The Day Our Promise Breaks

Charles's heart clenched so hard it almost stopped, his vision swimming. The pain was so sharp, he could barely breathe-his mind just went blank.

A blaring horn jolted him back. Only then did Charles realize he hadn't been paying attention to the road. He'd run a red light.

An oncoming car was about to hit him. Instinct took over-he yanked the steering wheel, narrowly missing the other vehicle. His own car spun out, flipped onto its side, and crashed into the median.

Blood ran down his forehead in a slow trickle. Dizzy, everything sounded muffled. Somewhere nearby, voices called out-traffic cops, running toward him.

He turned his head, the world snapping back into focus. Pushing the door open, he stumbled out of the wreck.

At least he'd reacted in time-no one else was hurt, just himself. But his mind was already racing ahead, back to the hospital.

He didn't stick around for the accident investigation. Aiden called, promising to handle things. Charles flagged down the first car he saw and sped to the hospital.

The driver kept glancing at him in the mirror-blood all over his face, eyes dark with worry. The car ride was tense and silent.

The moment they reached the hospital, Charles barely waited for the car to stop before he was out, legs shaky, nearly running as he rushed inside.

By the time he reached the surgery wing, Evelyn was already outside the operating room. She was ghost-pale, barely standing, leaning on Adam for support.

She seemed to sense him-Evelyn lifted her head, and their eyes met. Charles's heart twisted-he could hardly stand. He forced himself forward, each step feeling like shards of glass under his feet, until he reached her.

His gaze dropped to her abdomen. Just one look, and his eyes stung with tears.

It took him a few seconds to look up again, face contorted with pain, staring at Evelyn's eerily calm expression.

Her composure cut him deeper than anything else. She'd ended their child's life- and she didn't look sad at all.

How could she be so cold?

"Eve, why?" His voice was raw with anguish.

He'd wanted this child so badly. From the moment he found out she was pregnant, he'd hoped-hoped that maybe Charlie was coming back to them.

For over twenty days, he'd read every book, scrolled through endless forums, done all the research. He'd promised himself he'd never miss a single second of this child's life.

He was going to make up for every regret, a hundred times over.

He'd even started building a playground-just for Charlie.

When she grew up, he'd be there, always. He'd give her the best of everything. He'd be the father she deserved.

She'd never have to envy anyone else, never go without love.

Whatever other kids had, she'd net

And if she wanted something no one else did, he'd find a way to give it to her. sŵnovel

But Eve shattered every bit of that dream. She didn't even give him a chance to make things right. She'd ended it-ended the hope of Charlie coming back.

"Charles, thinking you can fix everything by loving this child? That's just a fantasy," Evelyn said quietly. "This baby wasn't Charlie. Charlie is never coming back. And she'll never forgive you."

She saw straight through him.

"Even if she wasn't Charlie, she was still our child. How could you just—just end it

like that?" The hurt in Charles's eyes deepened.

"A child born into a home with no

love? I'd rather she never existed at all," Evelyn replied, her words flat and final. "Charles, not only will Charlienever forgive you, but I won't either. And I'll never have another

childnoveldrama

with you."