Chapter 602

Charles was completely absorbed, eyes fixed on the pages in front of him.
He was studying really studying.
When Evelyn woke and blinked her eyes open, this was the first thing she saw: Charles, sitting at the edge of the bed, the curtains drawn tight, reading lamp glowing quietly on the nightstand as he pored over a book about pregnancy and parenting.
He was so caught up in what he was reading, so focused, he didn’t even notice she was awake.
Watching him, Evelyn couldn’t help but think back.
When she was pregnant with Charlie, it had been her first time as a mom. She’d loved Charles so much back then, and she had been filled with hope for the little life growing inside her. But it was all new, and all unknown—so much uncertainty, so many things to worry about. She’d been anxious and scared, unable to help it.
Charles hadn’t cared much about the baby then.
So she’d bought a pile of books herself, sitting just like this, turning each page slowly, taking careful notes.
Now, watching Charles, she couldn’t stop thinking about how cold and distant he’d been with Charlie. Her expression grew visibly colder.
That’s when Charles finally realized she was awake.
He set the book aside and stood up right away. “You must be hungry. I made some soup-come downstairs and have a little.”
Evelyn hadn’t had much appetite lately; she’d barely touched her lunch. She was pregnant, though-she knew she needed the nutrition.
“I don’t want any,” she said, her voice icy.
She didn’t want to be alone with Charles in this house. Charles had been spoiled his entire life. From the start, Evelyn had kept herself at arm’s length-sharp words, cold shoulders, trampling over every effort he made. All she wanted was for Charles to finally lose patience and give up.
“Eve, please for your health, and the baby’s-just have a little, okay?” Charles tried to coax her, keeping his tone gentle.
“I told you, just seeing your face makes me lose my appetite.”
She didn’t bother hiding her disgust.
Charles pressed his lips together, silent for a moment, then suddenly moved. Before Evelyn could react, he gently but firmly scooped her up in his arms.
Ignoring her protests, he carried her straight downstairs.
This time, he set her right at the dining table. Then he disappeared into the kitchen.
He came back with a bowl of steaming soup. “Just try some…”
Charles sat next to her, setting the bowl in front of her.
Evelyn didn’t even look at it. She reached out and knocked the bowl over. “Charles, do you not understand what I’m saying? told you, Mose my appetite when you’re around!”
The soup, still piping hot, splashed all over Charles’s hand.
The heat made his skin flush red instantly. Some drops even splattered onto Evelyn’s hand.
Charles didn’t care about his own burn. He grabbed Evelyn’s hand gently, blowing
on the red marks. “Don’t move, I’ll get you some ointment.”
Without waiting, he got up, grabbed the first-aid kit from the living room, and found the burn cream. He knelt beside her, carefully applying ointment to her hand, blowing softly as he worked.
“Charles, do you really think any of this matters?” Evelyn tried to pull her hand away, sarcasm heavy in her voice.
“You know I’ll never forgive you. Nothing you do now changes anything. Why can’t you just let me go?”
Charles paused, then said quietly, “I’ll go get you another bowl.”
He quickly cleared the mess and headed back to the kitchen, returning with a fresh bowl of soup.
“I’ll feed you,” he said, holding the bowl in one hand and lifting a spoonful to her lips.
Evelyn turned her head away, about to snap at him, when her phone rang.
It was Brooks.
Evelyn glanced at her phone and answered right in front of Charles. “Brooks?” “Ms. Evelyn, it’s Aaron.”
It was Aaron on the line.
He’d been watching Brooks drink himself into oblivion, slurring Evelyn’s name
over and over. Eventually, Aaron grabbed Brooks’s phone, unlocked it, and called Evelyn.
Hearing Aaron’s voice, Evelyn’s face darkened. If it weren’t for him drugging her, none of this mess would have happened.
how
Aaron knew how she felt about him. Worried she’d hang up, he rushed his words. “Ms. Evelyn, Brooks is completely wasted. He won’t listen to anyone. If he keeps this up, m afraid he’ll end up in the hospital. Can you come by and talk to him?” Cóntent
Aaron was exaggerating a bit, but he really did feel bad for Brooks. After all these years, he’d never seen his friend drink like this-drowning himself in liquor and regret.
As soon as Evelyn heard Brooks wasn’t well, she jumped up, worry written all over her face. “Where are you? I’ll be right there!”