The Day Our Promise Breaks (Charles and Evelyn) novel Chapter 326

Charles's breath caught, his eyes darkening with an intensity that shattered his calm. In those few stunned seconds, Evelyn had already undone the last button of her blouse, ready to slip it off.

Charles moved swiftly, grasping her wrist and pulling her close, his voice a husky whisper, "What are you doing?"

Evelyn's eyes were frosty as she met his gaze, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "What are you pretending for? You dragged me here with such underhanded tactics. If it wasn't for this, what were you hoping for, a walk down memory lane?"

Charles was clearly thrown off balance. That wasn’t his intention at all. He couldn't stand the thought of her with anyone else. For two years, he hadn’t even known if she was alive. Seeing her now, the idea of her being with other men, doing the things they once did together, was unbearable.

The mere thought made him want to eliminate anyone who dared to touch her. She was his, and his alone. If it took some maneuvering to bring her back to him, so be it. Once she was back, there was no way he could resist touching her. But not now.

"Let's eat first," Charles murmured.

"You think I can eat with you here?" Evelyn's smile was even more mocking.

"Do you have a choice?" Charles lowered his gaze, his deep, unfathomable eyes locking onto hers. It was a reminder: he was in control, she was not.

Evelyn bit her lip hard. From the moment she sent that message to Charles, she knew she was cornered.

After a moment, Charles relaxed his hold, tossed the crushed shrimp into the trash, and reached for a third one. With the experience from the first, he peeled the third shrimp quickly. This time, instead of placing it in her bowl, he brought it to her lips.

Evelyn turned her face away defiantly. This kind of intimacy had once been something she dreamed of. Now, all Evelyn felt was resistance.

Charles ignored her defiance, his voice firm, "Eat."

Evelyn gripped her fork tightly, almost as if she intended to snap it in half. Charles didn’t back down. Evelyn was forced to open her mouth and swallow the shrimp. She barely chewed before swallowing it whole, and the entire shrimp lodged in her throat.