The Day Our Promise Breaks

With her mind made up, Josephine took a deep breath, calming herself before turning to Evelyn. "Eve, let's head back to the room."

Charles would never use her illness as leverage against Eve, so she was ready to go through with the surgery.

"Alright," Evelyn said, feeling a huge weight lift off her shoulders.

"Mrs. Josephine, is something up with this pendant?" Charles suddenly asked, his hand stopping the rolling bed as he caught Josephine's peculiar look at the pendant on his waist.

"What's wrong isn't the pendant; it's the person wearing it now. He doesn't deserve it!" Josephine's words were dripping with meaning.

When she realized Charles was the boy she had saved years ago, she almost wished she hadn't.

"Ms. Josephine, Charles has been meticulous about your health, from adjusting your meds to making sure your meals are perfectly balanced..." Andrew chimed in, surprised that Josephine's attitude toward Charles hadn't changed even after learning the truth. He couldn't help but think it was unfair to Charles.

"Oh, should I be rolling out the red carpet for him?" Josephine shot back, sarcasm evident in her voice.

"Even if you're not throwing a parade, you could at least—”

"Andrew." Charles cut him off.

Andrew met Charles's gaze and swallowed his words, nodding for the nurse to help Evelyn take Josephine back to her room.

Charles didn't follow them. He watched Evelyn's indifferent face, feeling a heaviness in his chest.

Once she was out of sight, Charles turned to Andrew, who was visibly upset.

Their earlier attitude had left Andrew a bit miffed with Josephine and Evelyn, something Charles didn't want.noveldrama

Even though he respected Andrew's professionalism, he knew his attitude could still affect Josephine's mood.

So, Charles decided to confide in Andrew. "I indirectly caused Charlie's death, and that's why Evelyn and her mother act this way. I don't blame them."

Andrew hadn't realized how much guilt Charles carried over Charlie's death or how much he felt indebted to Evelyn.

Everything Charles did was because Josephine was Charlie's grandmother and Evelyn's mother.

One uninformed decision on his part had led to Charlie's unexpected death on the operating table.

Evelyn was crushed by the loss, and Charles couldn't stand to see her go through losing Josephine too.

Andrew knew about Charlie's death but hadn't connected the dots to Charles' role in it.

No wonder Evelyn and Josephine felt the way they did.

Back in the room, Evelyn didn't let the nurse help; she carefully cleaned and changed Josephine herself.

"Eve, Brooks is waiting for you upstairs, don't keep him waiting too long."

Brooks had been at the hospital for twenty minutes already.

Evelyn, busy with Josephine, hadn't asked him up.

Now, as the day wore on and Josephine grew tired, she nudged Evelyn to head downstairs.

"Alright," Evelyn said, adjusting the

lights for

bagine, grabbing her

bag, and signaling the nurse to

follow her out.

In the hallway, Evelyn didn't scold the nurse; she just reminded her to keep

Josephine in sight as much as possible.

After giving her instructions, Evelyn left.

As she stepped into one elevator, Charles entered another.

The two elevators opened one after the other.

Evelyn stepped out first, spotting

Brooks waiting. He approached het

immediately, "Evelyn, how's

mom doing?"

"She's stable now, nothing to worry about," Evelyn replied as they walked out together.

By the car, Brooks shielded Evelyn as she climbed in.

As the car drove off, Charles stood there, watching them leave, his concern evident in his eyes.

Andrew, standing behind Charles, watched in silence for a moment.

Finally, he couldn't hold back,

"Charles, it's not changing your mind

that's scary. What's scary is not

facing it and hurting two women because of it."