Chapter 242
“No need. Charlie was already laid to rest a while ago.” Charles’ voice was hoarse with a heavy heart. Just mentioning it made his chest tighten painfully. “And I, her father, only found out yesterday…” He choked up. “I failed Charlie!” His eyes welled with tears again.
Last night, he knelt by Charlie’s grave, whispering apologies over and over. But what good was it? Charlie was gone, and he could never make things right with
her.
Dahlia, seeing Charles’ anguish, sat beside him on the hospital bed. She took his hand gently, her own eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Charles, you have to let yourself grieve,” she said softly. “I know losing Charlie is tearing you apart, but she loved you so much. She wouldn’t want you to torture yourself like this. It would break her heart.”
“Charlie wouldn’t be heartbroken; she’d blame me and hate me.” Charles’ voice cracked, his eyes stinging with emotion. They say men don’t cry easily, but the loss of his daughter cut him deeply.
“No, how could Charlie ever blame or hate you? You didn’t visit her grave because you didn’t know…” Dahlia insisted, trying to console him.
“I could have known much earlier!” he interrupted. This was the guilt he couldn’t shake, a thorn deep in his heart. “The day I went to make up for missing her birthday, Eve told me Charlie had passed.”
“Not just then-Eve told me multiple times afterward. It’s my fault; I didn’t believe her.” If he’d believed Evelyn sooner, he wouldn’t have discovered the truth months after Charlie’s death. What was worse was that he missed his chance to say goodbye.
That day, Evelyn had called him several times. He saw the calls but ignored them, thinking she was upset about him taking Sandy to Disneyland instead of Charlie. He had no clue that Charlie had already died.
He didn’t regret celebrating Sandy’s birthday. Back then, he didn’t know Charlie was sick, too. He thought she was fine and there’d be more chances to be with her. Sandy’s condition was worsening, and they were preparing for surgery. Dahlia had tearfully said it might be Sandy’s last birthday. Even though he arranged for a low-risk operation, there was still a chance something could go wrong. So, he made Sandy’s birthday a grand affair, fearing she’d miss out otherwise. But he never imagined it’d be Charlie who’d run out of time.
If he’d known, he’d never have broken his promise. He would’ve found the best doctors and a matching kidney… But life doesn’t offer do-overs. He raised his hand to his eyes, and tears slipped through his fingers.
“Charles, don’t beat yourself up. It’s
ret
not your fault” Dahlia tried to reassure him. “You didn’t believe Evelyn because you thought she’d drugged you years ago. Ignorance isn’t a crime. Charlie was so understanding; she wouldn’t blame you.”
Though Dahlia’s words were kind, they couldn’t ease Charles’ guilt. He’d never forgive himself.
The next morning, Charles returned
to the cemetery. His fever had just broken, leaving him weak and groggy. His head was still bandaged from Evelyn’s attack. Her blow had been fierce; if it hadn’t been a vase but something sturdier, it could’ve killed him. The thought left a bitter taste in his mouth.
After sitting in the car for a moment, he finally stepped out and grabbed the cake and fruits Charlie loved, along with the Elsa dress he never got to give her. His knees throbbed painfully and were swollen, having been on them all night and diving into cold water. Each step up the stairs pulled at him.
He stumbled, and Dahlia, who was following, rushed to steady him. “Charles, be careful.”
Seeing her, Charles frowned, a bit annoyed. “Why are you here?”
Last night, Dahlia had asked him where Charlie was buried, wanting to visit. He knew her intentions were good, but Evelyn’s hostility towards Dahlia was intense. If Evelyn found out Dahlia visited Charlie, it would only deepen her misunderstanding and anger.
“Charles, don’t be mad. I’m just worried about you. You’re not fully healed, and I didn’t want you to be here alone,” Dahlia said earnestly, tears pooling in her eyes. “I feel so guilty. Knowing Charlie died on the day Sandy got sick, I…”
She couldn’t hold back her tears any longer. “Charles, it’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have called you that day.”