Chapter 496
Evelyn slipped into a fresh set of pajamas, feeling the comforting embrace of cleanliness.
“Goodnight.”
“Goodnight.”
Exhaustion weighed heavily on her.
Brooks lit a soothing lavender candle in the bedroom, its gentle aroma wafting through the air as Evelyn snuggled into the warm sheets.
Outside, the rain began to patter softly against the window, growing heavier by the minute.
She thought sleep would evade her after the day’s turmoil, but the rhythmic dance of raindrops lulled her into an unexpected slumber.
Brooks stood on the balcony, his gaze fixed on a man who seemed like a ghost lingering in the rain.
He stood there, drenched, staring up at the glowing window.
Brooks kept Evelyn in the dark about it, silently watching Charles get soaked.
It wasn’t until Charles succumbed to an infection, a fever raging through him, that
his body finally gave way, collapsing into the rain-soaked street.
Only then did Brooks call Aiden to come and collect Charles.
Charles battled through the feverish night, finally waking the next afternoon as it broke.
Finding himself in a hospital room, hope flickered in his eyes, a fragile ember.
His last memory was of standing outside Brooks’ place, fading into unconsciousness in the rain, while Eve was safely upstairs.
Charles scanned the room for Evelyn, but only found Aiden, and the hope dimmed a bit.
Yet, he clung to a thread of optimism and asked Aiden, who approached upon seeing him awake,
“Was it Eve who called you last night?”
If it was her, maybe it meant she still cared, that he still had a place in her heart.
“It was Mr. Brooks.”
Aiden knew what Charles wanted to hear but couldn’t bring himself to lie.
As soon as the words were spoken, Charles’s hope flickered out like a candle in the wind.
Aiden watched Charles, wishing he could ask why he kept making choices that only led to regret.
Last night, drugged, he could’ve gone straight to the hospital, but he chose to seek out Ms. Evelyn.
Knowing full well she harbored only resentment for him over Charlie’s death, he still put himself in the line of fire.
His actions only served to deepen Ms. Evelyn’s resentment.
Why couldn’t he see it? Mr. Jenkins was a savvy businessman, never making poor decisions.
Yet, he stumbled when it came to matters of the heart.
“Daddy.”
Sandy appeared in the hospital doorway, clutching her clothes with nervous little hands, timidly calling out to Charles.
Dahlia had brought her, urging her to apologize and seek his forgiveness.
Charles looked at Sandy, the memory of last night fresh. She had poured him the drink.
Even though Dahlia claimed she was the one who instructed Sandy, that Sandy was clueless.
Still, knowing that drink almost led him to a point of no return with Eve, he wasn’t in the mood to see Sandy.
Maybe it was just his sour mood, but the thought that Sandy might have been unknowingly involved flickered through his mind, quickly dismissed.
He couldn’t bear to attribute any cunning to Sandy.
“Sandy, Daddy needs some rest. We’ll catch up soon. Go home and get some rest yourself.”
Charles’s voice was colder than usual, a subtle warning to Dahlia not to use Sandy as a pawn.
It was the first time Charles had been so distant with Sandy. “Daddy…”
Sandy’s heart trembled, wanting to approach, but Aiden gently stopped her.
“Miss Sandy, Mr. Jenkins needs to rest. If you care for him, listen to what he’s asking, don’t add to his worries.”
Sandy bit her lip, tears pooling in her eyes as she stood at the doorway, gazing at Charles with a look that could melt ice.
Charles closed his eyes, offering no response.
Sandy had no choice but to leave, glancing back with every step, her heart heavy with fear.
Was her daddy truly upset with her?
If her daddy stopped loving her, would her mommy follow suit? What would she do then?
Sandy made her way to a car parked at the hospital entrance, climbed in, and shut the door behind her.
Dahlia took one look at Sandy’s face and knew she hadn’t managed to patch things up with Charles.
Her expression turned icy, a silent reproach.
Out of respect for Charles, Dahlia hadn’t
Let
lined Sandy physically
in a long time, but her cold shoulder
was more daunting for Shoulder
Sandy.
A scolding was brief, but her mother’s icy silence left Sandy anxious, fearing
Dahlia’s love might vanish.
When Dahlia fixed her with that cold
gaze, Sandy hurried over, pleading earnestly, “Mommy, don’t give up on me. Il find a way. I’ll make Daddy forgive me. Trust me.”
“Sandy, don’t let Mommy down again. Remember, you’re all I have now, my only
hope.”
“If you can’t change your daddy’s mind, we’ll both lose him. You don’t want that,
do you?”
“Mommy, I promise I’ll bring Daddy and Mommy back together.”
Sandy vowed to Dahlia, determination burning in her eyes.
She wouldn’t let Ms. Evelyn take her daddy away. She was determined to keep
her family intact.