The Day Our Promise Breaks

His tone was firm, leaving no room for negotiation. It was a decision, plain and simple. But who on earth did he think he was, making decisions for her?

"In your dreams!" Evelyn snapped back, her face like a storm cloud. She tried to yank her hand away from Charles, her movements sharp and decisive, as if she were trying to rid herself of something dirty.

But Charles had a grip like a vice. No matter how hard Evelyn struggled, she couldn't break free.

"Charles, let her go! Have you lost your mind? You can't just take whatever you want! Who do you think you are?!" Adam shouted as he rushed over from the other side of the car. With his one good hand, he grabbed Charles's wrist, trying to pry him away.

Even on his best day, Adam was no match for Charles, and after the car accident, he was running on fumes. His efforts barely made a dent.

Adam cursed himself for calling Charles over in the first place. This guy was impossible!noveldrama

Seeing that Charles wouldn't let go, Adam didn't hold back and swung at his face. But Charles was quick, pulling Evelyn aside and pinning her against the car door

once more.

Adam's fist hit nothing but air, and he stumbled, nearly falling over. Just as he regained his footing and prepared to charge again, security, called by Dahlia, swooped in and restrained him.

Adam was dragged to the side, pressed against the hood of the car, and held down.

"Don't hurt him," Charles ordered, his voice cold as ice when he saw the rough way security handled Adam. They immediately eased up, keeping Adam pinned without causing harm.

"Let Adam go!" Evelyn was shaking with anger. "Charles, you've gone too far!"

Charles looked at her, his eyes a swirl of emotions. He didn't want to push her this way, but he couldn't just turn his back on Dahlia. She was Debbie, after all, the person he'd vowed to protect forever.

"Eve, Dahlia's aetions might have been over the top, but you heard her-it's all because of her love for her daughter. Can't we let it slide just this once?" His words were meant for both Evelyn and as a warning to Dahlia inside.

"Her love for her daughter justifies wrecking Adam's life?" Evelyn tried to stay calm despite Charles's blind loyalty to Dahlia and her daughter, but it always got under her skin.

"Adam has busted his back for years, chasing his championship dreams. And you think Dahlia's weak excuse of motherly love can just sweep all that under the rug? Charles, life doesn't work that way!"

"Eve, Dahlia messed up with Adam, and I'll make it up to him, twice over. Tomorrow, Aiden will reach out to Adam. Whatever he wants, as long as it's reasonable, I'll make it happen."

He was including the previous promise to compensate Adam for signing a voluntary donation

agreement for Sandy. What wasnet

done was done. The damage was irreversible. All Charles could think to do was make amends with financial compensation. It was like handing Adam a blank check, letting him fill in the amount.

Charles was doing his best to set things right. But to Evelyn, it was sickening. Using money to smooth things over, to let Dahlia off the hook? It was insulting.

Evelyn's response was swift. She slapped Charles hard across the face.

"Slap!"

Charles didn't flinch, taking the hit head-on. His eyes stayed locked on Evelyn as he spoke in a raspy voice, "Can you give me the recorder now?"