When Charles heard about the irregular heartbeat Evelyn acquired from being locked up and how she almost died from shock, he was shaken to his core. Yet, his instinct was to defend Dahlia. "Grandma, Dahlia had nothing to do with this," he said.

"You!" Rosa was so enraged by Charles that she nearly lost her breath.

"Please, help my grandma rest," Charles instructed the servants attending to Rosa. "Grandma, you wouldn't want Evelyn waking up and worrying about you, would you?" he added, striking a nerve.

"Hmph!" With a heavy snort, Rosa glared at him fiercely before leaving the room.

Charles remained inside the bedroom and casually removed his white shirt, revealing his back covered in crisscrossing whip marks. They were much worse than the last punishment Rosa ordered. The fresh lashes layered over old scars, creating a grim spectacle. Dr. Nelson quickly tended to Charles' wounds. Throughout the treatment, Charles' expression remained unchanged. He sat in the armchair, his gaze resting on Evelyn.

Once Dr. Nelson finished tending to him, he was about to change the dressing on Evelyn's finger. "Leave us," Charles said, asking him to leave the special ointment behind.

After Dr. Nelson left, Charles moved to the bedside, gently unwrapping the bandages from Evelyn's injured hand. The hospital had treated the wound, but it still clearly showed what she had endured. Charles' throat tightened as if something was pricking at his heart, causing an uncomfortable sensation.

He stared at Evelyn's finger for a while, motionless. "Now you feel the pain for her?" Rosa's voice came from behind him, her eyes scrutinizing. It seemed Charles still had some kindness left.

Charles pressed his lips together and didn't reply, quickly masking any flicker of emotion. He wouldn't admit to feeling distressed.

Rosa wasn't about to let him off the hook. She noticed his reaction to Evelyn's injuries and pulled out her phone, showing him photos the bodyguard had taken in the Greenrose basement. "Look at what you've done to Eve!"

The door had been opened, and the rats inside were long gone. But the bloodstains left on the door were a haunting reminder. Charles' eyes widened in shock. The discomfort he had tried to suppress rushed back, weighing heavily on his heart. No wonder she was so furious and lashed out at him.

"Take good care of Eve," Rosa said, seeing a glimmer of hope in Charles before leaving him to rest.

After the bedroom door closed again, Charles picked up the ointment and began applying it to Evelyn's wounds. His touch was gentle yet deliberate. Despite his care, the pain was sharp, as fingers are sensitive.

In her daze, Evelyn furrowed her brows, cold sweat dampening her hairline. Charles paused, his gaze softening as he looked at her face. An image flashed in his mind: before Dahlia and Sandy returned, he had seen a young Charlie holding Evelyn's hand, blowing on her injured finger. "Mommy, if I blow on it, will it stop hurting?" Charlie had asked sweetly. Evelyn had smiled, touching Charlie's head. "Yes, when you blow on it, I don't feel the pain."

Charles, almost without thinking, gently blew on Evelyn's finger while applying the ointment. Whether it actually helped or not, Evelyn's furrowed brow visibly relaxed a bit. Encouraged, Charles focused on the task at hand, not noticing Evelyn slowly waking up.noveldrama

The tender care confused Evelyn;

only Rosa had ever treated her so gently. Opening her eyes, she softly called out, "Gran..." but stopped short when she saw it was Charles. Her expression froze. Since Dahlia's arrival, Charles hadn't shown her

such kindness; his er

had

been solely on Dahlia.

Evelyn's brief daze was fleeting. She quickly composed herself, withdrawing her hand from Charles' grasp. In her haste, her finger hit the edge of the bed, causing a sharp pain that made her gasp. Charles' expression shifted, and he instinctively reached for her hand again, but she pulled away.

She could handle this pain. Evelyn understood that Charles' gentleness was a facade-a sugar-coated bullet. Beneath it lay something far more dangerous. Facing Charles' darkened expression, Evelyn sat up, her gaze icy. "Charles, quit

pretending. I don't need

act. Let

it go. I won't change my mind about Dahlia."