The Day Our Promise Breaks

She was genuinely scared out of her wits. Charles softly patted Sandy's little head and then reached for a digital thermometer to check Dahlia's temperature. It flashed back at him-102.6°F.

Dahlia, even in her feverish haze, seemed to sense Charles's presence. As he started to pull his hand away, she reached out, clutching it tightly. "Charles..." Her voice was thick with tears, and there was a clear hint of alcohol.noveldrama

"I'm right here," he reassured her gently. Seeing Dahlia like this made his gaze darken a bit.

"Don't leave me. I really can't do this without you," she pleaded. "You promised you'd only ever marry me. How could you lie?"

Tears of frustration and sadness streamed down her face. The thought of giving up Charles for Evelyn was simply unimaginable. But despite her tearful protests, Charles didn't take back his earlier words.

Though Dahlia had made herself sick on purpose, the high fever was genuinely overwhelming. With her vision blurred by tears, she held onto Charles's hand tighter, her cries intensifying. "Iceman, are you really going to give up on Debbie?"

The nickname "Iceman" was like a punch to Charles's gut. His grip on her hand instinctively tightened.

Dahlia was gambling on how much Debbie meant to Charles. She couldn't believe he'd ever truly let Debbie go. "Iceman, I've only got you. Don't leave me... don't let go of Debbie..."

Sensing a shift in Charles's resolve, Dahlia murmured through her sobs, repeating over and over: don't let go of Debbie. Charles gently wiped away her tears with a towel, softly replying, "I won't."

He could never turn his back on her. In her fever-induced fog, Dahlia heard the words she so desperately needed. She was his Debbie. How could he ever bear to see her hurt?

As long as she held the title of

Debbie, Charles would never choose anyone over her-not even Evelyn. Dahlia knew what she was banking on. Therefore, it was best if the real Debbie had long since vanished. If she hadn't, she better stay hidden forever. Otherwise, she'd be sealing her own fate.

There was no way Dahlia would let Charles find out she wasn't the real Debbie, that she was just a stand-in. If she lost the glow of being Debbie, the cherished one, Dahlia couldn't even bear to imagine it! And she wouldn't let that day ever

come.

In just a short while, the third anniversary of the old lady's passing would be over. Then Charles could marry her.

...

Charles helped Dahlia take some fever-reducing meds and then tucked Sandy into bed. Sandy was worried sick about Dahlia and didn't want to go back to her own room. Charles agreed but carried her back once she nodded off.

Hours ticked dby, but Dahlia's fever still refused to break. Charles phoned Dr. Nelson. When Dr. Nelson arrived, Dahlia was still gripping

Charles's hand, and he hadn't let go either. The doctor set up any for Dahlia, and Charles stayed by her side throughout the night?

Evelyn jolted awake from a nightmare. In it, Charles had cornered her, and she was

caught t

off guard. She sat up abruptly, drenched in a cold sweat. Her first instinct was to check her clothes; they were still properly on her body. Everything felt normal, untouched.

She let out a significant sigh of relief. Even though she had come to terms with

the possibility of being with Charles, the relief of waking up untouched was undeniable.