The Day Our Promise Breaks

She couldn't help the ache in her chest for this child.

But because the baby was Charles's, keeping it was never an option she allowed herself.

She'd put off the procedure-partly because her body needed time to recover, and partly because of the engagement. She'd planned to wait until after the engagement to go through with it, worried the recovery would interfere with the ceremony. But now, with the engagement nowhere on the horizon, Evelyn made up her mind: she'd get the abortion first, cut off any hope Charles had of getting back together.

When she told the doctor she wanted to schedule the procedure, the doctor tried to talk her out of it. Evelyn wouldn't be swayed. Dr. Shaw eventually just nodded and set the time. "If you're sure, tomorrow morning at nine."

"Thank you, Dr. Shaw," Evelyn murmured, ending the call.

She'd thought about the pill, but after Charlie died, she hadn't slept-she'd taken too much melatonin, and later, too many antidepressants. Now her body couldn't handle a medical abortion.

Evelyn barely slept that night.

The next morning, she didn't go home-she didn't want to worry her mother. Instead, she stayed at her own apartment.

She needed someone to go with her, so she called Rosie, her assistant. Rosie practically worshipped her, and Evelyn trusted her completely.

At the hospital, Evelyn accepted the consent form from the doctor. Her fingers tightened around the pen, but she didn't give herself a chance to hesitate. Lips pressed together, she signed her name in one quick stroke.

When it was time, Evelyn went to change into a hospital gown. Before she could, a young nurse came over and told her there was a small issue with the pre-op prep, and she'd need to wait a little longer. They asked her to sit outside the operating room.

"Evelyn, don't be scared." Rosie's own hands were clammy with nerves, but she squeezed Evelyn's hand, trying to be brave for both of them.

Evelyn wanted to comfort Rosie, but she couldn't even force a smile. She just squeezed back and looked down.

Her hand drifted to her belly, and her nose stung. She hadn't let herself do that in weeks-every day, she reminded herself to ignore the life growing inside her. That was the only way to loosen the bond, to keep her heart from overruling her head.

She was terrified that one soft touch, one tiny moment of connection, would let her love overwhelm her sense. That she'd end up keeping the baby, making the same mistake all over again.

She loved Charlie, but she regretted bringing her into the world, forcing her to grow up in a broken home, to suffer through so much pain. She couldn't do it again. She couldn't let another child be born into that kind of life-parents who didn't love each other, a home where happiness and security were always just out of reach.

Tears burned at the corners of her eyes. In her heart, she whispered, "I'm sorry, baby."

After a moment, she let her hand fall away, pulled herself together, and lifted her head.

She was about to ask the nurse when she'd be taken in when she saw him—a tall silhouette at the end of the hall.

Charles.

The second she saw him, it all made sense. The nurse's delay wasn't real. It was a setup a stall until Charles could get here.

Evelyn shot up and grabbed Rosie's hand. "Rosie, let's go."

With Charles involved, there was no way she was having the procedure here today. No point in staying.

Rosie, still clueless but careful, supported Evelyn as she hurried away. But Charles's stride was too long-he caught up easily and grabbed Evelyn's wrist.

Rosie instinctively stepped in front of her. "Let go of Evelyn!"

But when she met Charles's eyes, her breath caught and her knees nearly

buckled. There was something about him-cold, almost menacing.

Charles barely glanced at Rosie before tugging Evelyn into his arms.

"Charles!" Evelyn struggled, but he held tight.

Rosie, voice shaking, tried to be brave. "Let her go or I'm calling the police!"

"Rosie, I'm fine. Go back to the

studio." Evelyn forced herself to

keep calm. She didn't want to make scene,

not with Mrs. Robinson in

the picture-no need for thei@mess

to become gossip.

Rosie always listened. She glanced nervously at Charles, then whispered, "Evelyn, are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm sure." Evelyn's steady answer finally convinced Rosie to leave.

Face like stone, Charles scooped Evelyn up and carried her to his car.

He honestly hadn't believed she'd go through with it. When she'd said she wouldn't keep their child, he'd thought she was only trying to hurt him. She'd always loved kids how could she really be so heartless? noveldrama

But when she actually made the appointment, when she was really ready to go through with it, he had to face the truth.

"Charles, you can stop me this time. What about next time, or the time after that? Let's see how many times you can interfere." Evelyn's voice was ice.

She wanted to see just how far he'd go.

Charles's breath came heavier now. He reached for a cigarette, tapped one out, then remembered she was pregnant and tossed it aside.

He inhaled deeply, looked at Evelyn,

and said coldly, "Eve, Adam's hand is at a critical stage. In another month, he might recover, return to the team, maybe even chase his dream again. But this treatment stops now, his hand is ruined—forever."

Evelyn's eyes went wide.

He was threatening her again.