The Day Our Promise Breaks

"No way."

Sandy shook her head without a second thought.

Wesley was the one who reacted the most, his emotions getting the better of him. "How can that be?!" he exclaimed, his voice booming.

His outburst startled Sandy, and she nestled deeper into Charles's arms, seeking comfort.

Wesley, realizing he needed to dial it back, softened his tone. "Sandy, are you scared of your mom? Is that why you won't tell the truth?"

"Don't worry, I'm your real dad. I promise I'll protect you. Your mom won't get another chance to hurt you. Just be brave and tell the truth..."

He couldn't wrap his head around why she would deny the abuse unless she was genuinely terrified.

Sandy, hearing Wesley's words, clung even tighter to Charles, shaking her head like a little wind-up toy. "I'm telling the truth. Mom has always loved me, always cared for me. She never hit me."

Suddenly, her bravado broke, and she burst into tears.

"You're lying. You're not my dad. I already have a dad."

Rejecting Wesley, she wrapped her tiny arms around Charles's waist, crying out in fear, "Daddy-"

Charles's face turned ice-cold. He hadn't stopped Wesley in time from revealing his identity.

In one swift motion, he shielded Sandy, making sure she didn't see any of the chaos unfold.

With determination, he kicked Wesley away, signaling the bodyguards to keep him quiet, stopping any more nonsense from spilling out.

"Daddy, I'm your daughter, right?"

"Yes, Sandy, you're my daughter."

Charles didn't hesitate, holding Sandy close to reassure her.

Dahlia had never wanted Sandy to know the dark truth of her birth, fearing it would leave scars.

And Charles, planning to marry Dahlia, had stepped up as Sandy's dad.

He couldn't let the truth reach Sandy.

"Daddy~"noveldrama

Sandy hugged Charles even tighter.

She'd always known Charles wasn't her biological dad; he was Charlie's real father.

But Charlie was gone.

Now, Daddy was all hers, and no one could take that away.

He was wealthy and treated her well.

Her classmates admired her, knowing Charles was her father.

She understood that being Charles's daughter meant a life of luxury.

She couldn't afford to lose him as her dad.

Without him, even her mom might turn away.

She needed both her parents.

Hearing Sandy insist that Dahlia had always loved her and never harmed her, Dahlia was momentarily stunned.

She hadn't expected Sandy to defend her so staunchly.

But she seized the moment, tears flowing, "Charles, I don't care if others slander

me, but how could you think I'd hurt Sandy?"

"She's my own flesh and blood. I cherish her. How could I ever harm her?"

"Just because people say things, you believe them? Do you really think I'm that horrible?"

"The marks on Sandy were from her school teacher, not me. If you don't believe me, investigate."

Evelyn watched it all unfold.

Charles stayed silent, but his eyes betrayed his belief.

Because children don't lie.

Because Dahlia, the woman he loved, was too kind to do something so cruel.

The situation was painfully ironic.

Wesley, having never faced this before, watched as Sandy defended Dahlia.

He realized just how twisted Sandy's reality was under Dahlia's influence.

Leaving Sandy with Dahlia, who knew what she'd become?

Wesley couldn't stand by and watch Sandy suffer. He broke free from the bodyguards, demanding, "What about making Sandy stand in the snow?"

Dahlia noticed Charles didn't signal the bodyguards to silence Wesley again, and

she knew he wasn't entirely convinced.

Ignoring Wesley, she put on a show of concern for Sandy, crying, "The video of Sandy standing in the snow? That wasn't me punishing her."

"Once, when you went back to

Oakwood Manor, I was sick. Sandy called you, but your phone was off.

Worried, she ran out in her

nightgown, barefoot, to find a doctor

for me..."

"She's just a child, didn't know to dress warmly, and once outside, she didn't know

where to go. She stood there, helpless and crying."

Charles, with a gentle look, asked Sandy, "Sandy, is that true?"

"Yes, I couldn't find Daddy. I was so worried about Mommy that I ran out in my nightgown. It was so cold, my legs were frozen, I couldn't move... Daddy, will you answer Sandy's calls next time?"

Sandy remembered that snow day clearly.

She thought Daddy had gone to find Charlie and Ms. Evelyn, and Mommy told her

to call him.

But Daddy's phone was off, and she couldn't reach him.

Mommy was upset, called her useless, and told her to get out and think it over.

When she tried to dress, Mommy stopped her.

But Sandy went along with Dahlia's story, finishing with a playful smile at Charles.

"Alright."

Sandy was just seven. Charles never imagined a child could lie so smoothly.

Evelyn saw the pain in Charles's eyes, her own gaze turning icy.

Charles, he was beyond saving.

"Sandy, why would you lie to protect someone who often hits you?"

Wesley couldn't believe what he was hearing.

If he hadn't been set up by Dahlia, he might have bought into their story too.

But now, he knew nothing Dahlia said was true.

And just a moment ago, when Sandy denied it, he'd caught a glimpse of Dahlia's

surprise.