The Day Our Promise Breaks

Charles' stride was brought to an abrupt halt by a dozen bodyguards.

"Mr. Charles, our apologies."

Their stance was respectful but firm.

"Move aside!" Charles' voice cut through the air like ice.

His sharp gaze swept over the bodyguards, colder than a winter's chill.

An intimidating aura radiated from him.

Despite their inner fear, the bodyguards stood their ground.

Charles' fists clenched tightly.

He glanced at Charlie's gravestone, hesitating to act immediately.

Meanwhile, the bodyguards tied Dahlia's hands and feet and gagged her mouth.

Through tear-filled eyes, Dahlia looked to Charles, mumbling, "Charles..."

He was her only shot at rescue, her only shield.

Evelyn had made her way to Rosa, grabbing a whip from one of the bodyguards.

Her eyes were locked on Dahlia sprawled on the ground.

Her eyes, blazing with anger, were filled with hate.

Without a second thought, she raised the whip and lashed out at Dahlia.

"Evelyn, don't you dare!"

Charles' shout was fierce but fell on deaf ears.noveldrama

Unfazed by his protest, Evelyn kept lashing Dahlia with brutal force.

Her heart was filled with venom.

She whipped Dahlia with deadly intent.

Dahlia's coat had been torn off.

She was clad in only a thin dress, and each strike sapped the color from her face. "Ugh..."

Dahlia's body convulsed in pain. Her eyes were wide with agony as tears flowed freely.

This time, the tears were real, born from true pain.

But with her mouth gagged, only muffled cries escaped.

Charles saw Dahlia get whipped and couldn't hold back any longer. He sprang into action right in front of Charlie's grave.

With his body still on the mend, handling a dozen bodyguards wasn't a walk in the park.

By the time he'd dealt with them and reached Dahlia, Evelyn had already viciously whipped her so badly that her skin was torn and bleeding.

"Evelyn, are you out for blood?"

As Charles rushed over, Evelyn landed another strike.

He reached out, grabbing the whip with his hand.

The lash hit Charles hard, and he winced.

Evelyn had whipped him before, so he knew the pain all too well.

Dahlia had endured it more than a dozen times.

With a firm tug, he seized the whip and flung it down the hill.

"Charles!" Rosa was livid, her cane striking the ground with force.

"Grandma, isn't whipping Dahlia without any proof too much?"

Charles gently helped Dahlia up from the ground.

He took off his coat and wrapped it around her, shielding her protectively behind him.

"You fool, has your brain gone to the dogs?"

Rosa was furious, slapping Charles across the face.

In that moment, her heart ached even more for Evelyn.

Without any evidence, Evelyn was trying to seek justice for Charlie.

As Rosa faced the manipulative Dahlia and Charles, who blindly defended her,

her frustration reached its peak.

"How has this wicked woman bewitched you so thoroughly that you can't tell right from wrong?"

"Think, if Dahlia had no ill intentions

towards Charlie, why would Eve,

despite

Daher love for Charlie, a without cause?" Coat

Charles paused, momentarily stunned.

"Charles, I didn't... I truly didn't... I'm a mother, too. How could I harm Charlie..."

"Evelyn... Grandma... Is there some misunderstanding here?"

"If you're so sure I harmed Charlie, then show me the evidence..."

Dahlia's criès of innocence stood in stark contrast to the defiant look she

shot Evelyn, her eyes betraying she

smug satisfaction. Content Belongs to

"You witch!" Rosa couldn't contain her anger.

Dahlia's knack for drama was unmatched.

Rosa raised her hand to strike Dahlia again.

Dahlia, looking fragile and scared, shrank back behind Charles.

"Grandma."

Charles' focus was solely on Rosa as he moved to avoid her. He inadvertently pushed Dahlia into Evelyn's path.

Overcome with rage, Evelyn kicked Dahlia without a second thought.

Dahlia stood in front of Evelyn with the staircase behind her.

Evelyn's kick left Dahlia off balance, and her foot slipped.

"Ah!" With a scream, Dahlia tumbled down the stairs.

The bodyguards could have intervened, but without Rosa's command, they stood idle, watching as Dahlia fell.

By the time Charles realized and tried to catch her, it was too late; Dahlia was already rolling down.

"Dahlia!"

His face changed drastically as he rushed down, catching Dahlia halfway.

By then, Dahlia had succumbed to unconsciousness from the pain.

Someone had tossed a piece of glass onto the staircase and had cut a deep gash from the corner of Dahlia's eye, reaching the bone.

Blood covered her face, creating a shocking sight.

Charles immediately swept Dahlia into his arms and hurried downhill.

...

The whip marks on Dahlia's body were superficial, not deep enough to harm muscle or bone.

The wounds weren't expected to scar after applying the ointment Dr. Nelson had sent over, courtesy of Charles.

However, the cut on her face would likely leave a permanent mark.