The Day Our Promise Breaks

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.

Charles needed to come to terms with his colossal mistakes and the debts he owed Evelyn and Charlie-a realization that should haunt him for life.

That's why Adam didn't tell Evelyn he'd called Charles over to witness the showdown.noveldrama

Hearing Adam's words, Dahlia caught the disappointment in Charles's eyes. She knew then that he'd overheard every word between her and Evelyn. Dropping the innocent act, she let her tears flow even more, covering her face in apparent despair, like she couldn't

bear to face him.

"Charles, don't look at me like that. It's breaking my heart."

"Others might misunderstand me, but you can't. You know I'm not like that," she pleaded.

"I only said those things to Evelyn because she pushed me too far. She came out

of nowhere and attacked me, leaving me like this."

Dahlia looked up again, turning her swollen face to Charles, her voice filled with despair. "I'm crippled couldn't fight back. Look at my face, Evelyn was really ruthless.

"I was in so much pain, so angry, that I lost my head and said those things. Those weren't my true feelings feel guilty about what happened to Adam and ruining his dreams, but I had no choice. Sandy is my everything."

"Sandy is only seven; her life is just beginning. She was critically ill, in such danger, without a matching kidney donor, she could have died at any moment."

"You know how much it tears me apart to see her suffer every day. Every minute and second is torture for me."

"You don't understand how thrilled I was when Dr. Schules said we found a match. But when you found out the donor was Adam, you hesitated."

"If you hadn't told Evelyn and the others, I wouldn't be in this mess."