The Day Our Promise Breaks (Charles and Evelyn) novel Chapter 505

The scene hit like a tidal wave, overwhelming in its intensity. Charles's foot instinctively eased off the gas pedal, causing the car to noticeably slow down. Sandy noticed this and felt a flicker of hope. Deep down, she knew her father loved her. He couldn't possibly leave her behind. Seeing her love for him, seeing her hurt trying to catch up, surely he would be heartbroken.

Sandy’s hopes, once dashed, were rekindled. Even though Charlie was his biological daughter and was now gone, Sandy was alive. She wasn't his by blood, but she knew how to charm him, to say all the right things. What could Charlie possibly do to compete with that?

Though utterly exhausted, Sandy found a new reserve of strength. She crawled with every ounce of will she had toward the car, tears streaming down her face. She ignored the sting of her scraped hands and knees, focusing solely on closing the gap between her and Charles’s car.

“Daddy… look at Sandy… Sandy hurts so much… Daddy…” she cried, inching closer. The distance between them slowly shrank.

Charles could clearly see the injuries on Sandy’s hands and feet—raw, bleeding abrasions that were hard to ignore. Sandy couldn’t see his face, but she was sure he was watching her, tears pouring down her cheeks as she reached out like a wounded bird seeking protection.

Sandy felt every ounce of pain, but she knew that without appearing pitiful, her father wouldn’t soften. It was always the same: her mother would make her fall ill or get hurt, and only then would her father show concern. Sandy knew how well this tactic worked on Charles, so she endured the pain. If it meant he would forgive her this time, it was worth it.

Charles’s face hardened, his heart freezing over. He could pity anyone, but not Dahlia and her daughter. Any softness made him despise himself. Even a trace of sympathy felt like a sin.

He didn’t stop the car. Instead, he pressed the gas pedal, the car regaining speed and quickly widening the distance from Sandy. Her cries faded into the background. The car soon sped past Greenfield Rose Estate. Once out of the neighborhood, Charles accelerated even more, disappearing into the night.

Left behind, Sandy no longer had the strength to chase. She lay on the ground, watching Charles drive away, her body growing colder, panic and helplessness filling her eyes.