The Day Our Promise Breaks

Mr. Jenkins was absolutely drowning in guilt over Miss Charlie's death, so much so that he drank himself into the hospital. Meanwhile, Ms. Evelyn stayed as cold as ice, not even batting an eye at his misery.

He always had a gut feeling that whenever Ms. Evelyn showed up at Mr. Jenkins' door, it wasn't good news. But never in his wildest dreams did he think the once sweet and gentle Ms. Evelyn could turn so vicious.

Sitting in his car parked downstairs, his nerves were all over the place. He couldn't shake the feeling, so he decided to check things out.

He knocked on the door.

After waiting a beat and getting no answer, Aiden's heart skipped a beat. As Charles's right-hand man, he knew the code to the apartment Charles called home.

With hands trembling, he punched in the code, fumbling twice before finally nailing it on the third try. The second the door swung open, he charged inside.

The thick, metallic smell of blood hit him like a freight train, and Aiden's face went ghostly pale.

"Mr. Jenkins!” he shouted, racing into the room.

There lay Charles on the floor, blood pouring from his gut, hanging on by a thread. Ms. Evelyn stood just a step away, and between them was a bloody kitchen knife. It was all too clear what had gone down.

While dialing 911, Aiden rushed to Charles's side. He kicked the knife under the sofa, making sure Evelyn couldn't get to it. Then he dropped to his knees beside Charles, grabbing the first aid kit to start emergency care.

Luckily, Evermore Court was smack dab in the city center, with a well-known hospital just across the street. Aiden had barely hung up when the private butler burst in with medical staff and a stretcher.

The butler's jaw dropped at the scene. He couldn't believe something so brutal had happened here. He fished out his phone, ready to call the cops.

As Charles was hoisted onto the stretcher, he managed to rasp out, "No cops. She's not involved."

His voice was weak, but his presence was still commanding.

"Yes, Mr. Jenkins," the butler responded, quickly pocketing his phone, respectful

as ever.

Charles turned his fading eyes to Aiden. Blood loss had drained him, but he whispered, "No matter what, don't give her a hard time. I don't want anyone else finding out about this."

He wasn't even sure he'd make it through this.

"Got it!" Aiden replied.

It was clear Charles wanted to shield Ms. Evelyn, keeping her out of trouble.

Hearing Aiden agree, Charles used his last bit of strength to murmur, "Call Brooks..."

Evelyn was in no shape to be left alone, and Charles couldn't help but worry about her. Funny how he'd always been annoyed by Brooks's presence, yet here he was, asking for his help to be with Evelyn

Before he could utter another word, Charles was out cold.

Aiden barked orders to the medics to rush Charles to the hospital, dialing Brooks to swing by and collect Evelyn.

Meanwhile, Dahlia, who had been shoved off a cliff by Evelyn, found herself in free fall.

"Ahhh!" Her scream sliced through the night.

Never in a million years did she expect Evelyn, in her madness, to push her off

the edge instead of jumping herself.

Just when Dahlia thought it was curtains for her, a tree broke her fall. Relief swept

over her. She knew she had lady luck on her side.

But before she could catch hernoveldrama

breath, she started sliding down the branches. In a panic, Dahlia grabbed onto a branch, hanging there mid-air.

Her body swayed, and when she glanced at the ground far below, her breath

caught in her throat, terror gripping her heart.