The Day Our Promise Breaks

Evelyn's voice had a strange edge to it, and it set off alarm bells in his head. Worried, he somehow managed to pull himself out of bed, feeling weak and feverish, and made his way to the door to see what was going on.

There she was, standing alone, facing off with Charles. Despite feeling like he might collapse any second, instinct kicked in, and he moved to stand protectively in front of her. "Evelyn, cough..." he tried to speak, but a fit of coughing took over.

Seeing Brooks so frail, the icy demeanor in Evelyn's eyes melted into concern. She realized just how serious his condition was his assistant hadn't been exaggerating. Brooks was really sick. Before Aiden called her, Brooks's assistant had already informed her about his high fever and hospitalization. Hearing that, she had panicked, her heart racing with worry.

The assistant had explained that Brooks had fallen ill after saving her, too worried to even change out of his wet clothes, leading to him catching a chill. He'd been feeling off for a while but pushed through until the fever struck hard in the night. Even in his feverish state, he kept calling her name, prompting his assistant to reach out to her.

Reflecting on this, Evelyn was overwhelmed with guilt. Brooks had gotten sick because of her, and she hadn't even noticed. She hurried to support him, her voice soft and caring, "Brooks, what are you doing out of bed?"

Ignoring her question, Brooks simply took her hand, his voice raw but full of concern, "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, let's get you back to bed," she replied, shaking her head gently. She used his hold on her to wrap his arm around her shoulders, steadying him with her other hand at his waist.

Seeing this tender moment, Charles's face flushed with anger. Already at his breaking point, he felt a rush of heat and his vision blurred. "Mr. Jenkins!" Aiden shouted, catching the fainting Charles and calling urgently for a doctor.

The commotion was loud, drawing immediate attention. Doctors rushed over, knowing that everyone on this floor required priority care. Charles was quickly taken back to his room.

Throughout the chaos, Evelyn stayed focused on Brooks, as if she hadn't heard a thing, helping him back to his room without a backward glance. Once Brooks was settled, she touched his forehead gently, then wiped away the sweat with a tissue.

Brooks gazed at her with warmth, a soft smile playing on his lips. "You're still smiling!" Evelyn chided, a mix of annoyance and affection in her voice. His assistant had mentioned he'd been feverish since the day before, but he hadn't said anything, and she hadn't noticed. Feeling guilty, she looked at him apologetically, "I'm sorry, it's all my fault..."

"Evelyn!" Brooks interrupted, his voice firm despite the hoarseness. "With me, there's no need for sorry. I chose this willingly."

"And honestly, it's worth it!" Though he didn't elaborate, Evelyn understood. He meant that falling ill had brought her to his side, which made it worthwhile.

Evelyn, feeling overwhelmed by his open display of emotion, quickly changed the topic. "I made some soup. Want to have some before you rest?"

"Yes!" Brooks replied eagerly, not wanting to miss anything she'd prepared, even if his fever had killed his appetite.noveldrama

Hearing his enthusiasm, Evelyn helped him sit up and opened the thermos. She laid out some of her homemade side dishes and poured a generous bowl of soup.

She had learned these recipes for Charles, hoping he'd stay the night and have breakfast with her and their daughter. But he never did, and these dishes remained untasted by him.

Brooks reached out for the bowl, but his body felt weak, and even lifting his hand was a struggle. "I'll feed you," Evelyn offered quickly, worried he'd spill everything.

After saying it, she felt a bit awkward. Feeding someone felt so intimate, something their relationship hadn't quite reached. Sensing her discomfort, Brooks rasped, "I can manage."

Even though he wanted her help, he

didn't want to make her uneasy.

"Just sit back and relax," she

insisted, gently placing his hand back under the blanket. Then she sat by his bedside and began to feed him.

Brooks didn't mind being told what to do; in fact, he seemed quite pleased,

waiting patiently like an obedient student.

His assistant peered in quietly from the doorway but left just as quickly. With Evelyn there, he knew he wasn't needed.

Evelyn tried to not overthink things.

Brooks was sick because he saved

her, and it was only right for her to

take care of him. Letting go of her guilt made her feel more at ease. Yet, ander Brooks's steady gaze, she couldn't help but blush a little.

She'd only ever had eyes for Charles, always keeping a distance from other men, even her good friend Adam. Brooks was the first person she'd let this close in

years.

Seeing her flushed cheeks, Brooks's affection for her deepened. He truly felt that falling ill was worth it for this moment.

The atmosphere in the room was

warm and comforting. Meanwhile, across the hall, Charles had just woken up Both rooms had their doors open, directly facing each other. The first thing Charles saw when he opened his eyes was this tender scene.