The Day Our Promise Breaks

Every word was like a dagger to the heart!

Dahlia's complexion had gone ghostly pale.

The very second Charles's gaze landed on her, she was seized by a paralyzing fear, shaking like a leaf caught in a storm.

Never before had Charles looked at her with such intense fury, as if he wanted to tear her apart.

It was the first time she felt a desperate urge to run away from him.

Right now, Charles looked like a demon straight from the depths of hell, ready to obliterate her.

With trembling hands, Dahlia reached for the button that controlled her wheelchair.

But before she could hit it to back away, she paused.

Instead of pressing it, she balled her hands into fists, squeezing so hard her

knuckles turned white, silently giving herself a pep talk.

She couldn't run.

There was nowhere to hide.

She had to find a way to save herself.

In that moment of utter despair and fear, a flicker of hope ignited in Dahlia's mind.

It had been a decade since she showed up with Charles's heirloom, pretending to be Debbie.

Over those ten years, Charles had treated her like a treasure.

Powerful men bent over backwards for her.

For her, Charles always went the extra mile.

He trusted her completely.

Gave her all his love and attention.

And she fell deeper and deeper.

Memories of the past flashed through her mind like an old film reel.

His gentle touch.

His unwavering love.

Every time he favored her over others.

Was it really just because he thought she was Debbie?

Or maybe, without realizing it, Charles had fallen for her too?

His kindness wasn't just about Debbie; maybe he loved her as well.

It was just during her absence, Evelyn had seduced Charles, and he got caught up in her allure.

Their breakup was also because of what happened with Wesley.

Charles must have been jealous, envious.

Why else would he break things off just when she had someone else in her life?

Charles must have had feelings for her.

He had to!

Dahlia convinced herself of this and clung to the belief that she wasn't wrong. Time and again, she had managed to slip away by playing the damsel in distress.

This time, she could do it again.

Dahlia eased her posture, looking at Charles, no longer denying what was already out in the open, and started to cry her heart out.

"Charles, please hear me out. I never meant to deceive you."

"I stumbled upon the heirloom by chance. The day you tracked me down with it, you were like a god appearing before me..."

"In that instant, I knew what it meant to have my heart race; I fell for you at first sight."

"As noble as you are, you couldn't hide your nerves when you asked if the heirloom was yours and where it

came from. Caught in the moment, I blurted out that it was a gift from Iceman!"

"Once I let that lie slip, it took countless others to keep it going. When you called

me Debbie, I thought of Debbie from the next town over."

"I was always on the outside looking in, watching you with Debbie, and that drove

me to try and take her place. You believed me and treated me as if I was her..."

"You were so thrilled, and I regretted it immediately. I wanted to come clean, tell you I wasn't her, but you were already holding me so tightly, like I was a precious jewel

"In that moment, I surrendered completely in your arms. Starved of love my entire life, faced with someone as incredible as you, couldn't bear to tell the truth. I admit,

I was greedy. At first, I only wanted

to bask in it for a little while before slipping away unnoticed noveldrama

"But you were so good to me, wanting to give me the best of everything. You were

icy to everyone else but poured all your warmth and affection onto me."