The Day Our Promise Breaks

Evelyn's face turned frosty the moment she realized the item-snatcher was Sandy, a girl she couldn't stand. Her voice matched her icy glare as she said, \"Give it back!\" and reached out to grab it.

Sandy quickly tucked the item behind her back, her expression smug. \"Why should I? You haven't paid for it. Whoever buys the Elsa doll first owns it! I'll just ask my dad to get it for me!\" she said, imitating Dahlia's tone almost perfectly, clearly trying to get under Evelyn's skin.

\"Ms. Evelyn, you know very well that if I want something, my dad will make sure I get it. What chance do you have against that?\" Sandy's eyes sparkled with satisfaction, emphasizing \"my dad\" to rub it in Evelyn's face. This was her source of pride.

So what if Charlie was his real daughter? In their father's eyes, Sandy was always more important than Charlie. Charlie could never outdo her.

\"Didn't your mom ever teach you about first come, first served? Give it back!\" Brooks, who had just come back with some hot cocoa, approached after witnessing Sandy's antics from outside. His face was serious and stern.

Normally, a plush toy wouldn't be worth a fuss, but Brooks had a clear understanding of Sandy's behavior. His good upbringing kept him from saying anything too harsh, but he was tempted to point out that her lack of manners was a result of poor parenting.

Sandy felt a bit intimidated by the coldness Brooks exuded, but remembering that Charles wasn't far away, her fear vanished. Her mom had told her that Evelyn was the wicked woman who had lured her dad away, breaking up their family. If she could make her dad dislike Evelyn again, everything would go back to how it was, where her dad was good to both her and her mom, and they would be a family again.noveldrama

\"Ms. Evelyn, why are you backing Charlie against me? You know crossing me never ends well, right?\"

\"Two years ago, she tried to take my dad and a kidney from me, and now she's dead. Helping her now, aren't you scared she'll be damned forever?\" These were words Sandy had overheard Dahlia say at home. Dahlia, feeling ignored by Charles, often cursed Evelyn, predicting a grim fate for her and her daughter.

Sandy had heard it so many times that she could recite it without thinking. She was only seven, yet her innocent face spewed such spiteful words.

\"Competing with me? Charlie, that little brat, doesn't even deserve it!\"

Evelyn was overcome with emotion listening to Sandy's venomous words, especially the curses against Charlie. She couldn't hold back and slapped Sandy.

\"Smack-\" The sound of the slap was sharp and clear. This was the first time Sandy had been slapped by anyone other than Dahlia.

Sandy truly believed in everything she said. In her mind, Charlie was shameless for trying to win their father's love, knowing she wasn't his favorite.

Charlie's death seemed like karma to her, but she didn't expect Evelyn to hit her. How dare she? Sandy would make her regret it, just like she did when her father disliked Charlie while she was alive.

\"Wow! Daddy..." Sandy began to cry loudly. Not far away, Charles, who was picking out plush toys and about to call over a sales clerk, heard Sandy's cries. His expression shifted immediately, and he followed the sound.

The first person he saw was Evelyn, and his eyes lit up a bit. But then he noticed Brooks standing close to her, their shoulders almost touching, which darkened his expression. It was a distance too close forgust friends, and Evelyn didn't seem to mind, meaning she had accepted Brooks being that close.

This realization made Charles want to step in and separate them. He had barely moved when Sandy rushed over to him.

"Daddy..." Sandy threw herself into his arms, hugging his waist with a pouty face, showing him the red mark from Evelyn's slap, whining, "Ms. Evelyn hit me, and it really hurts."

Charles saw the clear handprint on Sandy's cheek, and his expression changed, eyes filled with worry He gently patted her head to comfort her then looked at Evelyn, asking, "Eve, did you hit Sandy?"

“A bad tree produces bad fruit. That slap was getting off easy!" Evelyn's gaze was

icy as she looked at Charles, seeing his tenderness toward Sandy.