The Day Our Promise Breaks

Brooks was on the line. Evelyn picked up just in time. As soon as she connected, she softly called, "Brooks."

She tried to keep the tremor out of her voice, not wanting Brooks to catch on to what she'd just been through. But Brooks, ever perceptive, immediately sensed something was off and asked anxiously, "Evelyn, what's going on?"

"I'm fine, Brooks," Evelyn attempted to brush it off casually.

But Brooks, usually one to take her at her word, was uncharacteristically firm this time, his voice steady and serious. "Evelyn, don't leave me hanging. Where are you? I'm coming to get you right now!"

"I won't relax until I see you."

Even though she put on a brave front, he could hear the unusual hoarseness in her voice, a dead giveaway that she'd been crying for quite some time. There was no way he could be calm about this.

Under Brooks's insistence, Evelyn admitted she was at the entrance of her neighborhood. Brooks wouldn't let her hang up. He was nearby and dashed out the door.

Evelyn could even hear the commotion as Brooks bumped into something in his rush and the sound of something crashing to the floor. He arrived in no time, clearly having driven like a madman to get there.

Once he reached the spot Evelyn had mentioned, he parked, jumped out of the car, and spotted her by the landscaping. It was late, and the streets were practically deserted. She was crouched on the ground, hugging herself, barefoot, her feet reddened by the cold. Brooks's heart nearly stopped.

His eyes filled with concern as he hurried over to her. "Evelyn!"

He took off his jacket, wrapping it around her as he scooped her up in his arms. Evelyn was still in a bit of a haze, the recent events swirling in her mind.

In the car, Brooks turned up the heat, choosing not to drive immediately. Instead, he reached over to hold Evelyn's feet, unbothered by the dust clinging to them. He lifted his shirt slightly and tucked her feet inside to warm them.

The gesture was so intimate that Evelyn instinctively tensed up and tried to pull her feet back. But Brooks held her ankle gently, his eyes soft and reassuring. His warmth slowly melted her resistance, and her cold-numbed feet began to feel alive again.

Once she was warmer and visibly more relaxed, Brooks let go of her feet, wrapping them in his jacket for extra warmth. Only then did he start the car.

"You're staying at my place tonight. I'll take the couch."

Evelyn was clearly not in the best state, and Brooks wasn't comfortable leaving her alone in a hotel. Originally, she thought about asking Brooks to take her to Adam's place, but with a clearer head now, she didn't want to cause Adam any worry.

If Adam found out that Charles had barged in and nearly assaulted her, given Adam's fiery temper and the fact that he was sidelined from competing, he'd likely fly off the handle. She'd already burdened Adam enough with his injured hand. She couldn't let him get hurt again.noveldrama

Evelyn glanced at Brooks's gentle profile and softly agreed, "Okay." Deep inside, she trusted Brooks. He wouldn't take advantage of her. He wasn't like Charles.

When they arrived at Brooks's place, he wouldn't let her get out of the car on her own. He walked over, opened the passenger door, and once again carried her like a princess. Evelyn wrapped her arms around his neck, resting her head on his shoulder, and Brooks held her tighter.

From the moment he helped her out of the car, he noticed something wasn't right with her. Her hair was disheveled from rushing out, and when she lifted her head, the fresh red marks on her neck were obvious. Thinking back to how she sounded on the phone, he knew the only person capable of hurting her like that was Charles.

Once inside, Brooks set Evelyn down on a bench by the entryway. He opened the shoe cabinet and pulled out two pairs of slippers, one for himself and a pair of women's slippers in a matching set. He slipped into the men's pair and placed the women's slippers at Evelyn's feet.

Evelyn paused, staring at the

women's slippers. She'd always

known Brooks to be single, but given his status, she assumed he might have had female companions. Even though he was pursuing her, she hadn't given a definitive answer. They weren't officially a couple, so it wouldn't be unusual for Brooks to have someone else in his life. Yet, the thought unsettled her, and she hesitated to put on what she assumed were another woman's shoes.

"What are you thinking about?" Brooks tapped her lightly on the forehead.

"No other woman has been here. Everything in my place meant for a woman was prepared for you. I didn't know when you'd be comfortable coming over, but I wanted you to feel welcome when you did."

Brooks had set everything up long ago, not to rush things between them, but simply to have a piece of Evelyn in his home. He eagerly awaited the day she'd feel at ease enough to visit and use them.