The Day Our Promise Breaks

Charles had a long, winding dream.

In it-

He never mistook Dahlia for Debbie. He never misunderstood Eve. He never favored Dahlia and her mother while neglecting Eve and Charlie.

Instead, the very day his grandmother brought Evelyn home, he recognized her instantly as Debbie. Pure joy. He and Eve were childhood sweethearts, growing up side by side. He cherished her, protected her, always there, every step of the way.

He gave her all his care, all his affection. When Eve turned eighteen, he confessed his feelings, and they became a couple. At nineteen, they got engaged. On her twentieth birthday, Eve gave herself to him. The next day, they went to city hall and got their marriage certificate.

A month later, they threw a grand wedding. He'd been planning it since the day he confessed-wanting nothing more than to give Eve the absolute best.

That day, he surprised her with something huge: he found her long-lost mother, Susan. Their wedding took place with Susan as a witness.

That night, Eve had a surprise for him too-she was pregnant.

After their wedding, his love for her only deepened. He took care of her in every detail, gentle and attentive throughout her pregnancy. He never left her side.

Ten months later, their daughter was born, right on time. They named her Charlie.

Charlie was his treasure. He spoiled her with no limits. He built her a playground, gave her the best of everything. His love made Eve the envy of the whole city, and Charlie became the happiest little princess.

They were his everything. And they loved him just as fiercely. They were each other's whole world-the perfect family of three.

Charles woke from his dream with a smile, happiness lingering at the corners of his mouth. Slowly, he opened his eyes.

White walls. The sharp, sterile smell of disinfectant drifted in the air, dragging him out of that beautiful dream and back to reality.

Reminding him, painfully, that all that happiness was just a dream.

In reality, he'd mistaken someone else, and because of it, he'd lost Charlie. He'd broken Eve's heart.

The sweeter the dream, the harsher the truth.

It hurt so much he could barely breathe.

One lost to life. One lost to death.

No amount of regret could undo it.

His lover. His daughter. Both, truly gone.

Tears slipped down Charles's cheeks, silent and endless.

...

In the car.

After getting in, Evelyn called Zayden to thank her.noveldrama

The first time she'd tried to schedule her surgery, Charles stopped her-threatening her with Adam's safety until she had no choice but to return to Oakwood Manor and stay by his side.

With her current connections, there was no way to avoid Charles. So she turned

to Zayden, asking her to help arrange a doctor.

After a short conversation, they hung up.

Adam drove Evelyn home.

"Eve, what's wrong? You look so

pale. Are you feeling sick? Come on, let's get you to the hospital!"

Josephine, seeing Evelyn's white

face, gripped her hand anxiously and told Adam to get the car ready.

"Mom, the baby... is gone."

"What?" Josephine's eyes widened in shock.

Adam didn't hide anything. He explained how Charles had threatened Evelyn by using him.

Josephine's feelings were a tangle. She couldn't help but feel disappointed about the baby. At her age, she longed for a big, happy family. But it just wasn't meant to

be.

"Nothing else matters right now. Go lie down and rest. Taking care of yourself is most important," she said gently.

Losing the baby would only make Eve feel worse.

Evelyn, quietly obedient, lay down and closed her eyes.

After tucking in the covers, Josephine hurried Adam out to buy groceries for some nourishing soup to help Evelyn recover.

...

Behind the bedroom door-

Evelyn curled up under the blanket. The room was warm, but inside, she felt cold and drenched.

Honestly, the moment she walked into the operating room, she'd regretted it. She just couldn't go through with it—she wanted to keep the baby.

But in the end, the child was gone. Left quietly, all on her own.

Maybe the baby could sense she wasn't wanted, and quietly let go.

She knew, deep down, this was for the best. Only this way could she completely cut ties with Charles.

But now that it was over, the sadness just washed over her. How could she not be heartbroken?

Even though she'd forced herself not

to touch her belly, not to talk to the baby, not to let herself hope or get excited, she still felt her growing there, little by little. Maybe it didn't show, but a mother always knows.

And now, the baby was gone.

Their time together had lasted less than three months.