The Day Our Promise Breaks

"No!"

Evelyn's eyes were bloodshot. Her heart-wrenching scream echoed from deep within her.

"Charlie..." She whispered, stumbling out of bed in a frenzy, rushing to the window with all her might.

Instinctively, she reached out, not realizing she was already halfway out the window.

The danger didn't register; her only thought was to save her Charlie. But it was too late. She was just a moment too slow, helplessly watching as the necklace arced through the night sky, disappearing into the shimmering water below. "Evelyn, you're on the fifth floor! Are you out of your mind?"

Charles was beside himself. His heart was in his throat. He hadn't expected Evelyn to act so recklessly.

Thank goodness he reacted in time, pulling her back from the edge. He clutched her waist, eyes blazing with anger.

Why was she risking her life for a necklace? It was unbelievable!

Who gave her that necklace? Why did it mean so much?

Just as Charles was about to demand answers, Evelyn, eyes blazing with fury, shoved him hard.

The push was full of resentment. Charles staggered back against the windowsill.

Evelyn's mind was on Charlie, and she didn't spare Charles a glance as she turned and bolted.

"Evelyn!"

Charles snapped into action, sprinting after her. He was a second too late; the elevator doors closed right in his face.noveldrama

His expression was like steel. He watched the elevator descend while the other one was still on the upper floors.

Worried that Evelyn might do something drastic, he couldn't wait and dashed for the stairs. He flew down, taking two steps at a time.

Charles was fast, but the elevator was faster. By the time he hit the ground floor, Evelyn had already slipped out the back door, heading for the water.

In that moment, Evelyn wasn't thinking straight. Her only thought was that Charlie was in the water, and she had to save her.

She sprinted to the water's edge. Without a second thought, she climbed over the railing and leaped.

"Evelyn!" Charles shouted, his eyes wide. He lunged forward, grabbed her wrist just in time, and pulled her back into his arms.

He held her tightly and could feel the chill through her thin hospital gown. Her bones were protruding beneath his hands. She was getting too thin. He could feel her trembling, and her lips were a worrying shade of purple.

He quickly shrugged off his coat and, despite her struggling, wrapped it around her to warm her up. His face darkened as he scolded her, "Are you crazy? Do you even know what you're doing? Why do you want to jump into the water in

Weather? Are you trying this

get

yourself sick?"

His last words dripped with sarcasm. He couldn't fathom what she'd been putting herself through lately. How had she ended up in this state?! "Charles, this is my problem. Not yours. Let go of me!"

Evelyn didn't want to hear any more of Charles lectures; she was fixated on getting Charlie back. The warmth she once longed for meant nothing now, and she fought even harder.

"Charles, let me go. Do you hear me?"

het

Charles' frustration grew. He held her wrist tight, dragging her back toward the hospital room. "You're going back to your room. Enough of madness."

this

Evelyn resisted, biting and kicking him.

The hospital was quiet at night. Their commotion didn't wake anyone, but a few patients and their visitors peeked out to see what was happening.