The Day Our Promise Breaks
Chapter 27

Samuel felt a pang of regret as well. He admired Evelyn's talent greatly and was very satisfied with her entry. Trying to comfort her, he said, "Evelyn, one setback doesn't define anything." Samuel didn't understand how important winning first place was to her.

Evelyn barely controlled her emotions and asked with a trembling voice, "Samuel, is it because my work wasn't good enough?"

"Of course not!" Samuel immediately denied it.

"Then why?" The emotional turmoil inside made Evelyn's voice sharper.

"Evelyn, once you're more involved in this industry, you'll realize that often, we can't compete against the power of money. But don't lose heart. I believe in you. With your design talent, you're bound to have a bright future." Evelyn fought to suppress the lump in her throat, thinking of the scene she witnessed at lunch. Her unease was confirmed at that moment.

Evelyn suddenly asked, "The winner turned out to be Dahlia, didn't it?"

"How did you know?" Samuel's instinctive question confirmed her suspicion.

Evelyn bit her lip hard to control her emotions before saying, "Professor, I got it now."

She didn't bother with politeness and just hung up the phone. Her eyes reddened with fury, and like a provoked mother elephant, she dashed towards the VIP lounge where Charles was.

The door was slightly ajar.

Bang-

She pushed it open forcefully. She saw Charles standing by the floor-to-ceiling window on the phone.

Charles heard the noise and turned around with a stern face. His gaze swept coldly over Evelyn.

He hung up the phone. "What do you want?"

His tone was indifferent, exuding a superior's disdain for the ordinary. Charles' aura of nobility seemed to seep from his bones, and his stern appearance gave the feeling that everything was within his control. He was the master.

Evelyn's chest was heaving violently and her eyes were reddened with anger. She marched up to Charles and furiously grabbed his collar, demanding, "Charles, first place was mine. What right did you have to give it to Dahlia?"

Charles frowned, his large hand easily catching Evelyn's wrist and pulling it away. With a push, he pressed Evelyn against the window, his body pinning hers. His lips were close to her ear as he said in an icy tone, "Evelyn, why must you compete with Dahlia for everything? What were you going to do with first place? Weren't you adamant about breaking up with me? What is this now? Hm?"

Evelyn detected the sarcasm in Charles' tone.

That day in the hospital, Sena made it clear that Dahlia's sudden decision to enter the design contest was to win Patrick's approval.

Five years ago, Charle's father Patrick had agreed to Charles and Evelyn's engagement because Charles' grandmother put him under pressure. As soon as she and Charles got engaged, his grandmother fell ill and went abroad for treatment.

Charles was reluctant to marry Evelyn from the start. The Jenkins family looked down on her, and she spent five years without any official status by Charles' side.

Back then, Patrick looked down on her for being a maid's daughter, just as he did Dahlia for being a girl from a humble rural background.

Evelyn knew Dahlia's intentions.

Charles' grandmother didn't like Dahlia, but nobody knew when she would wake up, if ever. Charles was deeply in love with Dahlia, and she just needed Patrick's approval to marry into the Jenkins family.

So, Charles thought that Evelyn's participation in the jewelry design contest would help her marry into the Jenkins family too.

"All I want is a million dollars." Evelyn, unable to break free, coldly stared at Charles.

She was after the prize money, not him. She wouldn't want him anymore.

Charles scoffed, "Why do you need that money?"

Evelyn clenched her fists tighter, her eyes reddened further, and her voice became shrill, "I do! I'm not like you. To you, it's nothing. But do you realize, that 'nothing' is Charlie's final resting place!" "What do you mean?!" Charles' expression darkened instantly, his aura turning noticeably colder.

"What do I mean? Charles, this million dollars is to buy Charlie a grave!"