The Day Our Promise Breaks (Charles and Evelyn) novel Chapter 107

When Charles heard about the irregular heartbeat Evelyn acquired from being locked up and how she almost died from shock, he was shaken to his core. Yet, his instinct was to defend Dahlia. "Grandma, Dahlia had nothing to do with this," he said.

"You!" Rosa was so enraged by Charles that she nearly lost her breath.

"Please, help my grandma rest," Charles instructed the servants attending to Rosa. "Grandma, you wouldn’t want Evelyn waking up and worrying about you, would you?" he added, striking a nerve.

"Hmph!" With a heavy snort, Rosa glared at him fiercely before leaving the room.

Charles remained inside the bedroom and casually removed his white shirt, revealing his back covered in crisscrossing whip marks. They were much worse than the last punishment Rosa ordered. The fresh lashes layered over old scars, creating a grim spectacle.

Dr. Nelson quickly tended to Charles' wounds. Throughout the treatment, Charles' expression remained unchanged. He sat in the armchair, his gaze resting on Evelyn.

Once Dr. Nelson finished tending to him, he was about to change the dressing on Evelyn's finger. "Leave us," Charles said, asking him to leave the special ointment behind.

After Dr. Nelson left, Charles moved to the bedside, gently unwrapping the bandages from Evelyn's injured hand. The hospital had treated the wound, but it still clearly showed what she had endured. Charles' throat tightened as if something was pricking at his heart, causing an uncomfortable sensation.

He stared at Evelyn's finger for a while, motionless. "Now you feel the pain for her?" Rosa's voice came from behind him, her eyes scrutinizing. It seemed Charles still had some kindness left.

Charles, almost without thinking, gently blew on Evelyn's finger while applying the ointment. Whether it actually helped or not, Evelyn's furrowed brow visibly relaxed a bit. Encouraged, Charles focused on the task at hand, not noticing Evelyn slowly waking up.

The tender care confused Evelyn; only Rosa had ever treated her so gently. Opening her eyes, she softly called out, "Gran…" but stopped short when she saw it was Charles. Her expression froze. Since Dahlia's arrival, Charles hadn't shown her such kindness; his attention had been solely on Dahlia.

Evelyn's brief daze was fleeting. She quickly composed herself, withdrawing her hand from Charles' grasp. In her haste, her finger hit the edge of the bed, causing a sharp pain that made her gasp. Charles' expression shifted, and he instinctively reached for her hand again, but she pulled away.

She could handle this pain. Evelyn understood that Charles' gentleness was a facade—a sugar-coated bullet. Beneath it lay something far more dangerous. Facing Charles' darkened expression, Evelyn sat up, her gaze icy. "Charles, quit pretending. I don't need your act. Let it go. I won't change my mind about Dahlia."