The Day Our Promise Breaks (Charles and Evelyn) novel Chapter 672

“Mr. Jenkins!”

The butler rushed over, steadying Charles before he could stumble.

Charles quickly signaled for him to keep quiet—he didn’t want Charlie in the next room to overhear.

The butler half-carried him to the medical room. Andrew and Francis’s team arrived in no time.

“Charles, you need treatment now. If you keep pushing yourself like this…” Andrew’s tone was serious, worry etched into every line of his face.

Ever since Charles had used his own body for the experimental procedure that saved Charlie, his organs had been seriously damaged. He should have gone straight into isolation and begun treatment to have any hope of recovery.

But Charles refused. He insisted on caring for Charlie himself.

He kept putting it off, day after day, his health slipping further each time. Andrew pleaded with him, reminding him constantly. He even offered to look after Charlie himself, promising to do his best. But Charles wouldn’t hear it.

Nothing mattered more to him than being by Charlie’s side.

All Andrew could do was give him the medicine he’d developed, just to keep him going.

But it was just a band-aid. Charles couldn’t keep this up.

“The medicine,” Charles rasped, his voice barely there, but his meaning clear.

“Charles!” Andrew was losing his patience.

“Charlie’s waiting for me. I promised her I’d help her pick out an outfit for tomorrow.”

At the mention of Charlie, a gentle smile broke through Charles’s exhaustion. He could tell how much Charlie looked forward to the outing with him, no matter how hard she tried to hide it.

She hadn’t said anything, but when he first suggested it, her eyes lit up—she couldn’t hide that spark, no matter how tough she tried to act.

Charles’s heart melted. He was lucky to have such a wonderful daughter.

And he was ashamed, too, remembering all the ways he’d failed her before. He’d hurt her so much, yet she was still willing to give him another chance.

All he could do now was love her more fiercely, and do everything in his power to make up for the past.

Andrew knew there was no changing his mind. He pulled out the medication and gave Charles the injection.

Half an hour later, Charles was feeling steady again.

Andrew helped him sit up.

A few minutes later, Charles appeared at Charlie’s bedroom door, looking as if nothing had happened.

Inside, Charlie had been restless ever since Charles left the room.

She sat with a book open, pretending to read, but her mind kept wandering. Every so often, her eyes flicked to the door, but she was afraid Charles would catch her staring, so she’d quickly look away whenever she heard footsteps.

She repeated this over and over.

Finally, just as she glanced up once more, the door swung open.

Charlie quickly looked down, pretending to be absorbed in her book.

But that night, Charles collapsed again and had to be rushed back to the medical room.

The next morning,

Charlie woke up to an empty bedside—no Charles waiting for her like he had the past few days.

Her pretty new dress was laid out at the foot of the bed. She stared at it, lost in thought.

She waited a while, but Charles never showed up.

She couldn’t help it—she got up to look for him, just as the butler arrived with breakfast.

Seeing him, Charlie nervously fiddled with her pajama top. “Mr. Brooks, I—”

She still couldn’t quite bring herself to say “Dad.” She was starting to warm up, but she hadn’t fully forgiven Charles yet.

After a pause, she continued, “Have you seen him?”

The butler, of course, knew exactly who she meant. Remembering Charles’s instructions, he hesitated, choosing his words carefully.

Mr. Jenkins had told him not to let Ms. Evelyn or Miss Charlie know about his health.

“Miss Charlie, Mr. Jenkins has some important things to handle today. I’ll be taking care of you for now.”

Charlie's face fell instantly.

To her, it sounded like Charles had broken his promise and let her down—again.