve, I regret what I did every single day. I can't let it happen again."

He exhaled, then changed the subject, his voice gentle. "What do you want for lunch?"

Evelyn saw right through him.

She knew exactly how this would go. If she said no, he'd just use Adam's injury as leverage again.

Unless she was really willing to ignore Adam's recovery, she was stuck-she'd have to live with Charles for the next month.

Evelyn took a long, steadying breath.

It was only a month.

She could grit her teeth and get through it.

Once Adam's hand healed, she could still end the pregnancy if she wanted.

Charles watched her, waiting for an answer. Instead, Evelyn quietly buckled her seatbelt.

Her silence said everything.

She turned away from him, refusing to meet his eyes-as if even looking at him made her skin crawl.

Charles understood-she was giving in.

Since she didn't answer his question about lunch, he didn't push.

He slid back into the driver's seat, fastened his seatbelt, and started the car, heading for Oakwood Manor.

The old house hadn't changed; he'd left everything exactly as it was.

When they pulled up, Evelyn was fast asleep. Charles didn't wake her. He carefully lifted her from the car, carried her upstairs, and settled her onto the bed in the master bedroom.

He brushed a gentle kiss across her forehead, tucked the blanket around her, and slipped out of the room.

...

Evelyn woke with her stomach growling in protest.

She blinked awake and realized she was back at Oakwood Manor.

She hadn't set foot here in so long.

Five years of her life were spent in this house.

So many memories-sweet, precious moments with Charlie, and the not-so-sweet

ones with Charles.

She was still lost in those memories

when the bedroom door creaked open. Charles stepped inside, his

voice soft as he saw her awake.

"Eve, you must be hungry. Come downstairs, dinner's ready

Evelyn looked at him he was actually wearing an apron, moving around like he

was afraid to break something.

It was almost funny, how much he reminded her of herself back then.

When he used to occasionally stay at Oakwood Manor, she would always get up early, make breakfast, and nervously ask him if he wanted to eat with her.

Not once had he ever said yes.