The Day Our Promise Breaks (Charles and Evelyn) novel Chapter 403

Evelyn's kick landed squarely on Dahlia's face, drawing a sharp yelp of pain from her. Clutching her mouth, tears welled up as she turned to Charles. “Charles, help me.” She expected him to do what he always did—push Evelyn away and comfort her. But instead...

"Eve!" Charles snapped to attention, rushing over to wrap his arms around Evelyn, pulling her back. “Calm down.” Evelyn's eyes burned with anger as she glared at Dahlia sprawled on the floor.

“Calm down? Dahlia's the reason Charlie and Grandma are gone, and now she's put my mom in the operating room, clinging to life. Charles, how can you expect me to be calm?”

“Let me go!” Evelyn struggled fiercely, but Charles's grip held firm. Her upper body was yanked back, pinned by his strength. She stopped struggling, but her fury hadn't burned out. She raised her leg again, kicking Dahlia with unrelenting force. Dahlia couldn't dodge and took a few more hits before Charles managed to pull Evelyn away.

Charles pressed his arms against the wall, effectively pinning Evelyn between him and the cold, hard surface. Caught in his hold, she couldn't escape. Her chest heaved with rage, hatred simmering beneath the surface. Over Charles's shoulder, Dahlia's defiant eyes met hers, full of malice that Charles couldn’t see.

And there stood Charles, the very reason Dahlia kept getting away with it. Her long-buried resentment cracked open wide. The deaths of Charlie and Grandma, two years past. Her mother now fighting for her life in surgery. All of it fueled the storm within Evelyn. Her gaze bore into Charles, growing more intense and unforgiving.