The Day Our Promise Breaks (Charles and Evelyn) novel Chapter 423

When Evelyn didn’t respond to Dahlia and just stared at her with the kind of cold detachment you'd reserve for a circus act, Dahlia quickly turned to Charles, clutching his arm like a lifeline. “Charles…”

Charles gazed down at her, his eyes deep and hard to read. After a moment that seemed to stretch on forever, he spoke, his voice low and measured:

“Dahlia, Eve isn’t just throwing around accusations. She set up a hidden camera in the hospital room, and it caught the nurse pulling out your aunt’s oxygen tube.”

“And just a moment ago…”

He paused, letting the words hang in the air. Dahlia’s face remained a picture of innocence, as if she hadn’t heard a thing. “What happened just now?”

Charles went on, “The nurse confessed. She said you told her to do it.”

Dahlia’s eyes went wide, shock written all over her face. “What? I told her? That’s ridiculous!”

Suddenly, she was all wounded innocence, her voice rising in protest. “Charles, she’s lying!”

“Trust me, I could never do such a thing!”

“Mmm.”

Charles gave a soft, noncommittal hum.

That little sound made Dahlia’s eyes flicker with hope. Maybe he did believe her, after all.

But before she could bask in that relief, Charles added, “If you’re telling the truth, the police will sort it out and clear your name.”

He had just told Eve not to jump to conclusions based solely on the nurse’s word, not because he was defending Dahlia blindly, but because there wasn’t any solid proof against her yet.

He wouldn’t stop anyone from calling the cops. If it turned out Dahlia was guilty, he wouldn’t cover for her.

“Charles, you don’t believe me?”

Dahlia’s voice was filled with disbelief.

“Dahlia, it’s not that I don’t believe you. But if you’re innocent, what are you worried about?”

“Going to the police station will just bring the truth to light. If you’re in the clear, Eve will realize her mistake, and she won’t hold this over you anymore.”

Josephine was left in the care of Adam, who had just shown up.

...

At the police station,

Evelyn and Charles gave their statements willingly.

Once they were done, they were free to go.

Dahlia and the nurse, however, were suspects and had to be detained.

The nurse was taken away first, while Dahlia waited outside for Charles.

The police chief, hearing that Charles was there, hurried over.

As soon as he saw Charles, he stepped forward eagerly, “Mr. Jenkins.”