The Day Our Promise Breaks

When Dahlia caught the disappointed look in Charles's eyes, her tears fell even more fiercely. She shook her head over and over, insisting, "It's not like that, it's not."

"Charlie is your daughter. How could I not see her life as precious?" she pleaded. "I checked Charlie's medical records, and at the time, her condition didn't seem that critical. I thought she could wait, but my Sandy, she couldn't wait any longer." "Without that kidney, Sandy would've died..."

Dahlia sobbed uncontrollably. Seeing no sign of Charles softening, she suddenly raised her hand.

"Slap-"

"Slap-"

She began to hit herself, each slap landing hard as she berated, "I'm so selfish, I deserve this!"

She wasn't faking it; every slap was fierce and sincere. Soon, her cheeks were visibly red and swollen.

Charles's lips were pressed into a tight line. Hearing Dahlia admit her guilt made him furious, yet watching her self-inflicted punishment, he couldn't help but reach out to stop her. "Enough."

That single word, "enough," left Dahlia unable to cry out loud.

"Charles... I'm truly sorry. Taking away Charlie's kidney has weighed on my heart every day."

"I've been terrified, wanting to tell you but not knowing how."

"I was scared you'd blame me, be disappointed in me, leave me..."

"Then you mentioned Evelyn had hidden Charlie, and I thought she was okay."

"At the design contest, I saw a girl who looked like Charlie and was sure she was fine."

"You don't know how happy that made me. I waited for Evelyn to let Charlie see you. I wanted to make things right."

"But then you told me Charlie had died."noveldrama

"I couldn't believe it. I never thought her condition would worsen unexpectedly."

"I didn't know she'd die on the operating table because she didn't get the kidney."

"I'm so filled with guilt. I wanted to confess at her grave, even considered dying as an apology."

Dahlia deliberately brought up the amusement park and Charles's broken promise, trying to paint Charlie's death as an accident.

It was wrong to take Charlie's

kidney, but she did it for Sandy. As long as Charles didn't know it was intentional, she wasn't worried..

most he'd be angry. With sough.

effort, he'd forgive her soon enough.

"Evelyn saying I killed Charlie isn't incorrect. I took her kidney, and it led to her death..."

Charles wanted to blame Dahlia. But reason told him she did it for Sandy. No parent stays rational when their child's life is on the line.

Wq

Dahlia's selfishness was wrong. But the biggest mistake was his own.

If he hadn't called Ze Chuan, Dahlia wouldn't have had the chance to take Charlie's kidney. If he hadn't broken his promise, Charlie wouldn't have gotten worse waiting for him.

en

"Charles, I know I wronged Charlie and Evelyn. I'm willing to beg Evelyn for forgiveness."

"If she wants my life to pay for Charlie's, I'm ready to give it."

Dahlia's tears were endless, her words sincere and heartfelt.