Chapter 165
Whispers floated through the air. Everyone assumed it was a lovers’ spat. Charles was surrounded by curious onlookers, and he felt his irritation boil over. His teeth clenched as he snapped, “Evelyn, are you ever gonna quit it? All this over such a worthless piece of junk…” “Charles, just shut it!” Evelyn fired back, her chest rising and falling with fury. She couldn’t hold back any longer. “I won’t let you trash that necklace again. It’s not junk, it’s…” The words caught in her throat, and before she knew it, the room spun around her. She stumbled, almost losing her balance. Charles’ demeanor shifted instantly. Without missing a beat, he scooped Evelyn up, and as she squirmed in his arms, he said firmly, “Evelyn, I don’t care about the necklace. It doesn’t mean anything to me.” “Do you really need the doctor to sedate you before you’ll settle down?” Charles’ eyes bore into hers with impatience. Evelyn’s heart ached. Each word felt like a needle piercing her soul.
She thought, ‘So it isn’t important, huh?’ Charlie had never been important to Charles, so her ashes probsbly were of little significance too.
As Evelyn finally went quiet, Charles carried her back to the hospital room. She didn’t fight him; she was too drained to walk on her own.
Back in the room, Charles gently laid her on the bed. His phone buzzed, but he ignored it, turning away. Evelyn didn’t care; she’d reached her limit. She closed her eyes and drifted into a restless sleep. Even with exhaustion weighing her down, she couldn’t rest easy without sleeping pills.
Charles went to the door to take a jar of healing salve from Aiden and returned to Evelyn. He watched her troubled sleep and assumed the night’s scare had rattled her, clueless about how deeply Charlie’s death had changed her.
Hurrying to her side, he took her hand, whispering, “It’ll be alright. I’m here. Just sleep.” Those words used to work like magic on Evelyn. Whenever fear gripped her, his touch would calm her instantly. But now, they fell flat.
Charles frowned and then called for
the on-duty doctor. After Evelyn received a sedative to help her sleep soundly, he smoothed the worry lines from her forehead. He gently wiped away the tears that clung to the corners of her eyes, his expression a mix of deep concern and tenderness.
After a moment, he adjusted the room’s temperature, then unbuttoned Evelyn’s hospital gown She was sedated and was blissfully unaware as he carefully removed her clothes, exposing her injuries once more. The sight made his eyes
burn with unshed tears.
His heart clenched painfully, a sensation he was becoming all too familiar with. Rage bubbled beneath the surface, threatening to boil over. He could’ve throttled the person who did this to her.
“Evelyn, what’s going on with you? Why are you so stubborn?” Her injuries infuriated him. This wouldn’t have happened if she’d just gotten in the car with him.
His voice carried frustration, but his
hands were gentle as he applied the salve. He started at her shoulders and massaged the bruises with just the right pressure, spreading the healing balm. It was the first time he touched her without any desire, only care.
As he treated her wounds, his eyes held a tenderness even he didn’t recognize. And Dahlia witnessed all of this, standing silently at the door.