Chapter 203
Every now and then, when Charlie was in the living room, he’d give her a glance, but she never seemed to catch his eye. Yet, for Evelyn, it was as if Charlie had known her from the start. Whenever he was away, she’d cradle Charlie, holding his picture, and say over and over, “This is Daddy!”
As time went by, Charlie grew. The first word she uttered was “Mommy.” Evelyn watched, tears of joy streaming down her face as she kissed Charlie’s adorable little cheeks. Even after the thrill of the moment passed, Evelyn kept up the routine. With his photo in hand, she taught Charlie to say, “Daddy!” She was endlessly patient, repeating it until Charlie could finally call out for Daddy.
As Charlie started to talk, Evelyn would reassure her, “Daddy loves you so much, but he’s really busy. That’s why he’s not here with you.” Like a sponge, Charlie would repeat after her, “Daddy loves me! I love Daddy!” Evelyn filled in for him, buying gifts, clothes, and toys for Charlie, always saying they were from her daddy. Charlie would light up with happiness, hugging the gifts and sweetly saying, “I love Daddy!” He hadn’t really stepped up as a father. Still, Evelyn worked hard to keep his presence alive in Charlie’s heart. Thanks to Evelyn’s constant reminders, Charlie had a positive image of her dad. She adored him even though he wasn’t around.
After Charlie learned to walk, he came back to Oakwood Manor one day and found her waiting for him at the door. Her face lit up when she saw him, her eyes twinkling. She tottered over to him, wrapped her arms around his legs, and looked up at him, softly saying, “Daddy, hug.” Those eyes, so much like Evelyn’s, sparkled and melted his heart right then and there.
From that day on, he began to truly notice Charlie He thought it was just a coincidence, but watching the surveillance, he saw Charlie waiting at the door for him every day, hopeful and expectant. Seeing this made Charles’ heart even softer. From then on, he realized that his visits to Oakwood Manor weren’t just about Evelyn-he’d spend time playing with Charlie, too.
Then, Dahlia came back from abroad with Sandy. Their struggles overseas reminded him of Evelyn, who
he blamed for it all. But by then, he had warmed up to Charlie and wanted her to get along with Sandy. They were about the same age and could’ve been playmates.
But things didn’t go as planned. When they first met, Charlie ended up pushing Sandy into the pool. Charles was furious and punished Charlie by making her stand in the corner. He then carried the upset Sandy inside. Sandy was so shaken that she’d only fall asleep in his arms.
He wasn’t sure when Evelyn took Charlie back home. All he knew was that after calming Sandy, Dahlia told him Evelyn had taken Charlie away He didn’t foresee Charlie coming down with a fever after Evelyn took her home. Through the surveillance footage, he saw Charlie burning up for three days and nights while Evelyn cared for her tirelessly.
and
When Charlie’s fever finally broke and she woke up, she cried out in Evelyn’s arms, “Mommy, I didn’t push Sandy. Sandy pushed she fell into the pool herself. It wasn’t me, really, it wasn’t me!” Charlie kept insisting it wasn’t her. Evelyn continued to comfort her, assuring her belief in her but Charlie couldn’t stop her tears. She asked in heartbreak, “Why doesn’t Daddy believe me?”
Those words, “Why doesn’t Daddy believe me,” hit Charles like a ton of bricks.