Chapter 208

“I need to see Charlie!” Charles’ eyes were icy and locked onto Evelyn’s. He wasn’t asking; he was demanding.
Evelyn felt a chill at his commanding tone. She shot back with a scoff, “Charles, what makes you think you deserve to see Charlie?”
He was blind and biased, always shielded the one who hurt Charlie, and had no right to see her.
Charles figured Evelyn was calling him out for neglecting and misunderstanding Charlie over the past five years. She was saying he wasn’t worthy.
He pushed down the irritation from Evelyn’s sharp tone and tried to speak calmly, “I’ve watched the security footage. I know I misjudged Charlie. When she met Sandy, she didn’t push her.”
The mention of Charlie and Sandy’s first encounter took Evelyn back to that day. She had rushed to Dahlia’s house, worried out of her mind. From a distance, she saw Charlie standing alone by the pool, tears streaming silently.
Those usually bright eyes were glazed with tears. Her little head was tilted back, gazing at the mansion. Her face was flushed from crying, her lips were pouted, and she looked utterly forlorn. She had been standing there as punishment for so long that her tiny body was swaying, barely able to stay upright. All because Charles had told her, “You stand here and think about what you’ve done.”
She had obediently complied, standing there as punishment. She couldn’t fathom why her dad didn’t believe her or why she was being punished when she hadn’t done anything wrong.
When she saw Evelyn, Charlie couldn’t hold back anymore. She cried out, “Mommy,” tears of hurt spilling
over.
In that moment, Evelyn’s heart felt like it was being ripped apart. Her mind was shattered as she dashed over and scooped Charlie into her arms.
Evelyn noticed Charlie’s face had an unnatural flush. Reaching out to touch her forehead, she found she had a high fever. With a heart full of sorrow, she set aside confronting Charles and took Charlie home. Charlie had gone through so much that day. Was Charles’ simple admission of fault supposed to make it all right?
“And now what?” Evelyn’s eyes reddened, her tone sharpening.
“I’ll apologize to her and ask for her forgiveness. She can have whatever she wants. I’ll do my best to giv
i
it to
her. Charles spoke with sincerity.
He knew he was wrong. He had genuinely hurt his daughter’s heart. Just picturing Charlie weakly crying
in Evelyn’s arms made his heart feel tight.
He desperately wanted to hold Charlie and comfort her.
“Charles, enough with these empty apologies and promises. Just tell me, what about Sandy?”
Evelyn cut him off, uninterested in his empty words. She wanted to see action, to know he truly cared for Charlie.
“This is between me and Charlie; leave Sandy out of it.”
Charles tried to keep his cool, speaking as calmly as he could.
“Hah!” Evelyn fet out a bitter laugh. “Leave Sandy out of it,” indeed. Now that he knew he had wronged Charlie and that she hadn’t pushed Sandy that day, he should realize Sandy had tried to push Charlie and then blamed her.
He had unjustly punished Charlie, leaving her to stand by the pool for so long. The truth was out, yet he was still so protective of Sandy. He said a simple “leave Sandy out of it” and she was off the hook.
Evelyn closed her eyes tightly, fighting back the heartache for her daughter.