The Day Our Promise Breaks

Charles's words dropped like a stone in a still pond, sending ripples of shock through the room.

Had anyone else claimed Evelyn was Ms. Evelyn of the Jenkins family, no one would have believed it. But the man who spoke was Charles.

Charles-the head of the Jenkins family.

If he could declare, in a setting like this, that Evelyn was the Jenkins family's Ms. Evelyn, then it simply had to be true.

The people who had just been whispering that Evelyn wasn't good enough for Brooks immediately fell silent.

As Charles had said, when it came to family background, who could possibly say the Jenkins family's Ms. Evelyn was beneath anyone?

Mrs. Robinson found herself caught in an impossible dilemma.

She knew the truth about Charles and Evelyn, but she could hardly expose their history in front of this crowd.

That would be as good as announcing to everyone that her son was picking up Charles's cast-off lover.

Because she couldn't use that to publicly humiliate Evelyn and pressure her into leaving Brooks, she tried instead to use Evelyn's unchangeable social standing to drive her away.

But never in her wildest dreams did she expect Charles to show up out of nowhere and throw the weight of the Jenkins family behind Evelyn.

Hadn't he been the one who couldn't let Evelyn go, who clung so stubbornly to her in the past?

What on earth was he playing at now?

Josephine wasn't the only one with mixed feelings; Evelyn's heart was a tangle of emotions as well.

She couldn't help but think back three years, to the day when Rosa had tried to claim her as a god granddaughter, to make her officia Ms. Evelyn of the Jenkins family.

Charles's reaction had been nothing short of explosive.

Because she hadn't rejected Rosa as he wanted, he'd lost control and nearly forced himself on her in the car.

She'd hated him with every fiber of her being for it.

The Charles who had been so adamantly against having her as his sister was now, today, the one publicly proclaiming she was Ms. Evelyn of the Jenkins family. Evelyn's feelings were a storm.

Slowly, she turned, looking past the crowd to the man standing at the doorway.

He hadn't appeared before her in over a month, and he was visibly thinner.

The sharp lines of his handsome face had grown more pronounced, his complexion was poor, but the way he looked at her was indescribably gentle. His gaze was unwavering.

In the grand expanse of the ballroom, she was the only one in his eyes.

She was all he saw.noveldrama

Word of what had happened in the ballroom reached Brooks. He

learned that Mrs. Robinson wol net

using Evelyn's background tomake things difficult for her.

Brooks had never gone against his father's wishes before, but now, ignoring the

old man's protests, he rushed back to the ballroom.

Just in time to hear Charles's declaration.

As a man, Brooks had seen through Charles's intentions three years ago, when Charles had tried to force Evelyn to reject Rosa.

And now, three years later, Charles was publicly acknowledging Evelyn as Ms. Evelyn of the Jenkins family. Wasn't that the same as admitting they were siblings? Wasn't he cutting off his own path forward?

Was Charles really letting go, once and for all?

Their eyes met across the room.

Brooks didn't waste another second. He strode toward Evelyn, took his place at her side in a protective stance, and grasped her hand "Mother, I'll say it again-I will marry no one but Evelyn."

"I'm not asking for your permission. I'm letting you know."

His meaning was clear: her opposition was useless.

Mrs. Robinson's lips went white, her chest heaving with emotion.

Meanwhile, Charles began to make his way toward Evelyn as well.

Aiden, who followed closely at his side, clenched his fists repeatedly, barely containing his worry.

He kept a close watch on Charles, afraid he'd collapse at any moment.

Mr. Jenkins's leg couldn't bear any weight now.

Charles's steps were slow but resolute.

He looked composed, but his left leg couldn't support him. Each step felt as if he were walking on knives.

His black dress shirt, hidden beneath his suit, was already soaked with cold

sweat.

At last, he stood face-to-face with Evelyn and Brooks.

His gaze lingered for several seconds on their joined hands, a storm of emotion in

his eyes.

Logic told him he should let go.

Evelyn hated him to her core.

If his leg were fine, he might still have had a chance to fight for her, to make amends, to win Evelyn's heart.