The Day Our Promise Breaks

"Did I miss something?" Charles' lips curved slightly, his tone giving nothing away, as he sauntered in with long strides. He shrugged off his coat, handing it to a waiting servant, and headed toward the sofa, sneaking a glance at Evelyn before settling down across from the group. As he crossed his legs, he maintained his usual aloof demeanor, and angled himself slightly toward Brooks. Maybe it was just too warm inside with the heat on, but he casually unbuttoned two buttons of his shirt, revealing his elegant neck. With a sly smile, he adjusted his collar. From Brooks' angle, he could spot the faint red love bites peeking out from under it. Judging by their fresh color, they weren't from long ago. No need to guess who left them.

Those marks told a story of someone who hungrily claimed Charles' body, leaving such passionate traces on his skin. Brooks' eyes darkened, reading the silent challenge in Charles' demeanor. Charles didn't need words to stake his claim; silence was enough. After all, he had often asserted in front of Brooks that Evelyn was his woman.

Rosa, meanwhile, missed Charles' little game and only caught his laid-back, indifferent vibe. "You've missed quite a bit," she almost said out loud. She knew now that, to Charles, Evelyn was just an option, not a priority. If he truly cared, how could he stay so composed with a serious contender like Brooks in the room?

When Rosa arranged a blind date for Evelyn, there was a hint of personal motive. She had intentionally let Charles know about it, hoping to stir something in him. But based on Charles' current attitude, it would only bring Evelyn misery. Rosa couldn't rest easy with that thought.

Abandoning the idea of getting

Charles and Evelyn together, Rosa bluntly announced, "Brooks and Eve had a blind date today, and they really hit it off." Charles' eyes

clouded even more at the mention

of mutual affection. A mentet

was

cast over his gaze as he watched Evelyn. His question was loaded. "Is that so?"

That look was a warning Evelyn couldn't ignore. She knew exactly what Charles was implying. In front of Rosa, he was urging her to deny any feelings for Brooks. His possessiveness was flaring up. He wouldn't stand for it. Evelyn'@smile was icy. She had no intention of following Charles' bidding. Why should she?

However, she didn't want to drag Brooks into her tangled history with Charles and Dahlia. For a moment, Evelyn was caught in a tough spot. The word "Yes" was on her lips, but she couldn't bring herself to say it.

"Yes!" Brooks' gentle tone brought her back. She turned to him, surprised. With a soft glance at her, Brooks then faced Charles, his voice calm but firm, "I plan to pursue Evelyn properly." This was his answer to Charles' earlier silent taunt. Those love bites were meant to scare him off, but he was unfazed.

"Mr. Brooks, do you not know who she really is?" Charles challenged, a smile playing on his lips that didn't warm his eyes. Only a chill lurked within their depths. Charles spoke in riddles in front of Rosa, who had forgotten about his and Evelyn's connection. But Evelyn and Brooks caught on. He had already claimed Evelyn, and beyond that, she had given him a daughter.