The Day Our Promise Breaks

She was doing it on purpose.

Ignoring the pain in Charles's eyes-pain so fierce it nearly spilled over-she pressed on, her words merciless.

"Charles, I did love you once. But nobody stays stuck in the same place forever."

She'd loved him recklessly, like a moth drawn to the flame. She'd given him everything. For a while, he was her whole world.

But...

"My love for you died the day Charlie left us."noveldrama

"Charles, I've told you more than once-I don't love you anymore. I stopped loving you a long time ago. All that's left for you in my heart is resentment."

"I'll never forgive you for what happened to Charlie."

"There's nothing left between us. The more you cling, the more I can't stand you."

Evelyn's voice was cold and sharp, every word meant to cut. She was pushing Charles to let go.

Charlie's death had left a wound she couldn't heal, and she blamed Charles for it. There was no way she could pretend nothing happened, no way she could keep living with him like everything was fine.

She just couldn't do it.

Charles's lips trembled. His hands, gripping the back of the seat, tightened until his knuckles stood out, white and strained. He stared at Evelyn, desperate to find even a hint of a lie on her face.

There was nothing. No love, not even pity, in her eyes. She watched him break, but her heart didn't soften. She didn't flinch.

This was agony-death by a thousand cuts.

Charles pulled himself together quickly, swallowing the pain.

After a moment, his voice sounded calm. "It's late. You need some rest. Let's go home."

He let go of the seat and, with gentle hands, buckled Evelyn's seatbelt.

Evelyn didn't respond. She looked away, her gaze fixed out the window. She'd said everything she needed to say. If Charles was going to let go, he'd do it now and spare her another month of misery.

But it was obvious.

He wasn't letting go.

No matter what she said, it wouldn't change a thing.

...

Evelyn was so tired. She'd nearly nodded off during the drive.

When they got back to Oakwood Manor, she went upstairs, changed into her pajamas, and crawled into bed. Sleep claimed her almost instantly.

Charles, though, couldn't sleep at all.

He sat alone in the study, chain-smoking, the room filling up with the bitter scent. Nothing dulled the ache inside him. All he could hear were Evelyn's words, echoing again and again.

She'd told him more than once she didn't love him anymore. He'd never really

believed her. How could a love so deep just disappear?

But then he saw, with his own eyes, how much she cared about Brooks. He heard her, cold and certain, say again that her love for him was gone. That all he did now was make her hate him more.

Still, he loved her.

She was carrying their child.

If he could just be a good father—if he could show Eve and their baby how much he cared-maybe things would change. This child was his own flesh and blood. Surely, she'd love her dad, just like Charlie had.

Maybe, with the baby as a bridge between them, one day Eve would see how

much he regretted everything. One day, she'd forgive him.

She had to forgive him.

Charles stubbed out his last cigarette, got up, and took a long shower, scrubbing away the smell of smoke.

Only then did he quietly slip into the master bedroom.

He stood by the bed for a moment, watching Evelyn sleep. He meant to let her be and take the sofa.

But as he looked at her, longing overwhelmed him.

It had been so long since he'd held her close.

Unable to help himself, Charles gently lifted the covers and slid in beside her, his arms softly wrapping her up, pulling her into the shelter of his embrace.