The Day Our Promise Breaks

Luna didn't have to finish her sentence-her meaning hung in the air, sharp as glass.

Only she could save Charlie.

Charles was cornered; he had no other way out.

Getting Charles to marry her had become Luna's single-minded obsession. It wasn't just about his wealth or status-she truly loved him. He'd promised her, after all. He said he'd marry her.

How could he go back on his word?

Just because she wasn't Debbie, he was ready to erase her from his life. He'd been so cruel.

Thinking back to those hellish days in northern Myanmar, Luna looked at Charles with eyes burning with a love she couldn't hide, and a hate she couldn't smother.

But she forced the hate down.noveldrama

No love, no hate-simple as that.

If only he'd marry her. If only she could become Mrs. Jenkins, keep Evelyn beneath her forever-then she'd win. That was enough.

She didn't care whether Charles loved her. As long as she could stay by his side, as long as he couldn't leave her, she'd be satisfied.

Luna's gaze devoured Charles's face, the one she worshipped and despised in equal measure.

She was waiting to see him break. Waiting for the day he'd swallow his pride and beg, just to save his daughter.

But Charles left her cold. He didn't even frown.

Those frigid eyes looked right through her, like she was nothing but a two-bit actor in a bad play.

His voice came out low and steady, each word heavy with disdain. "Luna, do you really think threatening me with Charlie will make me marry you?"

Luna's smile turned stiff.

Charles leaned in, close to the iron bars, his voice dropping to a deathly whisper-every word a hammer to Luna's heart. "You think too highly of yourself, and you have no idea what a father will do for his daughter. I, Charles Jenkins, will have one wife in my life, and that's Evelyn. You? You're not even qualified to carry her shoes."

"You-!"

Luna shook violently, her voice screeching with venom, "Then go ahead and prepare to bury your daughter!"

How could some broken woman ever compete with her?

A ruthless, icy smirk tugged at Charles's lips.

He didn't bother arguing.

He straightened, turned away from Luna, and spoke to Q over his shoulder, voice

like steel. "Get her out."

Q moved fast, unlocking the cell. Two hulking, stone-faced guards waded through the cold water, yanked Luna out as she kicked and screamed, then dumped her at

Charles's feet like she was

yesterday's trash.

Soaked and shivering, Luna still forced herself to shout, "Charles! Without my antidote, your daughter's as good as dead! You'll have to beg me! Get down on your knees and beg!"

Charles acted as if she didn't exist.

He walked over to the waiting chair and sat, calm and composed, eyes as cold as

a winter night.

"Q, start."

Simple. Unyielding.

Q nodded, pulled out a few vials of strange-colored serum and a set of complicated needles, all from a sealed case.

He knelt by Luna, ignoring the panic in her eyes, and pushed the needle into her arm with practiced precision.

"What—what are you doing?! What is that?!" Luna watched in terror as the eerie liquid slid into her veins, fear drowning out all her fury.

"It's something to make you feel... everything a little more," Q replied, his voice flat as a robot's. "Don't worry, It won't kill you. Mr. Jenkins was clear-you're not dying until you hand over the antidote."