The Day Our Promise Breaks

"Everything's right here," the private investigator said, handing Evelyn all the information he had gathered. Evelyn took the documents and passed him the final payment. "I'll reach out if I need more," she added. The investigator nodded, pocketed the money, and left.

Evelyn wasted no time tearing open the file, scanning each page with intense focus, hoping for a breakthrough. Yet, despite the renowned investigator's best efforts, she found nothing useful about Dahlia. If he couldn't dig up dirt on Dahlia, chances were slim anyone else could.

Her eyes lingered on the last page, and a profound sense of helplessness washed over her. The only person who knew about Dahlia's sinister organ swap was John, and he was dead-taking the evidence with him. Evelyn had tried speaking with John's wife, but she was in the dark, too. She claimed John orchestrated everything and prevented her from donating a kidney to Charlie. She had no idea who eventually received her kidney or if John was paid off.

Learning of Charlie's death, John's wife had knelt before Evelyn, sobbing and pleading for forgiveness. Faced with a woman who had no power in her own home, Evelyn couldn't even muster words of reproach.

Shaking off the memories, Evelyn sat quietly for a moment, letting the emotions settle. Just as she was about to leave, her phone buzzed on the table. It was a message from the private investigator. Curious, she opened it while heading out, her eyes widening at what she saw.

It was Brody's birthday in VIP Room 888. Having been pals with Charles for years, Brody knew Charles wasn't fond of his more rambunctious friends, so he kept the guest list to a few close buddies.

As Charles walked in, his face clouded with gloom, so Brody poured him a drink. He sat down next to Charles with a curious tilt of his head and asked, "Why the long face? Aren't you supposed to be celebrating?"

Charles didn't answer and just gulped down the wine, the shadows in his eyes growing deeper.

"Come on, man, drop the act. Word is out. Evelyn's with Brooks now!

Haven't gotten the chance to congratulate you yet. You finally shook off Evelyn, that clingy shadow of yours! Cheers to that!" Brody said, clinking his glass against Charles' and downing his drink in one go. He was genuinely happy for his friend.

He turned to Charles, expecting relief, but found his friend looking even more troubled. Charles' cold gaze locked onto him. He was clearly unhappy. But what for?

Brody was baffled, replaying his words to figure out what had gone wrong. "What's with the look? Did say something off? Evelyn's moved on, and Rosa isn't blocking you from being with Dahlia anymore. Isn't this what you wanted?

"Now you can finally be with the woman you love, giving her and her daughter the place they deserve.

"How long have you been waiting for this? If Evelyn hadn't tricked you, you wouldn't have been stuck with her and that kid... You and Dahlia

could've been celebrating

vel

milestones with your fourth child by

now." .

As Charles' friend, Brody knew how deeply Charles cared for Dahlia and how much she meant to him. Evelyn's schemes had torn them apart, and her deceitful rise to power was a bitter pill to swallow.