The Day Our Promise Breaks (Charles and Evelyn)

Sandy, tears streaming down her face, looked up at Charles with a heartbreaking expression. "Daddy, if I'm not your daughter. Who is my dad?"

Hearing Sandy's question made his heart ache. He gently wiped away her tears with his hand. "Don't cry, Sandy. Ignore what Ms. Evelyn said. You are my daughter."

"Charles..." Dahlia clung to Charles' hand like it was her lifeline. Her eyes said things only they understood, and her voice sounded small and helpless.

Charles squeezed her hand back, giving her a reassuring nod.

"Charles!" Patrick, witnessing Charles' gesture, was furious. His face darkened.

"Dad, Sandy is my daughter!"

Once Sandy was comforted, Charles stood and faced Patrick. This was his debt to Dahlia. After the uproar Evelyn caused today, his father would never agree to acknowledge Dahlia and Sandy at the dinner party. Charles felt a sense of relief rather than disappointment. This only increased his guilt towards Dahlia. He couldn't give her the official status he promised, but he could make it up to Sandy.

Patrick was nearly beside himself with rage at Charles' declaration. It was so obvious! Charles had known all along that the child wasn't his by blood! Was he really that smitten with Dahlia? The Jenkins family had truly birthed a lovesick fool!

Charles remained steadfast. After speaking, he cast his gaze over the seated elders, finally settling on his great uncle. "Great Uncle, please continue."

Hearing Charles' words, Dahlia felt

relief wash over her. Holding Sandy close white all the Jenkins family's eyes were glued to Charles, she glanced at Evelyn. Their eyes locked across the room. Dahlia's lips curled

into a triumphant smile.

"A bastard will never make it into the Jenkins family records!"

Patrick was livid. Seeing Charles' defiance, he feared the Jenkins family elders might eventually yield to Charles' authority as head of the family and allow Sandy into the family records. He stormed over and grabbed the family registry. "Dad!"

Charles tried to intervene. Patrick, innoveldrama

a fit of rage, picked up an inkstone

and threw it at him. "Charles, you' really crossed the line. You're ignoring the honor of the Jenkins family for a woman. Are you trying to drive me to the grave?"

Charles dodged, and Patrick, clutching the family registry, stormed out of the ancestral hall, fuming. Witnessing this, the other Jenkins family elders also left, following Patrick.

In no time, only Evelyn, Charles, Dahlia and Sandy remained in the ancestral hall. "Dahlia, take Sandy outside," Charles ordered, leaving no room for argument.

Dahlia, holding Sandy, walked out, leaving Charles alone with Evelyn. He turned to her, his face calm despite the anger in the air. "Eve, did your little spectacle today get you what you wanted? Are you satisfied now?"

His tone was surprisingly calm. "As for Sandy's parentage, let's put an end to it here. Forget about the paternity test. She's my daughter, and you and Charlie should never mention this again in front of her."

As Evelyn listened to Charles'

protective words about Sandy, her face grew grim, and her heart sank Seeing this, Charles' voice softened a touch. "Relax. Sandy being in the family records doesn't threaten Charlie's place. Whatever Sandy has, Charlie will have, too."