The Day Our Promise Breaks
Chapter 242

Chapter 242
"No need. Charlie was already laid to rest a while ago." Charles' voice was hoarse with a heavy heart. Just mentioning it made
his chest tighten painfully. "And I, her father, only found out yesterday..." He choked up. "I failed Charlie!" His eyes welled with
tears again.
Last night, he knelt by Charlie's grave, whispering apologies over and over. But what good was it? Charlie was gone, and he
could never make things right with
her.
Dahlia, seeing Charles' anguish, sat beside him on the hospital bed. She took his hand gently, her own eyes glistening with
unshed tears. "Charles, you have to let yourself grieve," she said softly. "I know losing Charlie is tearing you apart, but she loved
you so much. She wouldn't want you to torture yourself like this. It would break her heart."
"Charlie wouldn't be heartbroken; she'd blame me and hate me." Charles' voice cracked, his eyes stinging with emotion. They
say men don't cry easily, but the loss of his daughter cut him deeply.
"No, how could Charlie ever blame or hate you? You didn't visit her grave because you didn't know..." Dahlia insisted, trying to
console him.
"I could have known much earlier!" he interrupted. This was the guilt he couldn't shake, a thorn deep in his heart. "The day I went
to make up for missing her birthday, Eve told me Charlie had passed."
"Not just then-Eve told me multiple times afterward. It's my fault; I didn't believe her." If he'd believed Evelyn sooner, he wouldn't
have discovered the truth months after Charlie's death. What was worse was that he missed his chance to say goodbye.
That day, Evelyn had called him several times. He saw the calls but ignored them, thinking she was upset about him taking
Sandy to Disneyland instead of Charlie. He had no clue that Charlie had already died.
He didn't regret celebrating Sandy's birthday. Back then, he didn't know Charlie was sick, too. He thought she was fine and
there'd be more chances to be with her. Sandy's condition was worsening, and they were preparing for surgery. Dahlia had
tearfully said it might be Sandy's last birthday. Even though he arranged for a low-risk operation, there was still a chance
something could go wrong. So, he made Sandy's birthday a grand affair, fearing she'd miss out otherwise. But he never
imagined it'd be Charlie who'd run out of time.

If he'd known, he'd never have broken his promise. He would've found the best doctors and a matching kidney... But life doesn't
offer do-overs. He raised his hand to his eyes, and tears slipped through his fingers.
"Charles, don't beat yourself up. It's
ret
not your fault" Dahlia tried to reassure him. "You didn't believe Evelyn because you thought she'd drugged you years ago.
Ignorance isn't a crime. Charlie was so understanding; she wouldn't blame you."
Though Dahlia's words were kind, they couldn't ease Charles' guilt. He'd never forgive himself.
The next morning, Charles returned
to the cemetery. His fever had just broken, leaving him weak and groggy. His head was still bandaged from Evelyn's attack. Her
blow had been fierce; if it hadn't been a vase but something sturdier, it could've killed him. The thought left a bitter taste in his
mouth.
After sitting in the car for a moment, he finally stepped out and grabbed the cake and fruits Charlie loved, along with the Elsa
dress he never got to give her. His knees throbbed painfully and were swollen, having been on them all night and diving into cold
water. Each step up the stairs pulled at him.
He stumbled, and Dahlia, who was following, rushed to steady him. "Charles, be careful."
Seeing her, Charles frowned, a bit annoyed. “Why are you here?"
Last night, Dahlia had asked him where Charlie was buried, wanting to visit. He knew her intentions were good, but Evelyn's
hostility towards Dahlia was intense. If Evelyn found out Dahlia visited Charlie, it would only deepen her misunderstanding and
anger.
"Charles, don't be mad. I'm just worried about you. You're not fully healed, and I didn't want you to be here alone," Dahlia said
earnestly, tears pooling in her eyes. "I feel so guilty. Knowing Charlie died on the day Sandy got sick, I...”
She couldn't hold back her tears any longer. "Charles, it's all my fault. I shouldn't have called you that day."

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