Chapter 111
“I got a bit carried away. That’s why I let a few rats loose. I did it to stand up for Sandy. Charles, I’m so crazy about Sandy. That’s why I did it.” Sandy was her trump card. Charles adored Sandy. As long as it was for Sandy, Charles wouldn’t hold it against Dahlia.
Dahlia realized Charles had stayed quiet. She softened her voice and sweet-talked him again, “Charles, I’m too scared to sleep now. Every time I close my eyes, all I see are snakes wrapping around me. Could you come to the hospital and keep me company, please?” “It’s late. Try to get some rest.”
Charles replied sternly and hung up abruptly. When Dahlia mentioned the snakes, Charles couldn’t help but think of Evelyn, who was terrified of rats. Evelyn was trapped for so long, and he wondered if she’d also struggle to sleep tonight.
…
After Charles left, Evelyn locked the door. But Charles was the head of the Jenkins family. Getting into any room, even Rosa’s courtyard, was no big deal for him. A servant brought him the key, and Charles opened the bedroom door. Evelyn had taken some meds that should’ve knocked her out for a few hours. But Charles woke her up. As she lay back down, groggy from the meds, she quickly drifted off again, but her sleep was uneasy.
Her nightmares blew up the fear of being overwhelmed by rats in the basement. When Charles walked in, he heard Evelyn quietly sobbing and murmuring, “Don’t come closer… go away…”
Her hands waved in the air as if she were shooing something away, and then she kept slapping at it.
“Charles… Charles… Charles…”
“Let me out… please…”
Her plea hit Charles like a dart to the heart. He sat next to her and gently wiped away the tears from her eyes with his thumb. The warmth of her tears felt like they could burn through his skin. Charles took off his jacket, lifted the covers, got into bed, and pulled Evelyn into his arms. His big hand softly patted her back, comforting her.
Whether it was the medication
kicking in or Charles’ comforting
touch, Evelyn gradually calmed
down, nestled in his arms, and finally
got some much-needed rest
swnt
…
The next morning, Evelyn was woken up by Marian knocking on her door. Rosa called her for breakfast.
Since Charlie’s death, a good night’s
sleep had been rare. When she opened her eyes, she saw it was nearly eight. Why did her alarm go off? She jumped out of bed, got ready quickly, and headed to the dining room.
Her favorite breakfast was laid out on the table.
“Morning, Grandma,” Evelyn said as she sat down and started eating her porridge.
“Eve, I’ve picked out a few dating prospects for you. Have a look.”
Evelyn didn’t really care about the dating prospects. She had no plans to seriously date anyone.
“Grandma, I trust your judgment. You wouldn’t pick anyone bad. It’s getting late. I’ve got to get to work.”
She had just started her job and had already taken a day off. Evelyn quickly finished her breakfast, smiled at Rosa, and headed out.
“This girl,” Rosa chuckled, looking down at the profiles she had picked from the Robinson family the night before. She was quite pleased.
Around the dining room corner, Charles stood with a stern look on his face. Evelyn’s words echoed in his mind. Did she actually agree to a
date? Did he say she couldee to a