The Day Our Promise Breaks (Charles and Evelyn) novel Chapter 111

"I got a bit carried away. That's why I let a few rats loose. I did it to stand up for Sandy. Charles, I'm so crazy about Sandy. That's why I did it."

Sandy was her trump card. Charles adored Sandy. As long as it was for Sandy, Charles wouldn't hold it against Dahlia.

Dahlia realized Charles had stayed quiet. She softened her voice and sweet-talked him again, "Charles, I'm too scared to sleep now. Every time I close my eyes, all I see are snakes wrapping around me. Could you come to the hospital and keep me company, please?"

"It's late. Try to get some rest."

Charles replied sternly and hung up abruptly. When Dahlia mentioned the snakes, Charles couldn't help but think of Evelyn, who was terrified of rats. Evelyn was trapped for so long, and he wondered if she'd also struggle to sleep tonight.

...

After Charles left, Evelyn locked the door. But Charles was the head of the Jenkins family. Getting into any room, even Rosa’s courtyard, was no big deal for him. A servant brought him the key, and Charles opened the bedroom door.

Evelyn had taken some meds that should've knocked her out for a few hours. But Charles woke her up. As she lay back down, groggy from the meds, she quickly drifted off again, but her sleep was uneasy.

Her nightmares blew up the fear of being overwhelmed by rats in the basement. When Charles walked in, he heard Evelyn quietly sobbing and murmuring, "Don't come closer... go away..."

Her hands waved in the air as if she were shooing something away, and then she kept slapping at it.

"Charles... Charles... Charles..."

"Let me out... please..."

Her plea hit Charles like a dart to the heart. He sat next to her and gently wiped away the tears from her eyes with his thumb. The warmth of her tears felt like they could burn through his skin.