The Day Our Promise Breaks (Charles and Evelyn) novel Chapter 299

When Dahlia heard about the three-year mourning period, her grip on the wheelchair's armrests tightened instinctively. This was something she hadn’t seen coming. Even in death, that old witch could still mess with her plans for another three years.

The commotion reached Evelyn too, and her expression turned noticeably colder. Brooks sensed the change immediately and squeezed her hand a little tighter. He leaned in, concern etched in his eyes, whispering softly, “Evelyn.” He worried that the affectionate display between Charles and Dahlia might stir up old wounds for her.

Charlie’s death was a wound in Evelyn’s heart that never quite healed. Charles and Dahlia—the ones responsible for Charlie’s demise—were the people she despised the most. They had pushed her to the brink more times than she could count. It was hard for her to accept that they could still live happily after what they'd done.

But Evelyn managed a soft, “I’m fine,” as she turned to Brooks with a faint smile. Her smile was slight, but her demeanor was steady. She wasn’t rattled by the sight of them. Seeing her like this, Brooks felt both relieved and heartbroken.

He thought back to six months ago when an unexpected call came in from an unknown number out of town. His heart raced as he answered it. Not many people had his private number, and nobody would dare share it without his say-so. The first person that popped into his head was Evelyn.

It had been over a year since Evelyn had fallen into the river. Common sense told him that in such harsh conditions, long past the best time for a rescue, Evelyn couldn’t have survived. Yet, without a body, a part of him refused to accept she was gone.

When he answered the phone, hearing Evelyn’s familiar voice say “Brooks” brought tears to his eyes. She was alive. Overcome with joy, he immediately arranged a business trip, handed his tasks to an assistant, and drove for hours to find her.

When he finally saw her, standing there smiling gently at him, he rushed forward and wrapped her in a tight embrace, holding her like she was the most precious thing in the world. Feeling her warmth was the confirmation he needed—Evelyn was truly alive.