The Day Our Promise Breaks

Hospital

The sleek black Phantom pulled up outside the St. Mary's Hospital wing, coming to a smooth stop. Charles stepped out, holding a basket of strawberries, the fruit Ms. Josephine had loved since he was a kid, and made his way toward the hospital entrance, his steps quick and determined. He was eager to see Ms. Josephine, but even more, he was desperate to see Evelyn.

As he exited the elevator, he nearly ran into Evelyn, who was on her way down to pick up some supplies.

"Eve!"

Charles, filled with emotion, closed the gap between them in just a few strides, his eyes locked onto Evelyn. He couldn't help but stretch out his arms, wanting to pull her close, to feel her warmth against him. Discovering that Evelyn was the true Debbie had stirred a whirlwind of emotions in him—anger and frustration at Dahlia's deceit, but also a joy he couldn't contain. Emotionally, he had never betrayed Debbie.

The contrast between Evelyn's demeanor and Charles's excitement was stark. Her brow was furrowed, and as Charles approached, she instinctively stepped back, as if he were something contagious. Her rejection stopped Charles in his tracks, like someone had hit pause on his world.

His eager eyes met Evelyn's icy stare.

"Charles, you're not welcome here."

Evelyn's voice was cold, dismissing him without a second thought.

"Eve, I've come to see Ms. Josephine."

He hadn't had the chance to properly speak with Ms. Josephine back in Greenrose. Charles's tone softened as he saw Evelyn's resistance. He didn't force an embrace, instead slowly letting his arms fall back to his sides, clenching his fists to resist the urge to hug her.noveldrama

"Charles, stop calling my mom that. You don't deserve to! Leave now; she doesn't want to see you!"

Evelyn's voice grew even colder.

"Eve..."

"Charles, how dare you show your face here?"

Adam had been transferred to this hospital for recovery and was on the same floor as Josephine. Hearing Charles's voice, he worried Evelyn might be in trouble, so he came out of his room. He stepped in front of Evelyn, his gaze icy as he looked at Charles with utter contempt.

"Dahlia is a vile woman. She killed your daughter, Charlie, caused your beloved grandmother's death, and almost took out your savior. And all you did was have her detained for 48 hours?"

"Charles, don't act like you care!"

Charles's brow furrowed, his voice turning colder, "Adam!"

What nonsense was he spouting? What did he mean by acting?

"Eve, don't listen to Adam's nonsense. I never loved Dahlia, nor did I ever touch

her. The person in my heart has always been Debbie. It's you I love!"

Charles, worried Evelyn might misunderstand, hastily explained.

"Charles, stop making me sick!"

Evelyn interrupted, unable to bear hearing his words. That declaration of love. Once, she had longed to

hear those words from Charles. Now, having finally heard them she felt only disgust. His so-called love was undeniably cheap. His notion of love, as Adam had pointed out, was to have Dahlia detained for 48 hours after realizing she wasn't Debbie.

Thinking of this, Evelyn's gaze towards Charles grew more disdainful. She even began to detest the nickname Debbie because of him. Debbie had been usurped by Dahfia for ten years. In that decade, Dahlia, under that guise and relying on Charles, had inflicted irreversible harm on her and Charlie.

Hearing it from his lips now, Evelyn felt nothing but disgust. Earlier, when her mother had mentioned her childhood days with Iceman, Evelyn had wondered how things might have been if they met again. But upon learning that her Iceman was Charles, she wished he would just stay far away.

"Eve..."

Charles wanted to assure her he would find evidence, that once he had solid proof of Dahlia's deeds, he would make her life unbearable. But Evelyn no longer wanted to hear his excuses. Upon realizing that Charles had only detained Dahlia, she found herself not even disappointed in him.

"Get lost! Charles, don't make me slap you again!"

Evelyn's voice turned even colder.

"Eve, is that Charles? Let him in!"

Since being brought back to the hospital, Josephine had been in a deep sleep.

The commotion outside had woken her. Barely awake, she had caught snippets of Charles's voice and called out from inside.

Upon hearing Josephine's request to

open

see him, Charles cast a long look at Evelyn before moving past her decisively and heading into the hospital room. As he pushed the door and stepped inside, Josephine's complex gaze met his, and Charles's eyes immédiately

welled with tears. He dropped to his

knees beside Josephine's bed.

"Ms. Josephine, I'm so sorry."

"I failed to keep my promise to care for Debbie, and in mistaking another for her, I repeatedly hurt Debbie."

"Ms. Josephine, I owe you and Debbie an apology. I realize my mistakes now. Can you give me another chance to care for you, to care for Eve?"

His heartfelt plea brought tears to Josephine's eyes. During her coma, Charles had visited daily. His gentle massages and the stories he told about Eve before Dahlia's arrival had shown her that he once treated Eve with the utmost care and affection.