The Day Our Promise Breaks (Charles and Evelyn) novel Chapter 460

Seeing Charles walk in with Adam, Dahlia's mind was spinning. What on earth was Charles doing here? How much had he heard of her chat with Evelyn? She wasn't sure.

She took a deep breath, working on her emotions before speaking. She tilted her head just enough, letting the evidence of Evelyn’s earlier slap—the red, swollen canvas of her face—come into Charles’s view. Her eyes welled up with tears, hoping they'd tug at his heartstrings. With a soft, pitiful voice, she called out, “Charles...”

As soon as the words slipped out, tears cascaded down her cheeks. She looked so fragile, so in need of comfort. Playing the damsel in distress was her forte, and she knew Charles was always a sucker for it. He felt guilty about the past, always unable to stand seeing her upset.

True to form, Charles moved toward her the moment he saw her tears, stepping right up to her. Inside, Dahlia was thrilled, but she kept that pitiful look plastered on her face. She knew she still had a hold over Charles that Evelyn could never break. A few tears, and he'd be wrapped around her finger again.

But the sympathy she counted on didn’t come. Dahlia’s heart dropped as she watched Charles, trying to read his expression through her tears.

“Charles, Evelyn hurt me so badly,” she said again, her voice full of hurt. She reached out, her hand shaking, trying to grab his hand, but he pulled away, leaving her grasping at air. She tumbled from her wheelchair, landing at his feet.

Charles didn’t help her up. He shut his eyes, his disappointment in Dahlia hard to hide. His Debbie, how had she turned into this? He’d never blamed her for the emotional betrayal when they split; she was too young back then.

But what had he just overheard?

“Charles, did you finally see the truth? Have you realized what a nasty piece of work you've been coddling all these years?” Adam, still in his hospital garb with a jacket thrown over it, had followed Charles inside. As Charles approached Dahlia, Adam moved to stand beside Evelyn, watching the scene unfold with a cool detachment.

Adam had known Evelyn for years; they were each other’s rock and knew each other inside out. He knew Evelyn had long given up on Charles. So he hadn’t planned for Charles to hear Dahlia's confession, but he wanted Charles to finally get a clear picture of the woman he’d been idolizing for so long.

He wanted Charles to wake up to the fact that he’d been played—fooled by a woman who’d been lying from the get-go. Trusting Dahlia had cost him dearly, hurting Evelyn and Charlie in the process.