The Day Our Promise Breaks (Charles and Evelyn) novel Chapter 548

Time ticked by, second by second, and soon the hour they’d agreed upon had arrived—yet there was still no sign of Evelyn.

Charles picked up his phone from the side table, wanting to call Evelyn and ask where she was. But he hesitated, worried she’d think he was being impatient, that he was rushing her, and that it would only upset her.

He set the phone back down.

Charles continued to wait, patiently.

His patience was a rare thing—he’d only ever given it, long ago, to Debbie, when she was five and he was ten.

After that, not once.

Now, twenty-two years later, he found himself offering it again—for her.

Cup after cup of coffee grew cold on the table. Aiden, ever attentive, replaced each one, but Evelyn never appeared.

“Mr. Jenkins, it’s already eleven,” Aiden finally reminded him gently.

He’d wanted to say something an hour ago, when Charles had already been left waiting.

It was clear—Ms. Evelyn wasn’t coming.

If Ms. Evelyn truly intended to show up, with her sense of punctuality, she would have arrived on time. Even if something had come up, she would have called or at least sent a message to let Mr. Jenkins know.

But hours had passed since the agreed time—no word, no sign.

The message couldn’t be more obvious.

Evelyn was standing Mr. Jenkins up—on purpose.

…

Charles said nothing, his gaze fixed on the phone lying on the table.

The screen was still open to his conversation with Evelyn. The last message was his: *Alright, 7 p.m. tonight, I’ll be waiting for you at the restaurant. I won’t leave until you come—promise!*

His eyes lingered on those last four words: *I won’t leave until you come.*

For years, it had always been Evelyn waiting for him.

Waiting for him to love her, to love Charlie.

Waiting for him to trust her, to trust Charlie.

Waiting for him to come home, even just to spend a little time with her, with Charlie.

Five years together—over eighteen hundred days and nights.

He’d disappointed Evelyn so many times, yet she’d always waited, always given him another chance.

But he had only ever left Evelyn and Charlie waiting.

The rare times he’d actually shown up were only because Evelyn had given everything to please him, bargaining for a promise that he’d come home to them.

And in the end, there was always an excuse—another business dinner, or because of Dahlia and her daughter—that kept him away.

He hadn’t cared, back then.

Now, every memory came back to strike him, sharp as a boomerang, digging deep into his chest.

Drawing blood.

It was a long time before he finally closed the app.

Accidentally, he tapped into his social media feed.

The screen refreshed, and Brooks’ latest post appeared at the top.

Caption: *My whole world.*

Attached was a photograph of a restaurant.

Charles opened the photo.

At first glance, he immediately noticed the detail others might miss.

Reflected in the glass were two figures.

One was Brooks.

The person sitting across from him was Evelyn.

It was a candid shot—Evelyn was looking down, eating, while Brooks gazed at her with gentle affection.

A lock of her hair had fallen forward, and Brooks reached out, tenderly tucking it behind her ear.

Evelyn looked up.